Perspectives,Historical Facts and Text:Reflections on the Re-translation of"Soochow"of Eighteen Capitals of China
Western humanist geographor and explorer William Edgar Geil visited many parts of China in the early 20th century.He recorded his travelling in Eighteen Capitals of China,which includes a chapter on"Soochow".Geil is neither proficient in Chinese language nor a scholar.On the one hand,the references about Suzhou he has absorbed,adopted,and recorded are quite extensive and diverse.On the other hand,the credibility and value of these materials require readers to carefully consider and discern.By re-translating the"Soochow"chapter and comparing it with the previous translations,we notice that the translation strategy that highlights cultural and historical verification is more effective for this type of text.This strategy not only highlights Geil's unique perspective and humanistic depth in observing Suzhou,but also maximizes the reliability of the translated text and restores the true details of history.
translationWilliam Edgar GeilSuzhoucultural and historical verificationEighteen Capitals of China
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