Cultural Interaction Studies and Research on Modern East-West Linguistic and Cultural Encounters： A Case Study of Aesop’s Fables in Chinese Translation

The question as to “what is cultural interaction studies” invites diverse answers from various disciplines and perspectives. That said， its foundational methodology， namely， “observing the center from the periphery，” remains consistent. This paper examines the translation and dissemination of Aesop’s Fables in modern China as a case study to explore the mechanisms of East-West linguistic and cultural encounters during the eastward transmission of Western learning. The study reveals that the missionary community constructed unique intercultural communication models through the translation of Aesop. Not only did their translation strategies demonstrate a profound grasp of Chinese linguistics， but they also reflected the methodological value of “observing the center from the periphery” in cultural interactions. Moreover， Chinese translations of Aesop’s Fables exhibit distinct localization tendencies， while the “Westward Transmission of Aesop” phenomenon highlights the bidirectional nature of cross-cultural exchanges. By synthesizing achievements in Sino-Western Chinese language studies and tracing the history of Aesop in Chinese translation， this essay provides empirical evidence for cultural interaction studies. The author also lists sources and includes a comprehensive bibliography in the hope of facilitating researchers with like interests.