English Re-translation and Cultural Transmission of Confucian Classics

This chapter explores the English re-translation and cultural transmission of Confucian classics, detailing the history and impact of these translations from the late sixteenth century through the eighteenth century. It highlights the efforts of missionaries and sinologists, and discusses significant translations of seminal works like the Analects of Confucius , the Great Learning , and the Doctrine of the Mean . Prominent figures such as Álvaro de Semedo and Philippe Couplet are noted for their translations, which often involved adaptations rather than direct translations, reflecting the translators’ intentions to convey cultural and philosophical concepts to Western audiences. The chapter emphasizes how these translations served both missionary objectives and intellectual curiosity about Chinese culture, ultimately fostering a foundation for the understanding of Confucian thought in the West. It concludes by acknowledging the mixed fidelity of these translations, with many being adaptations that introduced Chinese philosophy while simultaneously reshaping it through a Western lens. The chapter calls for further research into the lasting effects of these early translations on the perception of Confucianism in Western thought.