| dc.description.abstract | There is an interesting phenomenon in the history of Buddhist scripture translation, which the Chinese translations were strongly depended upon translators from west Asia; the translation theories, however, were usually raised by Chinese monks.
Generally, theories are advanced for purposes such as reflecting, criticizing, or conducting over the existing phenomena. But the case of Buddhist scripture translation makes people wonder about what angle, what point of view did they raise their understanding to the translation texts? And under what kind of culture backgrounds did they expand their theories?
This thesis bases its arguments mainly upon Zhi Qian, Dao An, Kumara Jiva, Yan Cong, and Xuanzang. Through their autobiographies and the introductions of the Buddhist scriptures they wrote, the thesis tries to analyze how these Chinese translators construct their understanding base on the scriptures. And under what kind of circumstances did they raise their reflections to the previous translation versions. Further more, what kind of new atmosphere did they give to the translation discourse and whether did they influence the succeeding translations.
Through a series of discussions, we can see that the elements that form their translation theories were usually derived from three sources: the inspiration they acquired from the translation texts, the participation of the Buddhist translation centres, and the aspiration of innovating Buddhist academia. What they wrote may seemed only translation critiques, but they indeed functioned as real guidance to translators at the time. In addition to influencing practical translation and reforming translation centres, they even helped process the selection of the former translation texts. | en_US |