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2024, Volume 7,  Issue 4

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Exploration of the Double Value of Literary and Historical Materials in Peregrinação: On the Reasons for Changing the Translated Title in Chinese
JIN Guoping
2024, 7(4): 5-33. doi: 10.19857/j.cnki.ICL.20247401
Abstract:
The Travels of Mendes Pinto （initially known as Peregrinação in Portuguese） is a documentary travelogue by the 16th-century Portuguese explorer Fernão Mendes Pinto （1510？-1583？） on basis of his rich travel experiences in China and the Far East. This work not only broadens forms of literary expression， but also provides us an invaluable window to have a glimpse of the social， cultural and economic conditions of Ming China （1368–1644）. Although the book incorporates the author’s personal imagination and mark of the times， its detailed description of Chinese cities reveals the author’s profound curiosity and deep reverence for Chinese civilization. As a literary work that interweaves reality and fiction， Peregrinação sparked heated discussions in literary history and inspired people to think critically about historical authenticity. The book’s account of the disappearance of Liampo and the rise of Macau coincides with historical facts， further confirming its value as historical material. As an important document of the Great Geographical Discoveries and the early stage of globalization， the book wittily combines the aestheticism of literature， the depths of history， the passion of exploration and the acumen of criticism， which mirrors the complex mentality towards and prolific imaginations about the Eastern world in Europe at that time， and thus proffers a unique historical perspective for critical thinking on colonial expansion. Not only has Peregrinação kept graphic records of the economic and trade exchanges of the Portuguese in the East and Sino-Western cultural exchanges， but also provides valuable materials for studying the early stages of globalization. Its influence spans both literary communities and historical circles， inspiring deep thinking on cultural diversity and global interconnection， and reminding us of the cruciality and ponderance of cultural exchanges and mutual understanding. This project is far more than a literary adventure—it also involves profound considerations around history， culture and human cognition.
[Abstract](40) [PDF 1105KB](2)
Revisiting Homer and The Iliad in Late-Qing China
LI Sher-shiueh
2024, 7(4): 34-53. doi: 10.19857/j.cnki.ICL.20247402
Abstract:
Homer is regarded as a paradigmatic Western poet. As early as the Ming and the Qing dynasties， his name and most famous epic poem， The Illiad， were introduced into China by Christian missionaries and Japanese scholars. Late imperial Chinese writings in several genres refer to Homer and his works often. But unlike in the West， where Homer would come to be known as the foremost poet of antiquity， late Qing authors， eager to learn more about the world outside China， regarded Homer as Greece’s first historian. Reading his works in the contexts of Greek history and world history， they esteemed The Iliad as a record of an important battle， not chiefly as a literary work celebrating mythical Olympian gods.
[Abstract](36) [PDF 1212KB](2)
Special Issue in Memory of Two Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Chinese Comparative Literature：Professor Yue Daiyun and Professor Sun Jingyao
China and the West： Methodologies for Comparison
ZHANG Xudong
2024, 7(4): 54-66. doi: 10.19857/j.cnki.ICL.20247403
Abstract:
In this article， the author examines the complexities of comparing Chinese and Western intellectual and cultural traditions， and argues that traditional methods like“influence”and“parallel”studies fall short in capturing the nuanced differences between these civilizations. He then critiques these older approaches for being limited to superficial comparisons， which often disregards the rich historical， political， and cultural intricacies that shape each tradition. The author suggests that the contemporary task of comparison requires a rethinking of methodologies that account for the dynamic， sometimes conflicting， and evolving identities within both cultures. To this end， he introduces five guiding maxims to construct a more robust comparative framework： focusing on thematic inquiries， establishing shared frames of reference， highlighting dynamic interactions （such as socio-political movements or ideological shifts）， balancing particular cases within universal concepts， and striving for totality in interpretation. These maxims aim to ensure that comparison is not merely academic but grounded in real-world socio-political contexts. By exploring specific themes that resonate across different cultural contexts， the author believes that scholars can illuminate shared human experiences while respecting cultural specificity. A key feature of the proposed methodology of this article is its attention to historical and political forces， which Zhang argues are essential for meaningful comparisons between China and the West. The essay suggests that this framework can reveal how Chinese and Western cultural， intellectual， and political landscapes have shaped—and continue to shape—one another. Ultimately， the article envisions a comparative approach that fosters a deeper understanding of both convergence and divergence， which moves beyond static views of culture to embrace a model that dynamically engages with each tradition's unique complexities and broader implications. This approach， arguably， not only bridges differences but also contributes to a global dialogue of shared human experience.
