摘 要

中国古典诗词是中华文化的灿烂遗产，蕴含着丰富的文化内涵和极高的审美价值。诗歌翻译一直被公认为是文学翻译中较难的一部分，而将中国古典诗词译成国外读者所能接受的版本而又保留其中的韵味则成为中外译者所面临的难题。“三美”原则是翻译家许渊冲在其著作《翻译的艺术》中提出的。本文旨在通过对比分析一些中国古典诗词的不同英译版本来探究“三美”原则在诗歌翻译过程中的适用性。通过对比研究不难发现“三美”原则指导下的英译版本能够更大程度地保留原诗的韵味，能更好地再现“意美”、“音美”、“形美”。

关键字：中国古典诗词；英译；许渊冲；“三美”原则

Contents

1. Introduction 1
2. Demonstration 2
   1. Classical Chinese poetry and classical Chinese poetry translation 2
      1. Brief introduction to classical Chinese poetry 2
      2. The Studies of classical Chinese poetry translation 3
   2. Xu Yuanchong and his “Three Beauties” Principle 4
      1. An introduction to Xu Yuanchong 4
      2. “Three Beauties” Principle 4
         1. Beauty in sense 5
         2. Beauty in sound 5
         3. Beauty in form 5
   3. A comparative study of the English translation of classical Chinese poetry 6
      1. Reproduction of beauty in sense 6
         1. Image 6
         2. Stylistic features 8
      2. Reproduction of beauty in sound 10
         1. Rhyme scheme 10
         2. Reduplicative words 11
      3. Reproduction of beauty in form 12
3. Conclusion 13

Work Cited 15

Bibliography 16

A Comparative Study on the English Translation of Classical Chinese Poetry—From the perspective of Xu Yuanchong’s “Three Beauties” Principle

Introduction

As the earliest form of literature and unique genre in the history of Chinese literature, classical Chinese poetry enjoys a high reputation in both home and abroad. With its refined words, distinctive forms and rich contents, classical Chinese poetry offers the readers high aesthetic value. But simultaneously, these features of classical Chinese poetry make it difficult for us Chinese readers to obtain the comprehensive understanding of it, nevertheless for the foreign readers.The unique aesthetic value of classical Chinese poetry renders numerous translators dedicate to the research of the translation of it.

Professor Xu Yuanchong put forward the “Three Beauties” Principle in his book The Art of Translation(1984). “Three Beauties” refers to beauty in sense, beauty in sound and beauty in form. Based on “Three Beauties” Principle, Xu Yuanchong proposes that during the process of poetry translation, it’s the duty of the translators to reproduce the beauty in sense, beauty in sound and beauty in form.

This thesis will employ a comparative way to assess different English translation of classical Chinese poetry, targeting at revealing the virtues and defects of various translation version. The strong applicability of “Three Beauties” Principle in the field of poetry translation will be further demonstrated in this thesis.

Part one of this thesis concentrates on the introduction of classical Chinese poetry and the research of classical Chinese poetry translation.

Part two is the body part. In this part attentions will be firstly put on the introduction of Professor Xu Yuanchong and his “Three Beauties” Principle. Then

this part carries out the comparison and analysis of different translation versions of classical Chinese poetry, exploring the extent of reproduction in beauty in sense, beauty in sound and beauty in form.