Liping Bai

Anthology compilation as a purpose-driven activity : Luo Xinzhang’s account of the translation theories in ‘Our country’

With more than 180 essays, mostly Chinese classical writings on translation, Luo Xinzhang’s An Anthology of Essays on Translation, hereafter Anthology, is one of the most comprehensive Chinese anthologies in the field. The essays are arranged in five chapters, according to time sequence, covering five different periods in Chinese history during which translation played a significant part in cultural and social life. The first chapter focuses mainly on Buddhist sutra translation, with a collection of essays from ancient times ranging from the East Han Dynasty (25-220) to the Song Dynasty (960-1279). This is the first Chinese anthology to include primary documentation on the translation of Buddhist sutras. The second chapter covers the period from the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911); the third covers the period from the late Qing Dynasty to the early Republic period; the fourth covers the May 4th Movement (1919) to the establishment of the PRC (1949); and the fifth is dedicated to the contemporary era. In each chapter, the selected essays are followed by a section entitled yanjiu yu ziliao 研究与资料 (Research and Materials); this consists of related studies written at a later time. For instance, ancient writings on Buddhist sutra translation in Chapter One are followed by several articles that include ‘Fanyi wenxue yu fodian’ 翻译 文学与佛典 (Translated Literature and Buddhist Sutras) by Liang Qichao 梁 启超 (1873-1929) and ‘Fojiao de fanyi wenxue’ 佛教的翻译文学 (Translated Buddhist Literary Works) by Hu Shi 胡适 (1891-1962) – two authoritative