Firstly, a verse should not only be true to the original one but also as beautiful as the original in sense, sound and form。 Secondly, literary translation is an art。 Thirdly, in prose translation, the translator should make the fullest possible use of the best expressions of the target language。 Fourth, a literary translation should be readable, enjoyable and delectable (or delightful)。 Fifth, creation for loss。 (Vanished Spring(2011),Xu) In fact, among all his translation theories, “Three-Beauty Principle” is the one that bring Xu Yuanchong the most reputation。 And the theory is the one that we are going to study in this essay。 论文网
“Three Beauty” Principle was first proposed by Lu Xun in his article “From Characters to Article”(白文字至文章)in The Compendium of Chinese Literary History(汉文学史纲要)。He wrote in the article, “In learning Chinese characters, the form, the sound and the sense should be taken into consideration。 Beauty in sense moves reader’s heart, beauty in sound delights reader’s ears and beauty in form appeals to reader’s eyes。”(故其所涵，遂具三美:意美以感心，一也;音美以感耳，二也;形美以感目，三也。)(Lu Xun, 1973:1) Xu Yuanchong developed it as the “Three Beauty” Principle in the process of translation of classical poetry, which means the translator should convey the original beauty in sense, in sound and in form。 The relationship between the three beauties is: Beauty in sense is the most important, and then is the beauty in sound, and the beauty in sound is the least。
“Beauty in sense” is to reproduce the beauty as much as possible of the original。 “Beauty in sound” refers to the correspondence degree between the translation and the original poem in rhyme, rhythm and alliteration。 “Beauty in form” includes the line length, verse pattern, repetition of words, parallelism in structure。（Xu 23）
We should convey the beauty in sound of the originals under the premise of reproduction of beauty in sense, and then we should convey the beauty in form under the premise of the reproduction of beauty both in sense and in sound。 If “Three-Beauty” Principle cannot be achieved at the same time, then beauty in form and even beauty in sound will be ruled out。 (Xu 64)
4。 “Three Beauties” in the Translation of Li Qingzhao’s Ci poems
4。1 Reproduction of Beauty in Sense
Xu Yuanchong ranked “Beauty in Sense” the first in “Three Beauty” Principle。 Nida also said that “Translating means translating meanings。” Artistic conception is the spirit of the verse, the key of poetry translation is to grasp the artistic conception of the poem。 Translators should convey the original meaning and artistic conception of the verse as much as possible to reproduce the beauty in sense。
4。1。1 Translation of images 文献综述
Images play an important role in artistic conception, especially in Li’s Ci Pomes。 Her Ci Pomes have abundant images。 To reproduce beauty in sense, translators should not only be faithful to original artistic conception, but also express the hidden feelings the poet wants to express through those images。 In Li Qingzhao’s Ci Poems, “黄花”is a well-known images。 Here is the example:
帘卷西风，人比黄花瘦！ （《醉花阴》李清照）
Should the west wind uproll
The curtain of my bower，
You’ll see a thinner face than yellow flowers．
（Xu Yuanchong, 1998）
In fact, “黄花”is chrysanthemum which are blossomed in fall。 The female ci poet used it to express her grief because it was the Double Ninth Festival while her husband didn’t come back home。 从三美角度看李清照词的英译(3):http://www.youerw.com/yingyu/lunwen_199030.html