Siqi Lin, Wen Zhou*
School of International Studies, NingboTech University, Ningbo 315100, Zhejiang, China.
*Corresponding author: Wen Zhou
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.
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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