Robert Morrison’s Translation and Introduction of Chinese Literature in the Chinese Repository

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This review article explores the translation and introduction of Chinese literature by Robert Morrison, a 19th-century Protestant missionary, in the Chinese Repository. As a significant bridge for cultural exchange between East and West, Morrison’s work not only facilitated Western understanding of Chinese literature but also influenced perceptions of Chinese society and culture. The article analyzes the Chinese literature translated and introduced by Morrison, which includes Chinese biography, Confucian classics, Taoist morality books, Chinese opera, and Chinese folk poetry. It examines the content, methods, and features of this scholarly endeavor, as well as its motivations and impacts, in the context of Morrison’s missionary identity and the founding of theChinese Repository. Although Morrison’s translation and introduction were influenced by his missionary perspective and contained certain biases and inaccuracies, they provided a vital window through which 19th-century Western readers could engage with Chinese literature, making important contributions to the development of Sinology and East–West cultural exchange.