Contents Briefing

A Concise History of Chinese Translation is the first systematic study of Chinese translation activities from ancient times to the May 4th Movement in 1919.

The book concentrates on the political ideologies and literary translations of three periods of intense translation activity: the translation of Buddhist sacred literature from India, spanning from Eastern Han( AD 25-220) to the Tang (AD 618-907) and Song Dynasties (AD 960-1279); the translation of scientific and technically orientated writings from the last years of the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368-1644) on into the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644-1911),especially the period after the Opium Wars (1840) and the period before the May 4th Movement.

The book evaluates important translators, their translational products, their translation theories and approaches, the translation organizations, and the rules and regulations of those organizations.

The book therefore contributes considerably to our understanding of the role of Chinese translation. It explores the relationship between translation and other spheres in Chinese culture and history: poetry, religious scriptures, medical books and literature. It also discusses translation activity between China and other nations.

Publisher Profile

Established in 1973, China Translation and Publishing Corporation (CTPC) is a professional translation and publishing organization at the national level. CTPC translates and publishes expert documents for the United Nations and its affiliated agencies; in addition, CTPC provides translation and publishing services for multi-lingual reading materials, foreign language reference materials, foreign language study aids, books on the theories and techniques of translation, and works on internationa...    more about