An Inquiry into Yan Fu’s Translation Theory of Faithfulness, Expressiveness, and Elegance: The Beginning of China’s Modern Translation Theory

The translation theory of “faithfulness, expressiveness, and elegance” put forward by master translator Yan Fu played an important role in linking the past with the future. The theory did not come directly from sutra translation theories. However, the “elegance” element of Yan Fu’s theory expanded the theoretical meaning of the style-emphasizing school of sutra translators. Yan Fu holds that translation is to convey the profound meaning of the original author’s lifework in another language, and its mission is cultural exchanges and the preservation of ideas. It is through conveying true meanings despite the process of transformation that translation can honor its mission. He quoted Confucius to lend weight to “elegance” that “messages conveyed in plain and unadorned language have no lasting value.” “Faithfulness” and “expressiveness” together with “elegance” are interdependent and independent. They became the three gold words in translation theories, which increased the value of translation theories and shaped the basic structure of the modern translation system. Yan Fu’s translation of Evolution and Ethics is a perfect example of this style by which he is regarded as the first person to introduce modern ideas into China, to spread the idea of strengthening the nation and the military, and to write about the survival of the fittest and independence. Since then, translation theories in China have evolved in the constant dialectical relations between tradition and modernity. Theories such as “three lines,” “three resemblances,” “three beauties,” and “transmutation” have blossomed. Yan Fu struck a perfect balance between translation theory and practice. With his exemplary translated works of 1.7 million characters, he is held as a paragon for all times.