An Examination of Wang Rongpei’s Translation of The Peony Pavilion from the Viewpoint of Reframing Narrative Theory

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

This paper examines Chinese translator Wang Rongpei’s English translation of The Peony Pavilion from the perspective of narrative theory. As a classical romantic tragicomedy written in 1598, The Peony Pavilion revolves around the extraordinary love story between Du Liniang and Liu Mengmei, set against the social background of the Southern Song (1127-1279) dynasty. Among the numerous English translations of this work, Wang Rongpei’s version stands out as one of particular brilliance, as evidenced by its inclusion in the Library of Chinese Classics. According to the narrative theory put forward by Mona Baker, translators can consciously participate in the construction of the source text’s “story” by strengthening or undermining certain aspects of the narrative they mediate. This paper examines how the translator, who is not merely a passive receiver of a source text, actively mobilizes various strategies to reframe the story of The Peony Pavilion. In doing so, four aspects of the translated invite specific critical attention: its temporal and spatial framing, selective appropriation of textual material, framing by labelling, and the repositioning of participants. This paper argues that in the process of reframing the source text, the translator intentionally reinforces ontological narratives and attenuates public narratives with the aim of delivering a text more accommodating of the tastes of contemporary English-language readers. Finally, the purpose of this paper is to deepen understanding of Wang’s translation practices and outcomes, and to offer for traditional oriental drama translators a key point of reference.