Abstract:

The focal point of knowledge translation history rests with the translation in knowledge development, and it gives equal consideration to the internal and external history of translation. Therefore, this paper explores the modern chemical historian Lu-Ch’iang Wu’s English translation of Baopuzi Neipian from the perspective of knowledge translation history, trying to uncover the inter-lingual processing, reconstruction, and dissemination of Chinese ancient alchemy knowledge. It is revealed that Wu aims to promote the global dissemination of ancient Chinese chemical history, and he adheres to a truth-seeking attitude to select the Chinese version. He also emphasizes the preservation of cultural heterogeneity in science-related historical materials and balances the Western readers’ expectations. His deed should be highlighted in the translation history of Chinese science, and he contributed to the disciplinary history study of Chinese science and civilization internationally. It is thus advocated that knowledge translation history should be valued for the study of English translation history of Chinese scientific and technological classics, thus revealing the global significance of Chinese science knowledge translation from a broader historical perspective.

Key words: knowledge translation history, history of Chinese historiography of science, Lu-Ch’iang Wu, Baopuzi Neipian