Chinese Legal Classics and National Image
摘要
Law serves as a rich vessel of cultural significance. Chinese legal civilization, steeped in a profound heritage and unique allure, has produced numerous legal classics attributed to sages. These classics are wellsprings of legal ingenuity, guiding the Chinese nation toward building a harmonious, prosperous, and influential society. The study of the spread and influence of Chinese legal classics outside the region can make us go out of the dual thinking of “East and West” and “modern and traditional”, examine the value of Chinese culture within the scope of world culture, re-examine the influence and modern value of ancient Chinese culture from a global perspective, and reveal the universal significance of Chinese culture (Zhang, Introduction to study on the twentieth century’s extraterritorial spread and influence of ancient Chinese cultural classics (volume 1), 1, Elephant Press, 2018). Throughout the history of legal exchanges between China and the West, Western sinologists are key in translating Chinese law. While they significantly promote Chinese legal culture globally, their translations often contained “misinterpretations” that, to some extent, catered to the cultural needs of the West and maintained cultural dominance. Therefore, for an authentic portrayal of Chinese legal systems and civilization and to globally project Chinese legal culture in the modern era while correcting stereotypical impressions shaped by Western sinologists, thorough research and retranslation of the Chinese legal classics are essential. Emphasis should be placed on the selection of translation texts, translators, and translation strategies.