Translation and Nation

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Focusing on the transformative role of translation in late 19th and early 20th century China, the book analyzes the methods of Lin Shu, Yan Fu, and Liang Qichao. It explores how their translations contributed to a burgeoning sense of Chineseness and cultural change. The author provides historical context and biographical insights, examining Lin's emotional and commercial motives, Yan's criteria of accuracy, intelligibility, and elegance, and Liang's politically charged fiction theory. The conclusion highlights their impact on the evolution of the Chinese language and identity.