Translation Aspects of Junzi (君子) in James Legge’s Mencius

Abstract

English translators have many difficulties in choosing appropriate expressions to render ‘junzi 君子’ closely related to the East Asian Confucian cultural traditions into their language. James Legge’s renderings of junzi in Mencius, which vary depending on the context, are different from the contemporary tendencies to consistently translate junzi into the word ‘gentleman’ or the transliterated word ‘junzi.’ The paper argues that Legge’s various translations of junzi help us identify different nuances of meaning and reconsider some of our present conventional uses. It examines on the etymology of junzi and its historical and social development in the Warring States Period to examine Legge’s translation aspects. It also argues that Legge’s translation to specify junzi to a ruler, a prince and a sovereign sage in some controversial passages has a great influence on the English readers’ interpretation of the text. Legge’s specific translation directs readers to suppose that the Chinese word ‘junzi 君子’ is better understood as a benevolent ruler because he has the power to play a crucial role in achieving the true Kingly government and not simply a moral scholar.