Translation Works of Zheng Zhenduo on Adong Segye - Focusing on Retold Stories Literatures of Hans Andersen, Brothers Grimm and Oscar Wilde

Abstract

It was the period of the May 4th New Culture Movement when children literature established independent genre apart from general adult literature in China. Since the main purpose of the movement was ‘discovery of human’, there was effort to transform Chinese traditional idea into modern new concept to accept new ideology from outside of China. During this period, various western theories, trends and literature works were introduced in China, and this phenomenon motivated translation of Aesop’s Fables and works of Andersen and the brothers Grimm in the field of children’s literature. Literature Research Union which was the first literature association in modern times after disbandment of Sin Chunyeun [New Youth], influenced much for development of Chinese modern literature. It promoted ‘children’s literature’s activity’ and also issued pure children’s literature magazine, Adong Segye [The World of Children], which used colloquial form primarily in modern times in China.BR Zheng Zhenduo, who led the children’s literature’s activity through launching Adong Segye and serving as a editor-in-chief, translated many children’s literature and published them on the magazine. Especially some of works which had symbolic meaning of New Culture Movement such as Thumbelina (Hans Andersen), The Peasant’s Clever Daughter (the brothers Grimm) and The Happy Prince (Oscar Wilde) were translated with the measure of ‘retold’. Since he understood ‘retold’ as not only translation but reinvention, he translated literature creatively within the limit of ideology of original works, considering children’s sentiment and educational effect. Zheng Zhenduo was the writer who attempted to integrate translation and creation in the transition period, and his heritage Adong Segye was a landmark magazine which treated Chinese children as subject, not object.