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

Year 2015, Volume: 2 Issue: 1, 97 - 105, 30.04.2015

Manyuan Hua Xianfa Hua

https://doi.org/10.17275/per.15.07.2.1

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

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