毕业论文关键词：《山海经》；地名翻译；翻译方法 

Contents

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Shan Hai Ching and Its English Versions 1

1.2 Purpose and Significance of the Study 1

1.3 Framework of the Thesis 2

2. Literature Review 2

2.1 Precious Studies of the English Versions of Shan hai Ching (in China and abroad) 2

2.2 Analysis on Precious Studies 3

2.3 The Translating Methods 3

2.3.1 Literal Translation and Transliteration 3

2.3.2 Domestication and Foreignization 5

2.4 Summary 5

3. The Analysis of the Translations of Anne Birrell and Wang Hong 6

3.1 The Different Translation Samples 6

3.1.1 The Translation of Mountains 6

3.1.2 The Translation of Water 8

3.1.3 The Translation of Towns and Countries 9

3.2 The Causes of the Two Various Translations 9

3.2.1 The Various Translation Strategies 10

3.2.1.1 The Literal Translation and Transliteration 10

3.2.1.2 Domestication and Foreignization 10

3.2.2 The Various Understandings toward the Text 10

4. The Advantages and Disadvantages of the Two Translations 11

4.1 The Advantages of the Two Versions 11

4.2 The Disadvantages of the Two Versions 11

Conclusion 13

References 14

1. Introduction

1.1 Shan Hai Ching and Its English Versions

    Shan Hai Ching, (in pinyin Shan Hai Jing) is a special Chinese classic, which specialized in its wide coverage, regarding it as a compilation of knowledge related to geography, astronomy, history, myths, meteorology, animals, plants, minerals, medicine and religion. Just as the name implies, it covers all the descriptions of HuaXia, one of the names China has been called before, of the world. Without doubt, it could be reputed as an encyclopaedia for the social life of ancient Chinese people, functioning as a never-dimmed star in the Chinese literature domain, sparking so charmingly that we always acquire something meaningful no matter whichever angle we view it from. Versions of the text have existed since the 4th century BC, but the present form was not reached until the early Han Dynasty. It is largely a fabulous geographical and cultural account of pre-Qin China as well as a collection of Chinese mythology. According to the content, it pictures another Eden in Chinese style full of fantastic plants and rare animals, and sets down their advantages and disadvantages that have upon people; it also share the knowledge of minerals. It keeps regional geographical features, records customs and habits, like ancient folk’s dressing, provides research materials for ancient folk’s worship, serves as a mirror of Chinese history and indicates the scientific and technological level at that period.

    The earliest translation of Shan Hai Ching was in a French edition called Chan-Hai-King: Antique Geographie Chinoise, by Leon de Roshy, a French orientalist in 1891, who mainly dealt with the geographical part. In 1978, another episode translation was published by Hwa Kang Press, named The Legendary Creatures of the Shan Hai Ching, translated by John William Schiffeler into English, attaching the attention of the academic to its contribution to medicine and myth. And until 1983, there turned up the first complete version, translated by , translated by Remi Mathieu a French scholar into French. The Italian scholar, Rraiccardo Fcasso published its Italian complete version in 1996, discussing the theme of gender and the illustrations. The American scholar Anne Birrell published ts English cover-to-cover edition, The Classic of Mountains and Seas in 1999, which was characterized in fully literal translation and vulgar Anglo-Saxon vocabularies. (王宏，2012) In 2010, Hunan People’s Publishing House published The Classic of Mountains and Seas, translated by Wang Hong, a senior professor in Soochow University and a bellwether in Chinese classic translation, who always complies with the basic principle of translation, “clarity, smoothness and conciseness”.