Dr. Zhijian Tao's Chinese translation of T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land and other Poems
Published by Poetry Pacific Press::
Here's a reivew of the translation by Qiduan
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2024
The Waste Land was first translated into Chinese in 1937 by Zhao Luori. Since then, there have been other attempts at its translation, but few have delved so deep into this complex work as this new effort.
Because the poem itself alludes to a wide range of literary works, Chinese readers, even well-read English readers, often find it difficult to understand the poem’s meaning and significance. Interested readers may find this new translation of The Waste Land by Zhijian Tao very helpful.
Based on his research into history, religion and world literature, Zhijian Tao offers us a new version, making changes where he finds incorrect translations, awkward interpretation and inadequate use of explanatory notes in the previous versions. In addition, Zhijian makes a worthwhile effort to retain the rhythmic movements of the original poem without sacrificing literary accuracy, in contrast with versions that follow a literary translation approach.
Eliot in his lifetime applauded efforts to understand and analyze Shakespeare’s literary work from the perspective of contemporary scholars. He himself similarly would welcome new approaches in the translation and interpretation of his work by a younger generation of literature scholars.
Based on his research into history, religion and world literature, Zhijian Tao offers us a new version, making changes where he finds incorrect translations, awkward interpretation and inadequate use of explanatory notes in the previous versions. In addition, Zhijian makes a worthwhile effort to retain the rhythmic movements of the original poem without sacrificing literary accuracy, in contrast with versions that follow a literary translation approach.
Eliot in his lifetime applauded efforts to understand and analyze Shakespeare’s literary work from the perspective of contemporary scholars. He himself similarly would welcome new approaches in the translation and interpretation of his work by a younger generation of literature scholars.
