Abstract:

Cognitive estrangement is a formidable barrier to the outward translation of Chinese literature (OTCL), for which the Luian mindological awareness of benxin (original innocent mind) provides a solution. The cognitive bias of Chinese translators is characterized as an obsession with textual meaning, a partial-horizon interpretation that is incompatible with other perspectives and thus leads to the isolating mindset recognized for footnoting. Furthermore, this mindset is a cause of translators’ alienation from foreign readers, but if the obsession with textual meaning is transcended, benxin would emerge as the ultimate source of cognition, allowing access toward the ideo-realm known as being footnoted. Benxin, which is released through introspection, eliminates translators’ cognitive barriers, generates a vision that is harmoniously compatible with foreign readers’, and enhances cognitive empathy, thereby facilitating acceptance of OTCL. This Luian orientation contributes to the distinctive discourses of China’s translation studies and, by extension, to the country’s culturally confident national consciousness.

Key words: OTCL, a sense of benxin, footnoting, being footnoted, cognitive empathy