[Abstract](55) [PDF 875KB](6)
The Italian Sinologist and Mathematician Giovanni Vacca in China： A Contribution to the Understanding of Chinese Sciences in the West
Lio Tiziana
2024, 7(4): 67-79. doi: 10.19857/j.cnki.ICL.20247404
Abstract:
In 1907， Italian mathematician Giovanni Vacca undertook a journey of profound historical significance from Genoa to China， with the aim of collecting ancient Chinese mathematical texts， investigating the history of Sino-Western scientific exchange， and presenting a more authentic and nuanced image of China， often misunderstood in the West. Over the course of this two-year expedition （1907–1908）， Vacca explored the unique characteristics of Chinese mathematics， conducted meticulous research on the binary system within the I Ching （Book of Changes）， and studied the development of ancient Chinese science and technology. Through comprehensive fieldwork and the collection of primary sources， he amassed a trove of firsthand materials， substantially enhancing Western perspectives on Chinese science and laying a valuable foundation for Sino-Italian cultural exchange.In 2016， Vacca’s travel journals and collected documents were published in Italy， providing contemporary scholars with an indispensable historical resource. This study not only highlights Vacca’s academic accomplishments and his position within Western Sinology， but also offers a thorough examination of his views on the constraints that limited scientific advancement in ancient China. Vacca contended that China’s scientific progress was hindered by a combination of geographic， historical， and cultural factors， most notably a lack of sustained interaction with external sources， which limited both innovation and the spread of scientific ideas. Yet he highly esteemed the unique contributions of traditional Chinese science， particularly in astronomy， mathematics， and medicine， which he saw as expressions of China’s rich cultural heritage and intellectual tradition.Vacca further suggested that while Chinese science diverged from the Western trajectory， this divergence allowed it to preserve distinct features that held complementary potential to Western scientific models. Serving as a crucial bridge between Western and Chinese scientific understanding， Vacca’s research established a solid foundation for future Sinological scholarship and intercultural scientific discourse， offering enduring insights into ancient scientific philosophy and methodologies.
[Abstract](41) [PDF 848KB](4)
Thoughts on Prof. Sun Jingyao’s Scholarship: Also on the Generative Logic and Practical Significance of the Principle of “Three Combinations”
LIU Zhenning
2024, 7(4): 80-92. doi: 10.19857/j.cnki.ICL.20247405
Abstract:
Always upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground， Professor Sun Jingyao had dedicated himself to the study and development of comparative literature for a lifetime. In the last decade of his life in particular， in order to further promote disciplinary construction and theoretical innovation on the virgin land of Comparative Literature Studies in China， he devoted himself to field investigations and painstaking personal practice in Guizhou and came up with the conception of “Three Combinations” of Sino-foreign literary theories， Sino-foreign texts， and field studies. This not only led to the creative transformation of his personal academic methodology， but also shed considerable light on disciplinary construction and development of Chinese Comparative Literature in a new era. This paper seeks to explore the evolutionary logic and practical significance of the “Three Combinations” Principle.
[Abstract](37) [PDF 806KB](0)
Articles
From Intersubjectivity to Interculturality：On the Chinese Version Selection of the First Complete English Translation of Canglang Shihua
ZHONG Houtao
2024, 7(4): 93-106. doi: 10.19857/j.cnki.ICL.20247406
Abstract:
In 1996， Canglang Shihua， a classic book of Chinese poetry remark in the Song Dynasty， was fully translated into English for the first time. In the process of information encoding， transcoding， and decoding， the translator selectively checked the original version of the translation， refusing the authoritative Chinese version， and deliberately strengthened the proximity with the full German translation. This kind of version deviation， category reset， and translator's subjective aesthetics have effectively contributed to the overall interpretation and re-presentation of Canglang Shihua in the full English translation. This provides different modes of thinking， and renders translation a product of collision and conflict， reconciliation and balance among Chinese， English and German cultures.
