The 39th PhD Academic Salon of Translation Studies, 15 October

Last updated:2013-10-11

Topic: Bloodshed Set off by Translation: Biblical Translation and The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

Speaker: Wang Yuechen
Chair:  Wang Xiulu

Venue: Room 210, School of Foreign Languages, South Campus
Time: 16:30 - 18:00, 2013/10/15 (Tuesday) 

Organizer: Translation Studies Institute, Sun Yat-sen University
                    School of Foreign Languages


Abstract:
In the early 19th century, Western Protestants arrived in China and translated the Bible into Chinese. Unexpectedly, the translation set off a large scale revolution in the country within less than 30 years, namely the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement. Hong Xiuquan, a student who had wished to pass the imperial examination, was inspired the Bible, and claimed that he was the son of God. He worshipped the Bible, led his followers to fight against the Qing government of China, and established the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, a regime that occupied southeastern part China. The violent revolution lasted a decade and caused the death of millions. Through translation, The love-and-peace preaching religion became a bloody sword in China. The study will illustrate the role that played by biblical translation in the movement. By studying the biblical translations and investigating the background of the society and movement, The research intends to disclose the dynamic relationship between translation and society.

About the Speaker
Wang Yuechen is a PhD Candidate in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. His research interests are Translation Studies and Translation History.

All welcome!