A Comparative Study Of Chinese-English Translation Of Poetic Images By Xu Yuanchong And Ezra Pound

Classical Chinese poetry is a pearl in the world of literature. It is not only an essence of the thoughts of the then elites and scholars, but also reflects the specific culture of the then societies. In recent years, more and more classical Chinese poems have been translated into English to readers in different countries. However, heavy use of images, rhetoric and omissions make it a tough job to translate the poems.This study makes a comparative study between Pound’s and Xu Yuanchong’s translations of10poems differing in rules and forms, by focusing on around140images collected. First, the images were divided into archetypal images, improvisational images, and non-cultural images, followed by the analysis of translation strategies adopted by Xu and Pound. Second, the two versions of translation were compared in accordance with their categories, to analyze and seek for shared translation strategies and methods. Third, different word choices in translating the same images were analyzed. The analyses of the translation versions show that there are relatively fixed strategies and techniques even for some tough classical Chinese poems. More specifically, addition is preferred in translating allusions; reduction and omission works as an expedient when the full meaning is found too hard to express with poetic language, or when the images are not very relevant to demonstrate the poets’true feelings; literal translation is the most frequently used in all poetic image translation for it remains the most of the original works.This study concludes that there are specific strategies and techniques applicable to certain categories of images in any poem. Translators should discover useful and practical methods during translating process and practice and testify those rules. Limitations of the study and suggestions for further translation are finally provided.