利玛窦与《伊索寓言》中译:史实考辨与文本分析

Historical and Textual Analyses of Matteo Ricci's Chinese Translations of Aesop's Fables

中外学界对利玛窦译介《伊索寓言》之举知之不详。着眼于此,文章展开了全面而细致的史实考辨与文本分析,力图弄清利玛窦译介六篇《伊索寓言》故事的动机、时间、所用底本、故事原型及其译介策略等。文章指出,寓言是西方世界的重要修辞工具,《伊索寓言》更是被西方雄辩家与传教士广泛利用。利玛窦沿袭这一传统,采用增加或删减故事背景、改变故事情节、进行再创作与引申说教等多种策略译介了六篇《伊索寓言》故事,旨在利用其说服与劝化作用,为传教布道活动提供助力。

During the late-Ming period, Matteo Ricci translated six Aesop's Fables into Chinese, which is meaningful in the history of Chinese translation. However, few scholars have made in-depth research on these translations. This paper makes detailed historical and textual analyses of Ricci's translating Aesop's Fables. The result of this study is that Ricci was much influenced by the Western rhetorical tradition of utilizing fables in speeches and sermons. For help in his missionary activity, Ricci made use of six of Aesop's Fables, among other rhetorical resources, adopting such translation techniques as adding or deleting backgrounds, altering storylines, recreating plots and adding commentaries.