Role of Henri Borel in Chinese Translation History

Audrey Heijns received her Ph.D. from Leiden University and is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Foreign Languages, Shenzhen University. Her research interests include the history of early Dutch sinologists and nineteenth-century Chinese bilingual dictionaries. Her articles have been published in academic journals including Perspectives, Translation and Interpreting Studies and International Journal for Lexicography. She also translates Chinese literature into Dutch and English and is the editor of the online database Verretaal Chinese Literature in Dutch Translation.

In conformity with a major trend in contemporary translation studies, this work is not limited to a discussion of Borel’s (Dutch) renditions of Chinese texts, but also treats his many articles and books that presented his views on Chinese culture to the world at large as well as his role as a cultural intermediary in the colonial society of the Dutch East Indies.Wilt L. Idema, Professor Emeritus, Harvard University Journal of Chinese History (2022)Heijns successfully weaves Borel’s identities (interpreter, translator, writer, diplomat, China expert) together with his publications of different themes to stress his aim of fostering a better understanding of Chinese culture for the Dutch. [...] In a nutshell, The Role of Henri Borel in Chinese Translation History is a great contribution to the field of cross-cultural communication and a valuable source for people who are dedicated to promoting Chinese culture to other countries in the world. Shuai Chi, Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Shihezi University;and Mingwu Xu, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Communications (2022)

• List of figures viiAcknowledgements ixConventions xiIntroduction 1Biographical note 5Biographical timeline 6PART IChinese translation history 131 Chinese literature in the west 151.1 Up to 1700 171.2 The eighteenth century 191.3 The nineteenth century 201.4 Conclusion 252 Prominent historical translators in Europe 272.1 Missionaries 282.2 Merchants and diplomats 292.3 Scholars 302.4 Conclusion 34PART IIThe translator as cultural mediator 373 A translator of philosophy 393.1 Educative and inspiring: Confucius and Laozi 403.2 The Chinese way: The Spirit of China 503.3 Undoing old prejudices: the Mencius 593.4 Conclusion 64Contentsvi Contents4 A translator of literature 684.1 Foreignizing Wonders Old and New 694.2 Sinicizing Strange Stories from the Liaozhai 804.3 Conclusion 88PART IIIThe translator as creator 935 The travel writer 945.1 Self versus other: Wisdom and Beauty from China 955.2 A poetic vision: Daybreak in the East 995.3 Idealizing China: The Beautiful Island 1125.4 Conclusion 1176 The writer-translator1216.1 Negotiating between cultures:“Kwan Yin” and “Chinese Hell” 1216.2 Rewriting Daoist stories: Of Life and Death 1296.3 Conclusion 134PART IVThe translator as communicator 1377 The diplomat 1387.1 The role of a Chinese interpreter 1387.2 Issues of belonging: Wisdom and Beauty from the Indies 1517.3 Conclusion 1558 The expert 1588.1 Expertise and research 1588.2 Expertise and poethood 1618.3 Expertise and sinology 1658.4 Conclusion 170Conclusion 173Epilogue 179Bibliography 183Index 201