On The English Translation Of "Mulberry" Imagery In The Pre-Song Chinese Poems

As a common imagery in classic Chinese poetry,the "mulberry" is frequently seen in classic Chinese poetry translations.After combing through the translated poems with the"mulberry" imagery,the author identifies a number of misinterpretations of the imagery.Containing a wealth of historical and cultural connotations,the "mulberry"imagery exerts profound impacts on the spirit and features of classic Chinese poems;improper translation of the imagery will distort the intention of the original works.Hence,attention should be devoted to the translation of the "mulberry" imagery in classic Chinese poetry.Given that,the author explores the English translations of the"mulberry" imagery in classic Chinese poetry,with an aim to faithfully present the"mulberry" imagery in the translated poems and offer references for relevant translations in the future.Based on The Book of Songs,Poems of the Pre-Qin,Han,Wei,Jin,Southern and Northern Dynasties and Complete Tang Poems,the author presents statistics on poems containing the "mulberry" imagery before the Song dynasty.The statistics show that there are 155 poems describing mulberry trees or their twigs and leaves,and 418 poems on mulberry and other imageries.It can be inferred that the "mulberry" imagery's cultural connotations are frequently described in poetry,and the imagery is most closely connected with rural idyll and farming,hometown,romances and the changes over time.A fter a comprehensive review of the translations containing the "mulberry" imagery,the author selects the typical works of James Legge,Ezra Pound,Arthur Waley,Rewi Alley,Stephen Owen,Yang Xianyi,Gladys Yang,Xu Yuanchong and Wang Rongpei,analyzing the strategies adopted by various translators in rendering the "mulberry"imagery,and the displacement,deconstruction and disappearing of the imagery in georgics,allegories and love poems,which may provide references for the translation of cultural imageries in Chinese poetry.