The Cooperative Translation Activities of China and the West and Their Influence in the Late Ming and Early Qing Dynasties

Abstract

In the eyes of many scholars, there have been three pivotal periods in the history of Chinese translation, which are: the translation of Buddhist scriptures from the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Tang and Song Dynasties, the translation of scientific and technological books from the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, and the translation of Western works from the Opium War (1840-1842) to the May Fourth Period (1915-1921). As the second climax in the history of Chinese translation, the Sci-tech translation activities in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties held a pivotal position in the history of Chinese translation, greatly promoting the dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge in China and enabling Chinese people to gain a deeper understanding of Western culture for the first time. This article summarizes and analyzes the influence of the Sci-tech translation activities in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.