A Study of Cultural and Philosophical Resources in The Gay Genius from the Perspective of Multisource Transwriting

Abstract

This paper takes Lin Yutang’s The Gay Genius as the research object, based on the theory of multisource transwriting, and explores the translation and rewriting practice of multiple strands of Chinese philosophical and cultural traditions in the portrayal of Su Shi. By analyzing the relationship between “translation” (the transformation based on Su Shi’s original text) and “rewriting” (the translator’s creative supplementation) in the book, it is found that Lin Yutang adopts a strategy of translation and rewriting integration and creative interpretation. He not only retains the core of the text through literal translation, but also realizes cross-cultural transmission through “rewriting” behaviors such as cultural adaptation and image reconstruction. The research shows that this interactive translation and rewriting is not only faithful to the phased characteristics of Su Shi’s thought, but also successfully shapes a Su Shi image with both cultural depth and dissemination power through the creative play of the translator’s subjectivity, providing a typical example for the cross-contextual interpretation of traditional Chinese spirit.