Fusion Of Horizons In The Translation Of Tang Poetry

The author of this thesis adopts the descriptive methodology to conduct acontrastive research on different versions of Tang poetry under the guidance ofPhilosophical Hermeneutics, especially the “fusion of horizons” put forward byGadamer, with a view to offering theoretical guidance for the choice of techniques fortranslating Tang poetry. The present research draws the following research findings:first, tapping the “productive prejudice” before translation is essential for translatorsto walk into the horizons of poets and original poems; second, the “horizon gap” willexert direct effects on English versions, and the charm and essence of Tang poetrymay be re-presented with the narrowest “horizon gap”; third, it is the differences inthe “horizon gap” that make translators adopt varied translation techniques; forth, the“fusion of horizons” helps translators not lay undue emphasis on the original poem orthe translated one, and solves the dilemma of which translation techniques should beused by coordinating relations among culture and history of original poems, poets,translators and target language culture and readers.Therefore, three conclusions are made in this thesis: first, translators have to makethe best of and enlarge their “positive prejudice” to achieve the narrowest “horizongap” with poets and original poems; second, with a view to better demonstratingChinese culture, translators should fully re-present cultural connotations embedded inimages, culturally loaded words and themes of Tang poetry in English versions; third,although recreation of Tang poetry’s flavor is of critical importance, target languageculture and acceptability of versions, etc, all repay translators’ special attention.By making a contrastive study of English versions of Tang poetry, the author aimsto explore the role of the “fusion of horizons” in selecting translation techniques intranslating Tang poetry. In addition, the author calls for more translators to dedicatethemselves to the translation of classical Chinese poems, so as to further promote thedevelopment and prosperity of Chinese culture.