以意逆志与选择性失明——《天工开物》中人文内容的阐释和英译研究

A Comparative Analysis of Interpretations and Renderings of Contents Themed Song Yingxing’s Social Reforming Propositions in English Versions of T’ien-kung K’ai-wu

《天工开物》延续了宋应星政论文《野议》阐发的社会改良思想:政治上主张革新科举八股,节省皇家开支和减少赋税;经济上提倡恢复农业生产和发展商业增加税收。分别由我国台湾和大陆推出的《天工开物》李乔苹英译本和王义静、王海燕和刘迎春英译本的序跋、目录等副文本对这些人文主题进行了不同程度的阐释,但翻译删减了相关内容或淡化了文字背后蕴含的思想情感。译者着重于凸显宋应星的自然科学家身份和打造《天工开物》与西方科技经典相媲美的地位。

The intention of creating T’ien-kung k’ai-wu is to carry out a series of social reforming thoughts that Song Yingxing previously envisaged in his political essay entitled Ye Yi.Specifically,he advocates changing the form of Eight-part Essay for the Imperial Examination,saving imperial costs and reducing heavy taxes.And it is hoped that the renewing of agricultural production and business can add taxes in order to strengthen the governance of Ming China.With respect to the two English versions of T’ien-kung k’ai-wu by Li Ch’iao-ping in Taiwan,China and Wang Yijing et al.on the Chinese mainland respectively,their paratexts such as the translators’ preface and the table of contents interpret these humanistic themes to varying degrees.Nevertheless,the corresponding contents are omitted or the underlying feelings and thoughts are eliminated during translating.Agents including the translators of the two English versions highlight Song’s identity as a natural scientist and the status of T’ien-kung k’ai-wu as global technological classic,in the hope of gaining national confidence in China’s leading civilization of science and technology.