Abstract

This paper is a study on the two English versions of The Book of Songs from the perspective of comparative study. In this paper, the author choose the two English versions of The Book of Songs, one of which is translated by an English sinologist, James Legge and the other is by a Chinese well-known translator, Xu Yuanchong. The author of this paper will make a comparative study between the two English versions from a macro and a micro point of view. From making a comparative study of the two English versions of two translators, the author of this paper will discuss on differences of the two versions and the different translation strategies used in the process of translation, and finally judge which one is better. As the origin of Chinese poetry and other genres of literature, The Book of Songs is the deposit and treasure of Chinese people’s wisdom, which have tremendous implications on the cultivation of the national character of Chinese people. To make a study on the translation of The Book of Songs will help spread Chinese culture and make foreigners have a better knowledge of Chinese poems and Chinese culture.

Key words: The Book of Songs, comparative study, translation, James Legge, Xu Yuanchong

CONTENTS

Abstract

摘要

I. Introduction 

II. The Poetic Features and Historical Status of The Book of Songs

2.1The Contents of The Book of Songs

2.2The Poetic and Musical Features of The Book of Songs

2.3The Historical Status of The Book of Songs

III. English Translation of The Book of Songs

3.1English Translation of The Book of Songs in History

3.2A Detailed Introduction to Two English Versions of The Book of Songs

3.2.1James Legge’s The She-King

3.2.2Xu Yuanchong’s An Unexpurgated Translation of Book of Songs

IV. A Comparative Study of the Two English Versions of The Book of Songs from a Macro Point of View

4.1The Cultural and Personal Backgrounds of the Two Translators

4.1.1About James Legge

4.1.2About Xu Yuanchong

4.2The Two Translators’ Different Theories Regarding Poetry Translation

  4.2.1James Legge’s Theory

  4.2.2Xu’s Theory

V. A Comparative Study of The Two Versions of The Book of Songs from a Micro Point of View

  5.1 The Translation of Lyric1: 关雎

  5.2 The Translation of Lyric129: 蒹葭

VI.Conclusion

Works Cited