Translation can play an important role in the canonization of literary works of a certain culture.

What is it about?

Through making a survey of Chinese fiction in English translation from 1978 to 2018, the article not only presents different trajectories of the development of Chinese fiction in English translation in mainland China and the English-speaking countries but also shows that different canons of Chinese fiction in English translation have been formed in the course of this development. Reasons for the formation of the prevailing canon(s) are explored and explained from perspectives taking into account concrete factors such as ideology, poetics and patronage as well as influences of the literary award mechanism.

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Photo by Sean Alabaster on Unsplash

Photo by Sean Alabaster on Unsplash

Why is it important?

In view of the “Globalization of Chinese Culture” strategy put forward by the Chinese government at the beginning of the 21st Century, more efforts need to be devoted to the translation of Chinese literature into other languages. Given the influence of English worldwide, it is extremely important to concentrate on translating Chinese literature into English.Therefore, delineating the development of Chinese fiction in English translation during the past four decades is of great significance for not only helping to explain the interrelations between translation and the whole of society but will shed some light on the strategy to introduce Chinese literature abroad and promote it worldwide.

Perspectives