Constraint Factors And Possible Solutions For Traditional Chinese Medicine In Intercultural Promotion

Along with the deepening of globalization, the national leaders of China attach more and more importance to the dissemination and promotion of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM). In such environment, the intercultural communication of TCM faces new opportunities as well as challenges. As a treasure of Chinese civilization, TCM has started its spread abroad since Han dynasty, and its influence reached a peak in Tang dynasty. At that time, TCM was used to cure patients in countries such as Japan, Korea and Vietnam. In Ming and Qing dynasties, TCM even played a role in the medical field in Europe and Africa. However, because the system foundation and theoretical principles of TCM and western medicine are so different from each other, TCM has suffered setbacks since the Westernization Movement that advocates rationality and science. Since then, western medicine has suppressed TCM, and TCM has been tangled by numerous difficulties in its process of overseas dissemination. Yet it was not put into an end. In recent years, the support of Chinese national leaders and the unremitting efforts of TCM practitioners usher in new opportunities for TCM to develop itself in the world.Opportunities and challenges exist side by side. There are always factors restraining the intercultural communication of TCM. This thesis tries to identify constraint factors hindering the intercultural communication of TCM by analyzing articles and comments about TCM, as well as English introductions of medicines provided by some famous TCM pharmaceutical enterprises in China.The constraint factors are analyzed from perspectives of different communication styles and inappropriate translation.To identify the constraint factors concerning different thought patterns, the case study is undertaken in analyzing experts form articles written by a famous critic — Christopher Smith, a comment provided by a recognized leader in the field of integrated medicine — Chris Kresser, and an English introduction of a medicine posted by Sanchine Pharmaceutical Company.In the study of the constraint factors about inappropriate translation, 30 introductions of TCM products provided by some well-known TCM pharmaceutical enterprises are collected to be analyzed. From the analysis, three kinds of translation problems in TCM translation are generalized, including oversimplification, inconsistent translation and clumsy handling of language.After the analysis, suggestions from macro and micro views are provided in solving the problems mentioned to make the intercultural communication of TCM more efficient and effective. Solutions at the macro level include policy support and the standardization of the translation of TCM materials by authorities. The micro solutions are about the individuals involving in the intercultural communication of TCM. They should improve their intercultural communication skills and thus better the understanding and acceptance of TCM in western countries. Besides, the translators of TCM texts should consistently refine their translation ability.