1.
COURSE TITLE
Reading Chinese Literature in Translation
2.
COURSE CODE
TRA1190
3.
NO. OF UNITS
3
4.
OFFERING DEPARTMENT
Translation Programme
5.
AIMS & OBJECTIVES
This course provides an introduction to Chinese literature through the reading of English
translations. It allows both Chinese and non-Chinese readers to gain access to the world of
Chinese literature, and to become aware of the linguistic and literary transformations in the
process of translation. English translations are selected from pre-Qin to contemporary
writings. Students will first read the English translations of selected texts and then conduct
literary analysis.
6.
COURSE CONTENT
This course has been designed to develop students’ appreciation for and criticism of
Chinese literature through the reading of English translations of that literature. A wide
range of topics will be covered to develop students’ understanding of Chinese literature
with the use of English translations. The selection of topics is negotiated with the class,
and the content may include the following:
 Translations of early Chinese texts (e.g. Book of Poetry, Analects of Confucius and
the classical canon)
 Translations of poetry writings (e.g. Tang Poetry and Song Lyrics)
 Translations of fictions and prose from the Ming Dynasty to the May Fourth
Movement
 Translations of contemporary writings from the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, and
Hong Kong
7.
COURSE INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (CILOS)
CILO
Upon successful completion of these courses, students should be able to:
CILO 1
Demonstrate a knowledge of the Chinese literary canon [aligned with HKBU
Graduate Attribute #1, 3]
CILO 2
Analyse and describe the different genres of Chinese literature through the
centuries [GA #1, 2, 3, 6]
CILO 3
Discuss and illustrate the benefits of and difficulties in reading Chinese literary
texts in translation [GA #1, 2]
8
CILO 4
Describe and assess the phenomenon of cultural transfer in the process of
translation [GA #1, 2, 4]
CILO 5
Explain Chinese literary and cultural concepts and discuss and evaluate Chinese
literature and culture in English [GA #1, 2, 4, 6]
TEACHING & LEARNING ACTIVITIES (TLAS)
Students will be engaged in extensive reading assignments that address different genres of
Chinese literature through the centuries, and they will discuss and share their comments
regarding the English translations of Chinese literature.
9
CILO No.
TLAs
CILO 2, 3, 5
Reading: Students are required to read a range of genres of
Chinese literature throughout the course. This will help students to
develop knowledge of the Chinese literary canon and to appreciate
and analyse Chinese literature. The reading materials will cover
translations of early Chinese literary texts as well as modern
literary writings, so that students will be able to obtain a broader
picture of the development of Chinese literature.
CILO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
In-class discussion: The teacher will ask students to share their
comments and criticisms of the assigned translated Chinese
literary texts when the class meets. Students analyse the reading
materials that they have been assigned to read at home and then
discuss various aspects of the translations in class.
CILO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Presentation: Students are arranged into groups and are required
to produce a group presentation in class. They may choose a
work of Chinese literature and compare the source text with the
English translation.
CILO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Lecture: The teacher introduces the features of different genres
of Chinese literature as well as the authors and translators of the
Chinese texts that will be discussed.
ASSESSMENT METHODS (AMS)
Type of
Assessment
Weighting CILOs to be Description of Assessment Tasks
addressed
(The
percentage
may vary.)
Term Paper
40%
1, 2, 3, 4,
5
Group
Presentations
30%
1, 2, 3, 4,
5
Final Exam
30%
1, 2, 3, 4,
5
The term paper is designed mainly to help
students reflect critically on the difficulties and
benefits of translating Chinese literature into
English
The group presentations are designed to
encourage active student participation in class
for development of students’ critical thinking
and the ability to discourse on Chinese
literary and cultural concepts.
The final exam is designed to see how far
students have achieved all their intended
learning outcomes ranging from knowledge of
the Chinese literary canonical works to a
critical awareness of the difficulties and
strategies of cultural transfer in translation.
10 Textbooks / Recommended readings*
Cao, Xueqin. Hawkes, David (trans.). 1973. The Story of the Stone. Harmondsworth:
Penguin.
Cheung, Martha and Lai, Jane. 1997. An Oxford Anthology of Contemporary Chinese
Drama. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cheung, Martha. 1998. Hong Kong Collage: Contemporary Stories and Writings. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
Lau, D.C. (trans.). 1970. Mencius. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Lau, Joseph and Goldblatt, Howard (eds.). 1995. The Columbia Anthology of Modern
Chinese Literature. New York: Columbia University Press.
Legge, James (trans.). 1971. The Chinese Classics: The Analects of Confucius, The Great
Learning, Doctrine of the Mean. New York: Dover Publications, Inc.
Lu, Xun. Lyell, William A. (trans.). 1990. Diary of a Madman and Other Stories.
Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Mair, Victor H. (ed.). 2002. The Columbia History of Chinese Literature. New York:
Columbia University Press.
Minford, John and Lau, Joseph (eds.). 2000. An Anthology of Translations: Classical
Chinese Literature: Volume I: From Antiquity to the Tang Dynasty. New York; Hong
Kong: Columbia University Press and Chinese University Press.
Pai, Hsien-yung. 2000. Taipei People. Hong Kong: Chinese University Press.
Pollard, David E. (ed. & trans.). 1999. The Chinese Essay. Hong Kong: Chinese
University of Hong Kong, Research Centre for Translation.
Waley, Arthur (trans.). 1978. The Book of Songs. New York: Grove Press.
Wong, Siu-kit; Lo, Allan Chung-hang; Lam, Kwong-tai (trans.). 1998. The Book of
Literary Design. Hong Kong: The University of Hong Kong Press.
Yeh, Michelle (ed. & trans.). 1992. Anthology of Modern Chinese Poetry. New Haven:
Yale University Press.
*The references will be updated as necessary with the working syllabus.