On the Translation Forerunner of The Captain’s Daughter–Ji Jihui

Abstract

Chinese literary translation started in late Qing Dynasty. Under the banner of “enlightening the Chinese people” proposed by Liang Qichao, Chinese translators of that time widely introduced foreign literary works into China via the typical method of unrestricted translation. In response to the call for enlightenment, Ji Jihui firstly translated into Chinese the Japanese version of The Captain’s Daughter written by the Russian writer Pushkin, consequently commenced the translation of Russia and Soviet Union literary works in China, and eventually changed himself from the pioneer of studying in Japan to the forerunner of translating Russia and Soviet Union literature. Ji utilized a foreign novel to effect social reform and thus contributed to the development of modern Chinese society.