| The study of the History of Former Han Dynasty(Hanshu),the earliest chronological history of ancient China,has given rise to a subfield of traditional Chinese historiography known as “Research of Hanshu.” Historically,the study of “Research of Hanshu” consisted primarily of phonetic annotations,edition proofreading,chapter interpretation,historical evidence,etc.Since modern times,the translation and foreign diffusion of the Hanshu have become key themes of overseas sinology research and have also provided a significant opportunity for the academic transition of “Research of Hanshu” from the traditional to the modern eras.The Hanshu is a comprehensive chronicle of the history of the Western Han Dynasty and the Xinmang period and a significant source for Chinese and foreign researchers studying the Qin and Han dynasties as well as traditional Chinese historiography.On the basis of a survey of the study of the Hanshu in Europe and the United States,this paper provides a comprehensive summary of the English translations of the Hanshu in China and overseas,the classic editions,and notable translators since the modern era.Using a piece-by-piece examination of translation tactics,quality,and translators’ learning and skills,examine and summarize the accomplishments and issues of the past century.Thus,the author reaches the following conclusions: Currently,the complete translation of the Hanshu is in the section of “The Chronicle of the Emperor,” but this section is not a real history from the perspective of Western scholars,but rather a framework for the history of the Western Han;The complete translation of the Book of Han into English has not yet been prioritised,and it has not garnered sufficient attention from the historiographical community.Regarding whether the existing English translations of the Hanshu can accurately and vividly convey the textual content and spirituality of the original,the majority of contemporary researchers are English or translation scholars,not historians,due to the language barrier and lack of professional knowledge in translation.This is a need that must be filled immediately in the fields of contemporary “Research of Hanshu” and traditional Chinese historiography,as well as the diffusion of Chinese classics abroad.It is my fervent hope that study on the foreign translations of the Hanshu will gradually intensify and that a complete English translation of the Hanshu,which was the initial intent and ultimate objective of this work,will soon be available. |
