The Western Reception of Distinctive Suzhou Culture: The English Translation of Cultural Signs in Kunqu Fushengliuji

Abstract

Kunqu Fushengliuji (Garden Edition), newly born in 2018, is an immersive performance in a Suzhou garden (world cultural heritage), namely Canglang Pavilion, through the artistic form of kunqu (world intangible cultural heritage), which proves itself a perfect window for an audience to understand the distinctive Suzhou culture and Suzhou lifestyle. From a perspective of translation semiotics, specifically the translation of the three headings of cultural signs, we analyze its English translation by sinologist Kim Hunter Gordon, and find the status of communication of distinctive Suzhou culture to the West. With these findings, and more importantly, through the understanding and cognition of Westerners, we may be able to see the achievements and shortcomings in the communication of Chinese culture to the outside world, observe the initiative and tactics of “Chinese culture going out”, and improve them deeply and constantly.