A Study Of Chinese Cultural Values In Ezra Pound’s Works

Ezra Pound (1985-1972) is one of the most influential poets and scholars in20thcentury.Cathay and The Cantos are the major masterpieces of Pound. The previous research puttheir focal point of the research on methods of translation, but some scholars ignore thecultural characteristics of Pound’s poems and comprehension of Chinese culture. Cathay is aconcrete reflection of traditional Chinese culture spreading to the west successfully. TheCantos is the very example of cross-cultural communication. Pound made a significantcontribution to cultural exchanges between the East and the West. By analyzing the study ofrelationship between Pound’s poems and traditional Chinese culture, it benefits a lot tounderstand Pound more and advance the deep and wide exchange between eastern andwestern culture in the context of globalization.This thesis applies to Kim’s cross-cultural adaptation theory bases on text analysis toexplore Cathay and The Cantos. This thesis makes analysis on Confucianism in Cathay andConfucianism and Daoism of The Cantos from a totally new perspective of cross-culturalcommunication. There are three questions are1) The cultural view on translation have animpact on Cathay.2) Pound how to explain successfully Confucian ideas of The Cantos.3)Daoism has an impact on The Cantos.This thesis aims to analyze:(1) One national culture not only can absorb the surfacestructure of another national culture, but also explore the deep structure which plays animportant role in cultural exchange in developing mutual national culture. Pound strives toblend himself in artistic circumstance, refining the emotions of original poems, overcomingthe obstacles of language, history, and culture, grasping the essence of the original poems andreappearing the spirit of original poems.(2) The complex nature of borrowing andacculturation which is not just a simple process of copies and duplication; even it is a processof cultural acculturation and transformation based on cultural needs. Pound regardedConfucianism as a philosophical system, emphasizing the intimate relationship betweenhuman and nature, caring for social issues, underlining the significance of personalresponsibility, and emphasizing social order in the world.(3) In essence, the acculturation ofone national culture is the acculturation of the cultural values. Since Taoism exerted much influence on ancient Chinese culture, Pound’s poetic creation was inevitably influenced byTaoism.“Governing by noninterference” and “The unity of heaven and humanity” of Taoismgave him creative inspiration.