JHASS
A Comparative Study of Herbert A. Giles’s and Zhao Yanchun’s English Versions of Three Character Classic from the Perspective of Skopos Theory
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Abstract
Three Character Classic (San Zi Jing) is a classic primer that encompasses educational philosophy and ideas, traditional ethics and morality, and fundamental knowledge of literature and history, thereby embodying the core values of ancient China. This article compares Herbert A. Giles’s San Tzu Ching (1900) and Zhao Yanchun’s Three Word Primer in English Rhyme (2014), using Skopos Theory as the framework. Due to their different purposes, the two versions adopt translation strategies and methods accordingly. Giles’s translation largely focuses on cultural dissemination and emphasizes readability and naturalness for readers. Zhao’s translation, on the other hand, centers on cultural confidence, achieving both the form and spirit of the original. This comparative study is conducive to summarizing feasible approaches for the English translation of Three Character Classic, and helps promote the spread and appreciation of Chinese culture across the world.
Keywords
Three Character Classic; Skopos Theory; comparative study; Herbert A. Giles; Zhao Yanchun
References
Du, X., & Li, W. J. (2020). Giles’s translation art: An interlingual and intersemiotic perspective. Foreign Language and Literature (Bimonthly), 36(4), 113-121.
Giles, H. A. (1900). Elementary Chinese: San Tzu Ching. Messrs. Kelly & Walsh, Ltd.
Li, Y. P. (2010). Skopos theory in translation. Journal of Hotan Normal College, (4), 157-158.
Nord, C. (2001). Translating as a purposeful activity: Functionalist approaches explained. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press.
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Reiss, K., & Vermeer, H. (2014). Towards a general theory of translational action: Skopos theory explained. Routledge.
Wang, Y. L. (1986). Three Character Classic. Yuelu Press.
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Zhao, Y. C. (2014). Three Word Primer in English Rhyme. Guangming Daily Press.
Zhu, Z. W. (2016). Cultural consciousness in translation: A discussion based on Zhao Yanchun’s translation of Three Character Classic. Foreign Language Education, (5), 83-85.
How to cite this paper
A Comparative Study of Herbert A. Giles’s and Zhao Yanchun’s English Versions of Three Character Classic from the Perspective of Skopos Theory
How to cite this paper: Siqi Lin, Wen Zhou. (2026) A Comparative Study of Herbert A. Giles’s and Zhao Yanchun’s English Versions of Three Character Classic from the Perspective of Skopos Theory. Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Science, 10(9), 1055-1058.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/jhass.2026.09.005
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