“羊桃”最早记录于《神农本草经》,至《本草纲目》以后,关于“羊桃”是“猕猴桃”还是“五稜子”的植物基原争议,影响到中国传统典籍中“羊桃”的英译, 成为一个谜案。本研究以《神农本草经》和《诗经》英译名称差异入手,结合历代本草学典籍和《诗经》注疏文献资料对“羊桃”植物基原进行考证,以现代植物学名为纽带,提出“羊桃”植物基原为猕猴桃科藤山柳属植物“猕猴桃藤山柳”的观点,从知识翻译学视角对“羊桃”在非文学和文学语境中的名称英译策略进行了研究。本文认为,在典籍草木名物英译实践中应力求“真”“善”“美”,才能实现《诗经》草木名物汉英名称的“名”“实”“状”正确关联,促进地方性植物学知识与不同文化圈的交融,推动地方性知识参与全球性知识体系的建构。

“Yangtao”, firstly recorded in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (God’s Canon of Materia Medica), with actinidia and carambola together, is included in Ben Cao Gang Mu (Compendium of Materia Medica). There was a considerable controversy over the origin of the plant “yangtao” after Ming Dynasty. The dispute mainly focuses on whether the origin of the plant “yangtao” is Actinidia chinensis, Averrhoa carambola or something else. It has influenced the English translation of “yangtao” in traditional Chinese classics. Based on the investigation of the English translation of “yangtao” in Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing and Shi Jing (The Book of Poetry), the study elaborates on the origin of the plant “yangtao”, the translation strategies of “yangtao” in non-literary and literary contexts from the perspective of transknowletology and identifies the origin of the plant “yangtao” as Clematoclethra scandens subs. Actinidioides (ACTINIDIACEAE) combined with the botanic binomial system. This paper proposes that in Chinese classics translation practice, the principle of truth, virtue and beauty should be pursued to realize the correct correlation of “name”, “object” and “description”, aiming to promote the communication of local botanical knowledge in different cultural community and the construction of global knowledge system.