The Evolution of the English Translation of the Core Concept "Tian" in the Analects and an Analysis of Translator Motivation

Abstract

Confucianism is an important part of Chinese culture, and the Analects, as a Confucian classic, is central to understanding it. The evolution of the English translation of the core concept "Tian" (Heaven) in the Analects reflects the changing Western understanding of Confucian culture. Taking the English translations of the Analects by seven translators, including James Legge, Ku Hung-ming, and Arthur Waley, as the research subject, this paper analyzes the evolution of the English translation of "Tian," a core Confucian concept, from religious interpretation to de-religious and philosophical interpretation. The study finds that translator motivation and national orientation influence translators' translation strategies, and that the evolution of the English translation of "Tian" reflects a paradigm shift in Western Sinological research and the interplay of translator subjectivity. These findings offer implications for the cross-cultural dissemination of the Confucian classics in the context of the contemporary "going global" of Chinese culture.