A Comparative Analysis of Translation Fea-tures in Various English Versions of Mozi

Abstract

As a pivotal canonical text of ancient Chinese philosophy, Mozi encompasses profound philo-sophical insights and sophisticated logical methodologies. The English translation of Mozi plays a crucial role in promoting Chinese culture and facilitating cross-cultural exchanges. This study investigates the author and textual background, an overview of existing English translations, current research on these translations, and the translation strategies employed. Through a comparative analysis of different translated versions, this paper elucidates their distinctive fea-tures, merits, and limitations. The findings demonstrate that translators adopt diverse strate-gies—including literal translation, free translation, explanatory translation, concretization, and amplification—to faithfully convey the original text’s philosophical depth and cultural nuances. The research contributes to the advancement of classical Chinese translation studies and offers practical implications for enhancing translation quality.