Cultural Default And Its Compensation In Huangdi Neijing·SuWen From The Perspective Of Reception Theory

In recent years, the concepts and treatments of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM hereafter) have been receiving extensive attention from the world. By earning the trust of people, TCM has become an indispensable part in the world medical system. Not only is there an explosion in the demand for TCM therapies, but also there’s a growing number of western medical practitioners becoming interested in TCM as it has shown strong vitality in the new age. Given the circumstances, the promotion of TCM culture should be highlighted as well as the pursuit of TCM techniques. To showcase the whole picture of TCM culture to the world, the translation of TCM classics will be a necessity.Huangdi Neijing(Neijing hereafter) is one of TCM’s classics, setting the theoretical basis of TCM, and is considered to be the origin of most of TCM theories. As a result, translations of Neijing are the bridge for exporting TCM culture to the rest of the world and studies on Neijing translations can shed light on the improvement of translation strategies and techniques.This thesis, induces and analyses cultural default cases from the perspective of the Reception Theory, and sums up compensation methods adopted in the two different English versions, respectively the version of Ⅱsa Veith’s and the version of Li Zhaoguo’s. The practicality of these translation strategies is discussed under the guidance of the two compensation principles. The result shows that compensation methods like interlinear notes, footnotes, interpretative translation, naturalization and deletion are preferred respectively by the two translators, while interlinear notes and footnotes are advised in the end for their capability of keeping the original aesthetic value and cultural exploration value to the great extent.Based on the English versions of Suwen, the empirical study on the compensation of cultural default in the TCM translation is aimed to arouse others’ attention on cultural default while carrying out TCM translation. The ultimate goal is to realize cultural exchanges since translators are equipped with the awareness of the introduction of TCM culture to the world.