Contrastive Analysis of the English Translation of ＂Bi＂ in The Book of Songs from the Perspective of Three Beauties Theory

Liu Huang ； Guangwei Li

《International Journal of Social Science and Education Research》 5卷9期 (2022/09) Pp. 743-755

https://doi.org/10.6918/IJOSSER.202209_5(9).0105

摘要

From the perspective of rhetoric, ＂bi＂ in The Book of Songs is an analogy, mainly including three basic types: simile, metaphor, and metonymy, which abounds in The Book of Songs. Therefore, studying the English translation of ＂bi＂ plays an important role in understanding the artistic beauties of ＂bi＂ and The Book of Songs. Guided by Three Beauties Theory, this study, with reference to the definition of ＂bi＂ (simile, metaphor, and metonymy) in Chinese Rhetoric, intends to use a combination of quantitative and qualitative research method, and analyze the translation methods of the sentences with ＂bi＂ by Xu Yuanchong and Arthur David Waley. The purpose is to explore the extent to which beauty in sense, beauty in sound, and beauty in form are presented in the two translations. The study found that the two translators both presented beauty in sense, beauty in sound, and beauty in form of ＂bi＂ well, in which Xu's presentation of beauty in sound higher than Arthur Waley's because of Xu's use of end rhymes. By using appropriate translation methods, the two translators managed to reproduce the three beauties of ＂bi＂ and provided valuable experience for the English translation of ＂bi＂, especially Xu Yuanchong's translation.

關鍵字

Three Beauties Theory ； The Book of Songs ； Bi ； English Translation

參考文獻

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Waley, A. D. The Books of Songs. (New York: the Grove Process, America 1996).

Wang Xijie. Chinese Rhetoric. (Beijing: The Commercial Press, China 2014).