The Chinese tradition of translation studies

Abstract

In this chapter, the authors follow Zhu and adopt a non-exclusive ethnic conception of nationalism that bases its legitimacy on such non-territorial and politically neutral factors as shared (to some extent) language, culture and ritual tradition. The Chinese may boast a history of translation practice of more than 3,000 years, but Chinese translators and critics did not seem to be fully aware of the intellectual identity of a Chinese TS tradition until the late twentieth century, when, apart from translation textbooks and textbook-like volumes, there was a burst of interest in various issues concerning Chinese-related translation, its history and theorisation in particular. This chapter adopts a non-exclusive ethnic conception of nationalism that bases its legitimacy on such non-territorial and politically neutral factors as shared (to some extent) language, culture and ritual tradition. Engagement with contemporary translation studies at large enables the Chinese tradition to develop new methodologies as well as new approaches to translational phenomena.