关键词: 文心雕龙; 中国文论; 译介; 阐释; 龙学

Abstract:

The magnum opus Wenxin Diaolong epitomizes Chinese literary theory, which has been recognized as the most suitable literary theory for reinterpretation, modern application, and dissemination. This paper explores the three representative English versions of Wenxin Diaolong from the perspective of modern hermeneutics. It has found that both the translation strategy of translation and interpretation adopted by Vincent Yu-chung Shih and that of “translation and criticism” adopted by Stephen Owen emphasize on the academic interpretation of the English version. They are more likely to attract the attention and research of overseas scholars and sinologists with high literariness and academic value, which is helpful to promote the canonical process of overseas interpretation of Wenxin Diaolong and pave the way for the equal dialogue between Chinese and Western literary theory. In contrast, Siu-Kit Wong, who tends to give priority to mass readers, adopted the strategy of cultural interpretation, which focuses on the modern aesthetic value and cultural orientation of the translation. Wong’s translation is elegant, readable, and easy to understand, and this accelerated the dissemination and popularization of Wenxin Diaolong. The different English versions of Wenxin Diaolong have different characteristics, but they are complementary to each other and cater to different readers. The polyphonic harmony of different translations can also meet the needs of audiences at different aesthetic levels, which is conducive to the dissemination and acceptance of ancient Chinese literary theory classics in western countries and provides strong support for the overseas study of Wenxin Diaolong.

Keywords: Wenxin Diaolong; Chinese literary theory; translation; interpretation; the study of Wenxin Diaolong