Context, Logosyllabary, and Multiple Choices. Reflections on 30+ Years of Translating Chinese Buddhist Texts

Abstract

This essay presents some ruminations on the challenge of translating Chinese Buddhist texts, based on more than thirty years of working on such a task, and looking forward to developments for future translations. First I will recall some personal guidelines for translation (especially the importance of context). Second, I will then reflect on a few passages and arguments from three books I have read recently on translation and language (in particular the characteristics of the Chinese language) and what it means to “read” Chinese. Third and finally, I will examine a few terse phrases from the Chinese text (the Mohezhiguan) I published recently in a heavily annotated translation to illustrate how a translation proceeds, and to show that more than one correct translation is possible, depending on the annotation (or lack thereof) and the intended audience.