On Sinologist Joseph Needham’s Investigation of the History of Science and Technology in Bashu Region and the Translation of Chinese Classics
1. School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Xihua University, Chengdu 610039, China
2. Department of Foreign Languages, Sichuan University of Media and Communications, Chengdu 611745, China
| Abstract: | Joseph Needham (1900-1995), a historian of technology and sinologist from the UK, conducted decades of research and investigation on Chinese science and civilization, including multiple visits to China. He also led the compilation of a 7-volume English version of Science and Civilization in China, achieving important research results. Joseph Needham conducted extensive research on the history of science and technology in the Bashu region (presently, Sichuan Province and Chongqing City), including cities like Chengdu, Yibin, Chongqing, etc. For example, he did research on the history of Taoist science and technology in Chengdu, etc. He also studied the ancient Chinese chemical techniques contained in the Chinese classic book Zhouyi Cantong Qi (The Kinship of the Three according to The Book of Changes), translated a large amount of content into English, and explained it. By sorting out Joseph Needham’s research on the history of science and technology in the Bashu region, this paper proposes the reasons for his emphasis on regional science and technology history, analyzes Joseph Needham’s translated texts, examines his translation strategies, and summarizes relevant translation methods. This is to help strengthen the cross-cultural communication of Bashu science and technology history, and provide a reference for expanding the methods of translating scientific and technological classics and improving their effectiveness in translation practice. |
| Keywords: | Bashu Technology; Translation of Classics; Joseph Needham; Sinologist |
| DOI: | 10.57237/j.cll.2024.02.004 |
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Received: 19 November 2023
Accepted: 17 January 2024
Published Online: 13 April 2024
Funding
| 1. | 四川省高校人文社科重点研究基地巴蜀文化国际传播研究中心项目“古代巴蜀科技文化海外译介及其影响研究——以《中国科学技术史》为中心” (项目编号: 2023YB17) |
| 2. | 四川传媒学院科研处项目“基于诠释学理论的中华优秀典籍对外译介研究” (编号: X20220907) |
| 3. | 四川省国际科技合作(澳新)研究院项目 (编号: AXYJ2023-011) |
References
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