Cross-cultural transmission and reader response analysis of Huangdi Neijing in the anglophone world (1694–2025)

Abstract

Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine) is not only the foundational work of traditional Chinese medicine but also a canon of ancient Chinese natural philosophy and humanistic practice, serving as a vital component in the overseas translation and dissemination of the classics of Chinese traditional culture. The history of English translation of the Huangdi Neijing dates back over 300 years, during which 26 English versions were produced. However, research on the reception of these English versions in the English-speaking countries remains insufficient. This research uses the 26 English versions of Huangdi Neijing as its subject, employing qualitative and quantitative research methods. Based on a review of these English versions, it uses data reflecting the reader reception condition, such as library collections with the computer terminal, the citation data of these English versions, the sentiment orientation of these reviews etc. Using data as its foundation, this research analyzes the factors influencing reader reception, aiming to enable Chinese knowledge and ideas to deeply engage in global knowledge creation and ideological interaction, thereby deepening the exchange and mutual learning between Chinese and other civilizations.