Cultural construction of D.C. Lau’s paratexts in his translation of the Analects

Paratexts, which exist alongside the main text, are characterized by their diversity, completeness, and systematic nature. As crucial carriers of culture, they are rich in cultural features. In translation, paratexts play a crucial role in conveying cultural meaning, especially when translating works like The Analects, which are deeply embedded with Confucian culture. As a must-read for western scholars seeking to understand Eastern culture, D.C. Lau’s translation of The Analects leverages paratexts effectively to achieve cultural construction. His primary method for cultural construction is supplementation, followed by interpretation and commentary. Although he also employs comparison between ancient and modern Chinese culture, as well as between Chinese and Western cultures, this method is used sparingly. Unlike early overseas sinologists who interpreted Chinese culture through applying western philosophical elements and figures like Jesus, Lau’s approach is characterized by using Chinese cultural perspectives to explain Confucian culture. Through these four methods, Lau’s paratexts effectively reconstruct the rich cultural context of The Analects, restoring the authentic image of Confucian classics, the sage identity of Confucius, and his wise sayings that have been revered by the Chinese people for millennia.

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