A Comparative Study on the English Translation of the Book of Songs

-- Based on the Translation of Xu Yuanchong and James Legge

Abstract

The Chinese nation has a history of 5000 years. In such a long history, we have constantly developed and created many splendid cultures. Ancient Chinese classics can be said to be the crystallization of all the people of our nation, but also the precious wealth left by ancient ancestors for us. Poetry is a classic of Chinese traditional literature, so the Book of Songs, as the earliest collection of poetry in China, naturally has an irreplaceable position. Civilization is developing, history is moving forward, and the world is gradually becoming connected with each other. As early as the first half of the fifth century, the Book of Songs was introduced to Japan, then to Western Europe, and then to the United States. The Book of Songs was gradually accepted by more and more people, and was translated into many translations. There are many different English versions of the Book of Songs abroad. The two versions selected here are the earliest complete versions of the Book of Songs at home and abroad, which respectively are Book of Poetry translated by Xu Yuanchong and The She King translated by James Legge. Of course, everyone’s translation purposes are different, not to mention people from two different countries, their translation purposes must be different. In the contemporary situation, understanding the different translation purposes of foreign translators for Chinese ancient books and conducting a comparative study of ancient books are conducive to promoting the dissemination of Chinese ancient books and the development of our culture.