Preserving ecological balance in the English translation of classical Chinese poetry: an eco-translatology approach

Abstract

Based on eco-translatology, this paper explores how to effectively preserve the ecological balance of classical Chinese poetry during the English translation process. Classical Chinese poetry, as a vital component of Chinese culture, reflects Chinese ecological concepts and the spirit of unity between man and nature. Rooted in Chinese philosophy, eco-translatology resonates with ecological wisdom embedded in poems, sharing core similarities. However, past studies have often focused on literary and cultural transmission while neglect the ecological wisdom and poets’ perceptions of natural environments and ecological balance embedded in classical poetry. Therefore, from the ecological perspective, this study employs the core translation method of eco-translatology—three-dimensional transformation (linguistic, cultural and communicative dimensions), to analyze whether translators effectively convey elements such as unity between man and nature, natural philosophy, and ecological ethics. It aims to help readers understand the ecological thoughts of ancient poets and to focus on preserving the ecological balance of poetry during translation, thereby conveying its unique ecological values in another context. This paper calls for researchers to pay more attention to the inheritance and preservation of ecological wisdom when translating classical poetry and thus promotes the dissemination and sharing of ecological values in cross-cultural exchanges.