Three-Character Classic is the traditional Chinese classic enlightenment which conveys perpetual philosophy with brief and popular words. Children in ancient times learn characters and ethics via it. It has been translated into other languages and has been spread to other countries since Ming Dynasty. In 1990, it was listed among series of children’s morality by UNESCO.

There have been many achievements in the study of C-E translation of it, but most of them focus on analysis of characteristics and translation   methods of different versions. There is little pertinent research analyzing dissemination effect of English versions in the light of cultural translation. Plural Complementarism was proposed by Professor Gu Zhengkun in 1980s, including absolute standard, supreme standard and concrete standard. As an important representative of contemporary translation theories, it is largely affected by Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism in Chinese traditional culture, especially by Chuang Tzu. This thesis compares two English versions of Three-Character Classic translated by Herbert Allen Giles, a sinologist and Zhao Yanchun, a native scholar from the perspective of Plural Complementarism from six aspects - meaning, form, rhythm, purpose, cultural dissemination and overseas accepting effect. It is aimed at discovering proximity of the two English versions to the original text and relationship of the two versions on dissemination effect.

1.2 Significance of the Research

Chinese traditional culture, as a fundamental basis, provides wisdom and thought for innovation of modern culture. It exists in new forms in people’s minds through ablution of modern and contemporary times. Chinese culture’s going-out calls for a new discourse system. Meanwhile, translation of Chinese classics plays an indispensable part in the construction of Chinese discourse system as a crucial way for Chinese culture to enter the world. The thesis does research on C-E translation of Three-Character Classic, a traditional Chinese classic enlightenment. In the context of how to make Chinese classics retain the original flavor as much as possible in the process of spreading overseas, this thesis is of theoretical and practical significance.

Besides, it is intended to propagate a new perspective for researches,  that is Plural Complementarism which is proposed by Gu Zhengkun. This theory can be utilized to assist in studies in that it applies flexible translation   criteria to different translation purposes and texts. Also, this theory can be used to direct translation practice.

1.3 Structure of the Thesis

The thesis is pided into five chapters. In the first chapter, background and significance of the research are stated. The second chapter conducts studies of C-E translation of Chinese classics and studies of C-E translation of Three-Character Classic. The third chapter is comprised of four sections, which encompass Plural Complementarism, three strata of standards in PC, relationship of three strata of standards and breakthrough of PC. The fourth chapter plays a fundamental role in the whole thesis. Initially, the strategy of Chinese culture’s  “going-out” is illustrated. Then, it presents two   English versions of Three-Character Classic translated by Herbert  Allen  Giles and Zhao Yanchun. Afterwards, complementary study between Giles’s and Zhao’s versions is demonstrated from six concrete standards - meaning, form, rhythm, purpose, cultural dissemination and overseas accepting effect. The last chapter is conclusion, summing up the primary findings and deficiencies of  the research and giving some advice for further studies.

