The Dream of the Red Chamber (Hong Lou Meng) was written in the late 18th century and is known throughout China as the greatest classical novel. From the early 19th century to the mid-20th century, the translation of this classical novel constantly appeared in the English-speaking world. However, there were section translations, abridge translations and compiled translations. In the 1970s and 1980s, the full translation was finally realized. This article is divided into five parts: Firstly, it introduced the status and background of The Dream of the Red Chamber. Secondly, in the literature review part, it reviewed the three stages of The Dream of the Red Chamber translation in academic circles. Thirdly, it reviewed the translation history of The Dream of the Red Chambers. Fourthly, Bonsall’s story was told and the background of his full translation was presented. Finally, the three full translations were summarized, and suggestions were given for further study.
References
[1]
Bonsall, B. S. (1934). Confucianism and Taoism. Epworth Press.
[2]
Bonsall, B. S. (2005). Translations from Chinese. Hong Kong University Libraries.
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Bowra, E. C. M. (1868). The Dream of the Red Chamber. The Chinese Magazine, II, 99.
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Cao, X. (1892). The Dream of the Red Chamber (H. B. Joly, Trans.). Hongkong Kelly & Walsh.
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Cao, X. (1929). Dream of the Red Chamber (C.-C. Wang, Trans.). Doubleday, Doran & Company.
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Cao, X. (1973). The Story of the Stone (D. Hawkes, Trans.). Penguin Classics.
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Cao, X. (1978). A Dream of Red Mansions (X. Yang, & G. Yang, Trans.). Foreign Languages Press.
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Cao, X. (1982). The Story of the Stone (J. Minford, Trans.). Penguin Classics.
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Dryden, J. (1852). The Poetical Works of John Dryden (p. 21). W. Pickering.
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Edkins, J. (1857). A Grammar of the Chinese Colloquial Language, Commonlay Called the Mandarin Dialect. Presbyterian Mission Press.
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Jiang, F. (2007). A Study on the Hundred-Year History of English Translation of Dream of the Red Chamber (pp. 25-100). PhD Thesis, Fu Dan University.
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Mayers, W. F. (1867). Romantic Novels. Note and Queries: On China and Japan, 1, 166-169.
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Morrison, R. (1816). Dialogues and Detached Sentences in the Chinese Language: With a Free and Verbal Translation in English. East India Company’s Press.
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The University of Hong Kong Libraries (2005). Focus. New Series, V, 14.
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Thom, R. (1846). The Chinese Speaker or Extracts from Works Written in the Mandarin Language, as Spoken in Peking: Compiled for the Use of Students. Presbyterian Mission Press.
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Zhang, Y. (2018). Remarks on Shortened Translation vs. Full Translation. Shanghai Journal of Translators, 4, 78-82
