理雅各《诗经》英译本所绘夏商周三代社会图景

理雅各《诗经》英译本,从宗教、政治、婚姻等若干方面,描绘出了中国夏商周三代社会图景。在19世纪中后期的特定时代背景下,理雅各向中国人提供了新的思想观念与新的理解方式。他山之石,可以攻玉,应充分肯定理雅各《诗经》英译本的思想价值。然而,理雅各《诗经》英译本给出的夏商周三代社会图景,无论在"忠实地反映"方面,还是在"艺术地再现"方面,都还存在一些问题。问题主要来自理雅各对《诗经》原著的理解和诠释。中学与西学的差异,构成了理解和诠释的障碍;而文化的认同在更深的层面上影响着理解和诠释。理雅各的《诗经》英译本带着传教的企图,夹杂着西方基督教文化的因子,这是我们在评价其思想与学术价值的时候需要仔细分辨的。

Social Pictures of Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties in James Legge's Book of Poetry

The Book of Poetry translated by James Legge seems to be a vivid picture of religion,politics,marriage and other social aspects in three dynasties of ancient China,Xia,Shang and Zhou.In the later 19th century James Legge diaplayed his typical understanding of this ancient Chinese classic.There is no doubt that Legge's English version is valuable,however,the social and historical picture beneath the translation is twisted and untrue.The problem comes from translator's misunderstanding and excessive interpretation that are partly due to the insurmountable differences between the western and Chinese culture,and more due to the different degree of his recognition for different culture.We should pay much attention to translator's purposes of spreading Christianity as a missionary and his cultural superiority between the lines.