Analysis of the Chinese-Spanish translation of tiān in the Analects

Abstract

Currently, globalization has become an inevitable trend. In this context, the international projection of Chinese culture has emerged as a significant topic. The Analects, one of China's most classic works, holds profound importance for understanding Chinese thought. The concept of tiān (heaven) is central to Chinese culture, representing a natural, moral, political, and dominant order that guides Confucian philosophy and governance. Analyzing its translation into Spanish is crucial for preserving its cultural nuances and understanding China's international communication strategies in the context of globalization. Based on cultural translation theory and functional equivalence theory, and using corpus analysis, this article examines the Spanish-Chinese translation of the concept of tiān in the Analects across four levels of its cultural connotation in China: tiān of nature, dominance, morality, and politics. The findings showed that the translator effectively utilized the polysemy and multifaceted nature of tiān, employing dynamic translation strategies. This approach facilitated comprehension for Spanish-speaking audiences, though it sometimes resulted in a partial loss of the original meaning. This study not only fills a gap in Spanish-language research but also promotes the effective dissemination of Chinese thought in the Hispanic world.