Abstract:

Ezra Pound’s Cathay, the translation of classical Chinese poetry, stands as a monumental achievement in the international dissemination of Chinese culture. This paper explores how the concept of mutual learning among civilizations manifests in the translation’s motivation, techniques, and style. It argues that Ezra Pound’s work served as an emotional outlet for the worldview his time. In terms of technique, he strived to align with the reading habits of the target audience, facilitating the dissemination and re-canonization of the source texts within the target cultural sphere. Regarding style, Pound steadfastly pursued the elimination of cultural barriers, synthesizing his dual cultural cultivation in both East and West to forge a clear and natural poetic voice. Pound’s Cathay holds profound significance not only for the construction of Chinese poetry within “world literature” but also offers valuable insights for mutual learning between Chinese and Western civilizations and the international dissemination of Chinese culture.

Key words: Ezra Pound, Cathay, Poetry Translation, Mutual Learning among Civilizations