Translation and Chinese Modernity

Abstract

Inextricably intertwined, translation has played an irreplaceable role in constructing Chinese modernity. This is first reflected in its contribution to reforming the old and establishing the new in early twentieth-century China, especially in the linguistic literary and social changes spearheaded by Yan Fu, Liang Qichao and Lu Xun. As an educational act, translation carries on the cultural heritage for the betterment of Chinese society, reflected in the efforts of Hu Shi, Zhao Yuanren’s translation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the Tsing Hua Weekly under Tsinghua University then as individual and institutional contributions to China’s modernity. As a powerful medium for cultural dissemination and construction, translation bridges the gap for better interchange between Chinese culture and those of other nations in the context of mass media and globalization. As an interdisciplinary endeavor, translation also constantly seeks insights from other fields, thus reflecting the very essence of modernity. Drawing on a wealth of historical evidence and current theoretical research, this book portrays a cogent picture of how translation has been facilitating China’s progress towards modernity since the early twentieth century. By synthesizing the relevant studies on the topic, the book paves the way for an even broader and more in-depth exploration of translation in China’s modernity. This book will be an essential reference for students, scholars and general readers who are interested in translation in China and its contribution to Chinese modernity, including courses on the Chinese history of translation or modernity in China.