Translating The Primary Chronicle into Chinese: Retrospectives and Prospects

Abstract

This article presents a comprehensive study of Chinese translations of The Primary Chronicle, with the primary aim of identifying their defining characteristics. By synthesizing the history of Old Russian language and literature studies in China, the paper offers a systematic structural analysis of all scholarly published translations. Special attention is paid to the translation challenges encountered when rendering Russian chronicle texts, through a comparative analysis of selected passages from the original chronicle. The investigation shows that Chinese scholars have made significant foundational contributions to this field, establishing a solid framework for future research on chronicle translation. However, the study also demonstrates that continuous qualitative and quantitative improvements are still needed in this specialized area. The findings suggest that translating medieval chronicles requires not only linguistic expertise but also a deep knowledge of historical philology, cultural anthropology, and comparative religious studies. To achieve optimal results in this complex interdisciplinary endeavor, the study emphasizes the need for future collaboration among specialists from diverse academic backgrounds.