Chinese Literature in English Sinology: Cultural Translation of Literary Knowledge, 1807–1901

Lingjie Ji

Book

Chinese Literature in English Sinology

Cultural Translation of Literary Knowledge, 1807–1901

Lingjie Ji

Language: English

Published/Copyright: 2025

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About this book

Provides the first comprehensive account of the discursive formation of knowledge about Chinese literature produced by British Sinologists in the nineteenth century

Draws on diverse primary sources to provide the first comprehensive account of knowledge about Chinese literature in English Sinology
Offers new insights into how Chinese literature was understood as a knowledge category in the Anglophone world in the nineteenth century
Discusses the significance of literature knowledge in cultural history
Contributes to a growing body of research on the history and process of literary and cultural encounters between China and the West

Chinese Literature in English Sinology takes an exciting new approach to Sino-British literary and cultural encounters in the nineteenth century, focusing specifically on British Sinologists’ study of Chinese literature in the English language. It provides the first comprehensive exploration of their writings on Chinese literature as a form of literary knowledge constructed through the process of cultural translation—a translingual and transcultural rewriting. The analysis reveals the interaction between Chinese and English literary concepts and paradigms in their study that gave rise to ideas about Chinese literature still influential today. Drawing attention to the political implication of literary knowledge, this book also demonstrates that Sinologists’ interpretation of Chinese literature played an important role in shaping the British cultural imagination of China. Tracing this uncharted history, Chinese Literature in English Sinology contributes to present and future debates on the intercultural reading and studies of Chinese literature by offering a genealogical understanding of its origins and ramifications.

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Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Figures Publicly Available Download PDF	vi
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Introduction: From Literature to Literary Knowledge Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	1
Chapter 1 Conceptualising Chinese Literature in English Sinology Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	29
Chapter 2 The Anatomy of Chinese Literature: Expository Study Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	60
Chapter 3 Through a Different Lens: Comparative Study Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	103
Chapter 4 Towards a History of Chinese Literature: Historical Study Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	138
Conclusion: The Organisation of Literary Knowledge Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	177
Reference List Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	185
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	206

Publishing information

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

eBook published on:

January 29, 2025

eBook ISBN:

9781399538893

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

Main content:

246

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781399538893

eBook ISBN: 9781399538893

Keywords for this book

Politics

Audience(s) for this book

For universities and colleges of further and higher education

Chinese Literature in English Sinology

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About this book

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