Ⅱ. Literature Review

2.1 Studies of C-E Translation of Chinese Classics

We can find 955 results when entering “Studies of C-E Translation of Chinese Classics” as theme on CNKI, thus it is apparent that scholars have achieved quite a lot on it. Tracing back to 2000, Li Wenge wrote an article named Cultural Connotations and Translation of Chinese Cultural Classics, mainly discussing the difficulties and obstacles in the translation of Chinese cultural classics. In 2001, On Several Problems of Chinese Traditional Culture in Cross-cultural Translation was written by Guo Shangxing. In 2005, The Significance of C-E Translation of Chinese Classics of Liu Xingfeng was published, which analyzes the meaning of C-E translation of Chinese Classics according to its history and current situation. In the same year, Xu Duo and Xu Jun wrote C-E Translation and Dissemination of Chinese Classics - Evaluation and Reflection on “Greater Chinese Library”, in which they pointed out that in the course of the implementation of the strategy of Chinese culture’s “going-out”, special significance should be attached to C-E translation and dissemination of Chinese classics. In 2006, Yell for C-E Translation of Chinese Classics - A Speech at the Third National Conference on Chinese Classics Translation written by Wang Rongpei explores theories and practices of C-E translation of Chinese classics. In  2007,  Lu Minhua wrote How to Deal with Cultural Elements in Translation and this master thesis concludes that translators should pay attention to readers’ cultural knowledge. Huang Zhongxi’s The Cause of C-E Translation of Chinese Classics: Opportunities and Challenges was delivered in 2008. It summarizes four characteristics of the development of C-E translation of Chinese classics and probes into translation strategies that translators should attach importance to. In 2009, a master thesis called A Study of James Legge, Giles, Wiley and Their C-E Translation of Chinese Classics written by Tao Lan  appeared, which explores the contribution of the three sinologists to the development of Chinese translation studies. In 2010, C-E Translation of Chinese Classics in 21st Century: Who Should Translate and How to Translate? of Li Haijun was projected. In this article, it is stated that C-E translation of Chinese classics in 21st century requires not only the help of western sinologists but also the endeavor of Chinese contemporary English scholars and translators. In the same year, Guo Shangxing wrote On Several Basic Problems of C-E Translation of Chinese Classics, stressing that C-E translation of Chinese classics ought to maintain Chinese cultural personality and promote global cultural persity. In 2011, Research and Enlightenment of Overseas Reading Market of C-E Translation of Chinese Classics - An Investigation into the English Versions of Chinese Classics in Amazon of Chen Mei and Wen Jun was reported. One of their findings is that most of the translators of English versions of Chinese classics on the site are native English translators. In 2012, C-E Translation of Chinese Classics: Achievements, Problems and Countermeasures was written by Wang Hong. This paper reviews the achievements made in C-E translation of Chinese classics, analyzes the existing problems and puts forward some concrete countermeasures. In the next year, Wang Rongpei also discussed something about purpose, practice, status quo and planning of C-E translation of Chinese classics in Some Understanding of C-E Translation of Chinese Classics. In 2014, one doctoral dissertation titled A Study of English Translation of Chinese Cultural Classics in the 19th Century written by Zhao Changjiang analyzes the development of C-E translation of Chinese Classics systematically. It clarifies the motivation and purpose of missionaries and diplomats in 19th century of translating Chinese cultural classics. About two months later, C-E Translation of Classics and Chinese Culture’s Going-out of Qiu Hemin was published. It inquires into the relationship between the dissemination of Chinese classics abroad and Chinese culture’s going-out in the context of globalization. In 2015, Wang Hong and Liu Xingfeng wrote A Study of C-E Translation of Chinese Classics in Contemporary Context, which also sorts out achievements, problems and countermeasures of C-E translation of Chinese classics similar to C-E Translation of Chinese Classics: Achievements, Problems and Countermeasures of Wang Hong in 2012. In 2016, On C-E Translation of Chinese Classics and Its Dissemination Overseas of Bi Ran was delivered and it offers some advice on spreading Chinese culture. In the same year, “The Belt and Road Initiative”- New Opportunities for C-E Translation of Chinese Classics by Yang Junjun and Liu Ziyue summarizes the challenges for C-E translation of Chinese classics and analyzes how the strategy of “the belt and road initiative” has been propelling C-E translation of Chinese  classics directly and indirectly in promoting communication between perse cultures, knowing others’ needs and cultivating more professional translator of Chinese classics. In the same year, Zhao Yanchun and Lv Lirong discussed the essence and mechanism of C-E translation of Chinese Classics in On the Deviation and Return to Essence of C-E translation of Chinese Classics. In 2017, The Specific Performance of Domestication and Foreignization in Two English Versions of Three-Character Classic of Herbert Allen Giles and Zhao Yanchun of Gu Ye was projected. The paper analyzes the concrete manifestation of domestication and foreignization in the two texts from three aspects: style, culture and language.