Overseas translation of modern Chinese fiction via T’ien Hsia Monthly

Abstract

T’ien Hsia Monthly (1935–1941) was the only journal that was sponsored independently by the Chinese, aimed at disseminating Chinese thoughts and culture to the West at that time. During its 7 years of existence, the journal translated and published a significant number of modern Chinese literary works in, which had a positive impact on the West. Nevertheless, domestic and foreign research on it has not always been sufficient due to political or other reasons. This article aims to elucidate the foundation of T’ien Hsia Monthly, its social impact at that time, and its stance on cultural communication between the East and the West. It also discusses the translation attitude and strategies the Journal adopted by taking the two most influential modern Chinese writers, Lu Xun and Congwen Shen, as examples. How do literature and cultures which are in a relatively disadvantaged position confirm their self-positioning, national identity, and development orientation, when faced with language and cultures having advantages in the process of translation? The translation of modern Chinese fiction in T’ien Hsia Monthly provides people with a new way to consider “the impartial exchange based on national characteristics.”