老子“无为”概念求真——兼论翻译变异的原因

Laozi's "Wuwei" for Truth: Cause for Alienation

老子"无为"概念被误译的问题反映了20世纪西方文化对中国古典哲学的认识误区。译者们的理解根植于自身文化,很难深度理解中国传统文化。"无为"在原文中包涵着"为于始"、"似无为而实有为"、"无为而无不为"三层涵义,而大多数的译文却简单地译为"不为"、"不做",昭显了译者对于老子核心概念"无为"的表面化、简约化理解,以致于陷入"盲人摸象"的翻译误区。只有当原文本文化拥有话语权,中西文化在对等的平面上交流、传播,才能把"无为"的图像原样地呈现在读者面前,真正把握"无为"概念之真谛。

The faulty translation of ＂Wuwei＂ reveals the Western culture’s misunderstanding of Chinese classic philosophy in the 20th century.The translators’ understanding was rooted in their own culture,which makes them difficult to understand Chinese culture.＂Wuwei＂ in the original concept has three connotations： ＂doing something before beginning＂;＂doing actually with non-doing in surface＂;＂doing nothing as doing anything＂.However,in most translation ＂Wuwei＂ was literally rendered as non-action,non-acts,non-doing,or taking no action,etc.,a total misunderstanding of the real meaning of ＂Wuwei＂ in western versions,which is superficial and partial.Therefore,the interpreters to the original text are like the blind men to the elephant.Only when native culture has the discourse power and the cultural communication between East and West interact equally,can ＂Wuwei＂ be presented to the readers just as it was and get its true meaning.