2.1.2 Definition of Ideology5

    2.1.3 Definition of Chinese Classics 6

    2.2 Problems in the Previous Researches7   

Chapter Three  Result and Discussion

    3.1 The Relation between Cultural Background and the Act of Translation

    3.1.1 Cultural Background Affects the Act of Translation9

    3.1.2 Misreading and Misinterpretation Arising from Cultural    

        Background of Translator 11

3.2 The Relation between Ideology and Translation 

       3.2.1 Leading Ideology in England in 18 Century12

       3.2.2 Misinterpretation Arising from Different Ideology18

Chapter Four Conclusion 20

Reference.22

 On the Misreading and Misinterpretation in English   

   Translation of Chinese Classics-with Reference to Arthur Waley’s Version of Lun Yu

Chapter One  Introduction

1.1 The Significance of Lun Yu and it’s English Translation  

    Confucianism plays an important role in Chinese culture, and has greatly affected the international culture since it was introduced to the west. Afterwards, Confucius was respected as one of the top ten famous thinkers. For example, German venerates Confucius as one of the founders of pedagogy. At the entrance of a park in Berlin, there stands a marble statue of Confucius, and his words “Never do to others what you would not like them to do to you” is engraved on the base of the statue. In January 1988, the first session of international meeting of Nobel Laureates in Paris took the 21st century-oriented theme to draw 16 conclusions, one of which is that if human kind wants to survive, we need to back to 25 centuries ago to strive the wisdom of Confucius.

Lun Yu, the epitome of Confucianism, is among the list of the 60 books anyone has to read in his lifetime. Lun Yu, written in quotation style, mainly consists of Confucius’ record of words and deeds of his disciples, as well as some recall of Confucius’ words and deeds finished by his pupils. As one of the classics of Confucianism, Lun Yu carries a remarkable meaning in transmitting Chinese culture to foreign scholars, which means great importance in the accuracy of its translation.                  

As is recorded, the first one to translate Lun Yu and introduce it to the west is the missionary Matteo Ricci. His Latin version of Lun Yu was published in Paris in 1687, and was later translated into other western languages. Since then, Lun Yu, in different versions, has being spread for several centuries in the west, and the Latin word Confucius adopted by missionaries is still in use now. 

English translation of Chinese classics is the main part of transmission of Chinese culture, and the prosperity of a nation partially relies on the development of its own culture as well as on the absorption of foreign culture. Therefore, the translation field should find a better way to satisfy the need for culture transmission.

1.2 Background Information about Arthur Waley    

Waley, born in England, studied in King’s College London from 1907 to 1910, and dropped out of it for eye disease. He once worked in British museum to categorize and organize the Chinese painting and calligraphy. In 1929, Waley resigned to devote himself to writing and translating. As a sinologist in 20 century, he kept his mind on English translation of Chinese classics. As is recorded, Waley had published more than 40 works and translations, over 80 papers and 100 book reviews. Kenneth wrote in the book review of Yuan Mei by Waley that, “over the past 40 years, Waley has been the leader of Chinese poem translation”. The English version of Lun Yu--The Analects was first published in 1938, and was introduced to China in 1998 by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.