Abstract:

Frequent retranslations of Shakespeare in China have contributed to different discourses on translation and they are important components of the system of Chinese discourse on translation, however, less attention has been paid to the relationship between different translation discourses. Based on translation archives, this article analyzes the succession of Xu Yuanchong’s discourse on translation to that of Zhu Shenghao. First, connotations of “Spiritual Pursuit” by Zhu Shenghao and “Creative Translation” by Xu Yuanchong are summarized through translator’s prefaces or comments with the succession relationship explored; then the relationship is further investigated on the practice level using Zhu’s and Xu’s translation manuscripts of Hamlet with explanations sought via translator’s biography, correspondences and so on. It is discovered that the succession of “Creative Translation” to “Spiritual Pursuit” is reflected from the emphasis on the literacy and artistry of the translation, while the relationship is shown by the readability and performability based on revisions on their translation manuscripts.

Key words: “Spiritual Pursuit” by Zhu Shenghao, “Creative Translation” by Xu Yuanchong, Chinese discourse on translation, succession, translation archive