This study focuses on the translation of Buddhist scriptures into Chinese, specifically the Faju jing, a Chinese version of the Dhammapada completed in the third century CE. It reveals that the Faju jing is not a straightforward translation but a combination of different sources. The translator, Zhi Qian, faced challenges in integrating multiple translation practices, dealing with diverse original Indian languages, incorporating pre-existing phrases from other translators’ work, and managing divergent opinions within the translation team regarding the translation style. This multi-layered process of translation, involving the participation of multiple translators, also likely occurred in other early translations. These challenges extended beyond mere comprehension of the Indian text, resulting in potential errors and deviations from straightforward translations. It is possible that some mistranslations were a consequence of integrating multiple traditions within the source text, making it difficult for translators to maintain a consistent linguistic framework and leading to errors. Furthermore, this study highlights the remarkable efforts of Chinese translators who collaborated with foreign monks in translation groups. It emphasizes the important role of Chinese translators in integrating diverse translation processes and refining the language to suit Chinese readers. They incorporated earlier translations and modified the language to align with Chinese forms. Overall, this case study sheds light on the complexity of early Chinese Buddhist translations, influenced by the integration of multiple traditions and the localization of the texts. It underscores the significance of Chinese translators in the translation process and their contributions to the development of Chinese Buddhist literature.
目次
Abstract 1 Keywords 1 1. Introduction 1 2. The First Challenge: Integrating Diverse Translation Practices 2 3. The Second Challenge: Dealing with Multilingual Source Materials 3 4. The Third Challenge: Incorporating and Refining Previous Translations 5 4.1. Predecessors’ Translations 5 4.2. Zhi Qian’s Other Translations 7 5. The Fourth Challenge: Adapting to Diverse Translation Style 9 6. Rethinking the Factors behind “Mistranslation” 9 7. Unveiling the Role of Native Chinese Translators 12 8. Conclusions 13 Funding 14 Institutional Review Board Statement 14 Informed Consent Statement 14 Data Availability Statement 14 Conflicts of Interest 14 Abbreviations 14 Notes 14 References 18
