A Study Of Levefere’s Theory Poetics In The Two English Versions Of The Art Of War

At present, many scholars both in China and in western countries have adopted André Lefevere’smanipulation theory to study on. Many of them focus on ideology, while the other important factor poetics, hasnot been given enough attention. Poetics concerns about two components: one is the inventory of literary devices,genres, motifs, prototypical characters and situations, and symbols; the other is the concept of what role literatureplays, or should play, in the social system as a whole. Manipulations of poetics on translation are mainly twofold:one is manipulation on the text, that is, application of translation strategies and translation language; the other ismanipulation beyond the text, and it is embodied in text selection, translation purposes, etc.The Art of War is a great military book in ancient China, which enlightens people in military theories,philosophical thoughts and humanity-oriented political policies. Early in Warring States Period, it wasworshipped by the contemporaries. Hereafter, great strategists such as Cao Cao, Li Shimin, Zeng Guofan andMao Zedong all paid great attention to it. In the world military history, The Art of War has also enjoyed a greatreputation. In Japan, it is considered as the Bible of war. And western militarists think that no other book cansurpass it for its profoundness and subtleness. Giles’ translation is the first academic standard text in Englishworld; while Griffith’s military translation wins the greatest population and the longest publication in America.Thus, it is very meaningful to make a comparative study on these two versions.Based on the two English versions of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and André Lefevere’s theory of poetics, thisthesis conducts an analysis from the twofold of manipulations of poetics on translation. First, the thesis analyzesthe two versions from the perspective of poetics’ manipulation on the text, of which, theme selection, translationpurposes will be focused. As to translation purposes, Giles proposed to introduce the Chinese classics to thewestern world; while Griffith aimed at spreading the Chinese military thoughts to the western countries. Gilesfocused on the western intellectuals who had the interest in Chinese traditional culture; Griffith centered hisreaders as the western military and the military academy students. Second, the thesis makes an analysis from theperspective of poetics’ manipulation beyond the text, of which, translation language and translation strategieswill be discussed. The thesis exposes the evolution of poetics by changes of poetical elements of different times.It thus illustrates that poetics is unstable and changeable and it has a manipulative influence in the process ofliterary translation.This thesis points out that translation activities are restrained by social-cultural factors, and there exists acorrelation between translation activities and poetics. Translators translate in conformity with dominant poetics. Text selection, translation purposes and translation strategies are all influenced by poetics. Besides, elements thatinfluence translation activities are changing with time. The two versions were manipulated by poetics, thus,evolution of poetics can be figured out by analysis of elements of poetics. The thesis discusses how poeticsmanipulates literary translation process. It puts the two translators and the two translation products in widersocial-cultural contexts. The author intends to put more attention to cultural research rather than linguisticresearch so as to enrich study on Chinese versions of The Art of War.