Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History with special reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty

Hua Manyuan,Hua Xianfa

doi:10.17275/per.15.07.2.1

Abstract

Accepted: 04.03.2015 The present-day widespread adoption of the interpretation of the Wen 文(refined or elegant style)-Zhi质 (unhewn or plain style) Debate in Chinese sutra translation has meant that such an interpretation is only one of methods of or approaches to sutra translation both in sutra translation studies and in the education of Chinese translation history. This paper argues that it is necessary for researchers in general and teachers in particular to have a clear understanding of the traditional Chinese poetics behind and the implication of this debate. The analysis identifies a number of issues of the Wen-Zhi Debate such as its origin, source and implication from a historical perspective and clarifies the strong influence of functional poectics upon sutra translation as well as sutra translators. With special reference to Xuan Zang as a good example who well actualized the concept of “To be a good sutra translator means to be a good man” in sutra translation in Tang Dynasty, the paper concludes with suggestions for reinterpreting the Wen-Zhi Debate both in sutra translation studies and in the education of Chinese translation history by taking into account the influence of the Chinese traditional poetics as well as the ethical aspect of the translator.

Highlights

In the traditional Chinese poetics, Wén [wén 文] means the form which is ornamental, refined or elegant whereas Zhì[zhì 质] refers to the really good[zhēnshí 真实] and trustworthy(xìn 信) content conveyed by the form or style.Only when these two elements are duly blended, can we say what is written is a good piece of writing because it is up to the standard of the traditional poetics
Tang Dynasty, the paper concludes with suggestions for reinterpreting the Wén-Zhì Debate both in sutra translation studies and in the education of Chinese translation history by taking into account the influence of the Chinese traditional poetics as well as the ethical aspect of the translator
It is argued in the paper that the dominant traditional Chinese poetics influencing the Chinese sutra translation is not a theory of literary criticism, and a theory about ethics; namely, about a good writer who should prove to be a good man through his writing

Summary

1.Introduction

In the traditional Chinese poetics, Wén [wén 文] means the form (writing style) which is ornamental, refined or elegant whereas Zhì[zhì 质] refers to the really good[zhēnshí 真实] and trustworthy(xìn 信) content conveyed by the form or style.Only when these two elements are duly blended, can we say what is written is a good piece of writing because it is up to the standard of the traditional poetics. After this poetics extended its influence to sutra translation, both Wén and Zhì came to be employed as approaches to translation. It is hoped that such a claim can help correct the inexact interpretation of the Wén-Zhì Debate in the sutra translation research and in the education of the history of Chinese sutra translation

The start of the debate on Wén and Zhì in sutra translation

Conclusion