On Children’s Literature Translation In The Late Qing Dynasty (1898-1911) From Perspective Of Polysystem Theory

This thesis focuses on the foreign children’s literature translation (FCLT) in theLate Qing Dynasty(1898-1911). Under the guidance of polysystem theory, this thesisattempts to work out the complicated network of relations underlying the phenomenon.In this way, the emphasis of this study is put on the relationship between FCLT andsystems including social background, the canonized literature and children’s literaturein the Late Qing Dynasty. On the basis of this, the study comes to a conclusion aboutthe position assumed and the function served by FCLT in the Late Qing Dynasty.Besides “Introduction” and “Conclusion”, this thesis consists of three chapters.“Introduction” mainly deals with the research background, the methods employed aswell as the significance of this study; The first chapter is the literature review on thestudies of the children’s literature and FCLT in the Late Qing Dynasty; The secondchapter takes polysystem theory as the theoretical foundation of this study; The thirdchapter is the main body of this thesis in which a detailed analysis of FCLT on thebasis of polysystem theory is presented in terms of the relationship between FCLT andthe above-mentioned three systems in the Late Qing Dynasty. At last, a conclusion ismade about the status of FCLT in the Late Qing Dynasty. In addition, limitations ofthis study are pointed out and suggestions for further study given.As for the relationship between social background and FCLT in the Late QingDynasty, a macro study of the latter shows that FCLT made its first appearance in theLate Qing Dynasty to meet the need of the society. In addition, under the influence ofthe complicated situation of the society, it displays diversity in terms of motivations,translators as well as target readers. However, despite the fact that quite a number ofworks were translated to fulfill the translator’s attempt to arouse a sense of patriotismamong readers or to spread Christianity, there existed works translated particularly forchildren. This is unprecedented in the Chinese history. Furthermore, those translationswith an initial goal of spreading Christianity turned out to be a good source ofchildren’s books in both content and language during those days. Meanwhile, some other translations, such as science fiction, although not regarding children as the targetreaders, were widely favored by children. With regard to the relationship between thecanonized literature and FCLT in the Late Qing Dynasty, a micro study of thesetranslations reveals that the canonized literature has exerted a great influence on thetranslation in terms of the selection of works and the translating strategies. In addition,new elements were also introduced into the target culture via these translations. As aresult, going against the theory about the position of translated literature in the targetculture raised by Even-Zohar, FCLT in the Late Qing Dynasty not only employed theold patterns in the canonized literature but also introduced new types from the sourceculture. Concerning the relationship between FCLT and children’s literature in theLate Qing Dynasty, these translations not only constituted a large share of children’sliterature but also promoted the production of works for children by domestic writers.Based on the above study of the relationship between FCLT in the Late QingDynasty and the three systems, the thesis comes to the conclusion that at asynchronical level the translation resulted from the need of the society and fullyexposed the complicated situation of the social background. In addition, it not onlyfollowed the old patterns in the canonized literature but also brought in new elementsfrom the source culture. At a diachronic level, FCLT in the Late Qing Dynasty,together with works composed for children by domestic writers then, symbolizes thetransition of attitude towards children and the advent of Chinese children’s literature.