On Qian Zhongshu’s Conceptualization of Translation

This book brings new perspectives and insights to the discipline of translation studies at a time when Western theories dominate its main discourse. By highlighting the significant contribution of Chinese scholar Qian Zhongshu, which encompasses a theoretical probing of the process and product of translation in both China and the West, the author demonstrates how Qian’s reconceptualization of the concept of translation expands the discourse to include and integrate concepts from the history of translation in China. The concept of “huajing,” which is one of these cultural perspectives developed by Qian, transcends the conventional view of translation as a linguistic transfer, envisioning it, instead, as a dynamic realm where encounters with meaning between the textual worlds of China and the West can take place.Through a meticulous analysis of Qian’s profound, though stylistically fragmentary, commentaries, the author reveals how his comparative vision creates connections by breaking down linguistic and cultural barriers, challenging notions of untranslatability that often hinder cross-cultural exchange, and anticipating an inclusive and globalized understanding of translation so urgently needed today.