Variated Cultural Imagery of the Daodejing in the German-Speaking World Based on “Foreignization”: The Case of Dao and De

Abstract

“Foreignization” (taguohua, 他国化) is an important concept in the Variation Theory of Comparative Literature. Through the collision, fusion and heterogeneous absorption of cross-heterogeneous cultural exchanges, the culture and discourse principles of one country are adapted through localization by the receiving country, resulting in what this theory calls “foreignization”. Global Laozegetics continues its traditional interpretive-oriented stance by examining translations of the Daodejing from a Laozegetics perspective, demonstrating a new development in the study of Laozi’s doctrine. Thus, there is a need to explore new perspectives in the research on the German translations of the Daodejing. Taking the cultural imagery Dao and De as examples, this paper explores the background and causes of “foreignization” in German translations of the Daodejing and its impact on the dissemination of Laozi’s doctrine in the German-speaking world, summarizing its formation path and possible problems, with the goal of shedding light on the overseas dissemination of Chinese classics represented by the Daodejing.