Translating Chinese Literature to Reach an Audience in China: Lin Yijin and Lu Xun’s Stories in English

Abstract

AbstractIn Republican China, there was a unique translational phenomenon: foreign-language translations of Chinese literature were initiated and published in China primarily for home consumption by interested foreign nationals and Chinese learners of English. Remaining largely obscure today, these early translators of modern Chinese literature deserve a more honored position in translation history. This chapter aims to bring to light an important early Lu Xun translator—Lin Yijin (林疑今). It tries to answer the guiding questions for translation history research proposed in Anthony Pym’s Method in Translation History: “Who translated what, when, where, for whom, why and how, why in this particular way and with what effect?” While there was an economic necessity behind it, Lin’s decision to translate Lu Xun was primarily driven by his admiration for Lu Xun and his writing. Two major considerations governed Lin's selection of Lu Xun’s stories for translation: the prior unavailability of those pieces in English; Lin’s disposition and personal taste. Featuring a general leaning toward adequacy, apparent disregard for acceptability, and unnatural English style, Lin’s translation makes for a hard read. This should have been dictated by the fact that his work was initiated by the source culture and published in China and he was translating out of his native language. Meanwhile, a piecemeal addition, omission, and alteration throughout the text seem to have arisen from the translator’s oversight or negligence. Despite their inherent deficiencies and seemingly “muted” reception, Lin’s renderings served as an irreplaceable medium through which foreign nationals residing then in China could read Lu Xun’s stories. They contributed to establishing early international fame for Lu Xun. Some important implications of this case study for Chinese literature’s “going out” project are discussed.KeywordsLu XunLin YijinModern Chinese literatureTranslating into EnglishRepublican China