A Retrospect of the Studies of Traditional Chinese Translation Theory in China in the Past Forty Years: Mainly with Reference to the Mainland of China

Abstract

Before the year 1978, in the mainland of China, there had been few attempts to study traditional Chinese translation theories. From 1978 when China began to pursue the national policy of reform and opening-up, the mainland of China saw three stages of the traditional Chinese translation theory (TCTT) studies: collection of the TCTT resources, argumentation for and affirmation of its contemporary value, and full swing studies with its modern interpretation as the main thrust. Troubled by the problems with itself, TCTT has entered its late phase of development, but as an object of interpretation, it will always be of great value. In China’s map of the TCTT studies today are five major domains which are advancing simultaneously, i.e. studies of its contribution to the construction of China’s new Translation Studies as a discipline and of the world’s Translation Studies as a general discipline; of its systematic interpretation; of translation theorists; of some specific aspects of it; and of TCTT and Western translation theories in comparison. Some achievements therein have been translated into English and published abroad. It is suggested that in future more efforts be made for compiling a history of TCTT in its true sense, furthering its modern transformation, integrating Chinese and Western translation theories better; applying new approaches to studying TCTT and probing a meta-theory for its studies, and translating more classical texts and relevant research achievements into other languages for more productive academic exchange with foreign scholarship.