Research Article

Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History with special reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty

Volume: 2 Number: 1 April 30, 2015
Manyuan Hua *, Xianfa Hua
EN

Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History with special reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty

Abstract

The present-day widespread adoption of the interpretation of the Wén 文(refined or elegant style)-Zhì 质 (unhewn or plain style) Debate in Chinese sutra translation has meant that such an interpretation is only one of methods of or approaches to sutra translation both in sutra translation studies and in the education of Chinese translation history. This paper argues that it is necessary for researchers in general and teachers in particular to have a clear understanding of the traditional Chinese poetics behind and the implication of this debate. The analysis identifies a number of issues of the Wén-Zhì Debate such as its origin, source and implication from a historical perspective and clarifies the strong influence of functional poectics upon sutra translation as well as sutra translators. With special reference to Xuan Zang as a good example who well actualized the concept of “To be a good sutra translator means to be a good man” in sutra translation in Tang Dynasty, the paper concludes with suggestions for reinterpreting the Wén-Zhì Debate both in sutra translation studies and in the education of Chinese translation history by taking into account the influence of the Chinese traditional poetics as well as the ethical aspect of the translator.

Keywords

the Wén-Zhì Debate,sutra translation,reinterpretating,traditional poetics,Xuan Zang

References

  1. Chen, Fukang 陈福康(1992). Zhongguo yixue lilun shigao 中国译学理论史稿[A Draft History of Chinese Translation Theory] [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
  2. Cheung, Martha P. Y.(2010). An Anthology of Chinese Discourse on Translation—Volume 1: From Earliest Times to the Buddhist Project[C]. Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
  3. Confucius(1998). The Analects[M]. trans. by Waley, Arthur. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.
  4. Dao, Xuan 道宣(2014).Xugaosengzhuan 续高僧传 [An Additional Collecton of Biographies of Eminent Buddhist Monks in China] [Z].Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.
  5. Delisle, Jean and Judith Woodsworth(1995). Translators Through History[C]. Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
  6. Dong, Zhongshu 董仲舒(1975). Chunqiu fanlou 春秋繁露 [Politics Talk] [M]. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.
  7. Seng, You 僧祐 (2013) .Chusanzong jiji 出三藏记集[A Collection of Records on the Emanation of the Chinese Tripitaka][Z]. Beijing: Zhonghua Book Company.
  8. Hua, Xianfa & Hua Manyuan(2014). Fojing fanyizhong “Wen-Zhi zhizheng” de zhongguo shixue chanshi 佛经翻译中“文质之争”的中国诗学阐释 [A Modern Interpretation of the Wen and Zhi Debate in Sutra Translation from the Perspective of Chinese Poetics][J]. Journal of Hubei University, 5:138-142.
  9. Hui, Li and Yan Cong 慧立, 彦悰(2003).Xuan Zang 玄奘[ Biography of Xuan Zang] [M]. Beijing: Chinese Social Scence Press.
  10. Liang, Qichao 梁启超(2010).Liang Qichao Foxue Xuan 梁启超佛学选 [Selected Works of Liang Qichao on Buddhism] [M].Changsha: Yuelu Book Company.
APA
Hua, M., & Hua, X. (2015). Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History with special reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty. Participatory Educational Research, 2(1), 97-105. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.15.07.2.1
AMA
1.Hua M, Hua X. Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History with special reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty. PER. 2015;2(1):97-105. doi:10.17275/per.15.07.2.1
Chicago
Hua, Manyuan, and Xianfa Hua. 2015. “Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History With Special Reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty”. Participatory Educational Research 2 (1): 97-105. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.15.07.2.1.
EndNote
Hua M, Hua X (April 1, 2015) Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History with special reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty. Participatory Educational Research 2 1 97–105.
IEEE
[1]M. Hua and X. Hua, “Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History with special reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty”, PER, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 97–105, Apr. 2015, doi: 10.17275/per.15.07.2.1.
ISNAD
Hua, Manyuan - Hua, Xianfa. “Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History With Special Reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty”. Participatory Educational Research 2/1 (April 1, 2015): 97-105. https://doi.org/10.17275/per.15.07.2.1.
JAMA
1.Hua M, Hua X. Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History with special reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty. PER. 2015;2:97–105.
MLA
Hua, Manyuan, and Xianfa Hua. “Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History With Special Reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty”. Participatory Educational Research, vol. 2, no. 1, Apr. 2015, pp. 97-105, doi:10.17275/per.15.07.2.1.
Vancouver
1.Manyuan Hua, Xianfa Hua. Reinterpreting The Wén-Zhì Debate in the Education of Translation History with special reference to Sutra Translator Xuan Zang in Tang Dynasty. PER. 2015 Apr. 1;2(1):97-105. doi:10.17275/per.15.07.2.1