[Abstract](23) [PDF 802KB](1)
The Boundaries of Translating Du Fu’s Poetry： Michael Wood’s In the Footsteps of Du Fu as a Case Study
QI Yue
2024, 7(4): 107-127. doi: 10.19857/j.cnki.ICL.20247407
Abstract:
Michael Wood and his documentary Du Fu： China’s Greatest Poet have gained popularity among Chinese audiences， while his recently published book， China’s Greatest Poet： In the Footsteps of Du Fu， is still unknown to Chinese readers， but it may be even more intriguing than the documentary in terms of its academic content and cultural significance. Indeed， as Wood well pointed out， “［…］ great literature breaks across the boundaries of translation to speak to us all.” But translation is a basic prerequisite for dialogues between cultures of different languages. Whether in translation theory or translation practice， “the boundaries of translation” cannot be ignored. The translation of Du Fu’s poetry and even that of the classics of Chinese traditional culture are very different from the translation of general Chinese texts. It makes us think about how to grasp the scale of translation， where its boundaries lie， and how to break through. As an English historian who barely knows Chinese， Wood has borrowed and adapted various translations of Du Fu’s poetry to make it accessible and understandable to Western readers. His modifications include deletions， additions， replacement of words， reordering of lines， and sometimes even retranslations. What he does is much like the translating practices of Lin Shu and Ezra Pound， and Du Fu’s poems are satisfactorily conveyed through his work. It indicates that it is indeed possible to bridge the gap and achieve cultural exchange and mutual understanding through translation. The success of Wood’s translation tellingly lies not in his familiarity with the Chinese language， but in his understanding of the cultural backgrounds of both China and the West and the reception of Du Fu’s poetry， as well as his choice of translation strategy. The translation of Du Fu’s poetry is of typical significance for the translation of classical Chinese literature. His ability to convey the essence of Du Fu’s poetry in a way that the Western reader can understand provides a vivid example of cross-cultural communication with important theoretical significance and practical value.
[Abstract](41) [PDF 1037KB](16)
Reviews
Review and Prospect of the Research on the Translation of Honglou meng： Comment on The Translator’s Mirror for the Romantic：Cao Xueqin’s Dream and David Hawkes’ Stone
QIAO Yunkai, ZHU Mingsheng
2024, 7(4): 128-144. doi: 10.19857/j.cnki.ICL.20247408
Abstract:
The study of the translation of Honglou meng， as a heated topic in Honglou meng studies， has been going on for more than forty years， and a large number of research results have emerged in domestic and international academic circles. International scholars such as Wang Jin and Laurence K. P. Wong have tried to cut into the story of Honglou meng and its translation from a theoretical perspective， placing the translation under the theoretical framework and focusing on issues such as the linguistic styles of different translations and the translation strategies of different translators. The various works published by domestic scholars such as Feng Qinghua and Feng Quangong mainly focus on the comparison between different translations and technical issues of translation， but pay less attention to the position of translation and strategies of translators with different cultural identities. Most of these domestic and foreign studies do not regard the translation and the original as independent works， but rather judge the quality of the translation on basis of the original work. However， many domestic and foreign scholars are keenly aware of the value of studying translation as an independent work. Fan Shengyu’s book The Translator’s Mirror for the Romantic： Cao Xueqin’s Dream and David Hawkes’ Stone， published in 2022， is a pioneering work that systematically studies Hawkes’s translation as an independent literary work. Based on the first-hand materials left by Hawkes and Minford， Fan shows readers the vast cultural world beyond the text of Hawkes’s translation from the perspective of reading， writing and the art of revision in a non-theoretical way of textual close-reading. A review of representative research works on English translations can， on the one hand， review the goals that have been achieved； on the other hand， it helps navigate the direction of future research on the translation of Honglou meng that promotes Chinese literature to go global， exploring a unique way to make Chinese literary experience a world literary experience.
[Abstract](39) [PDF 839KB](1)
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