Two English-Language Translators of Jin Ping Mei: From Lotus to Plum

Two English-Language Translators of Jin Ping Mei examines English translations of the Ming novel Jin Ping Mei by translators from different historical periods within the Anglophone world.

Drawing upon theoretical insights from translation studies, literary criticism, and cultural studies, the book explores the treatment of salient features of the novel in translation, including cultural representation, narratological elements, gender-specific motifs, and (homo)sexual themes. Through literary re-imagining and artistic re-creation, Egerton transforms a complex and sprawling narrative into a popular modern middlebrow novel, making it readily accessible within Western genres. Roy’s interlinear and annotated translation transcends the mere retelling of a vivid story for its unwavering emphasis on every single detail of the original, becoming a portal to the Ming past. It stands as a testament to the significance of translation as a medium for understanding the legacy of the late Ming and the socio-cultural dynamics shaping that period in Chinese history.

This book will be a useful reference for scholars and research students within the fields of literary translation studies and translated Chinese literature, particularly Ming- Qing fiction. The book will also appeal to students and researchers studying Jin Ping Mei’s translation and reception in the West.

Shuangjin Xiao received his doctorate in Literary Translation Studies from Victoria University of Wellington. His research interests include translation studies, gender studies, discourse analysis, and transmediality and popular culture in contemporary China. His articles have appeared in academic journals including Journal of Intercultural Communication Research, Compilation and Translation Review, and International Journal of Linguistics Studies. He also works as a freelance translator and is currently researching literary representations of gender and trauma, focusing on their treatment within translational and transmedial contexts.