Abstract:

“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.

Key words: Transknowletology, yangtao, English translation, plant names