ECTC65H3

Translation and Religion

Religious translations facilitated some of the most vibrant cultural exchanges throughout history. Catholic missionaries and Chinese scholars translated not only the Bible but also Euclid's Elements. Many Protestant missionaries later became the earliest Sinologists and translated foundational Confucian texts including The Analects. The translation of Buddhist scriptures influenced Daoist discourses, Chinese philosophy, neo-Confucianism, everyday practices and way of life. The course will open with an introduction to these fascinating histories and explore the complex relationship between religion and translation in various contexts, with an emphasis on both institutional religions, such as Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, and Daoism, and also on what are known as Chinese popular or folk religions.