Author(s): Liu Yan, Ren Yingchun

Abstract: “Hongyan” (wild goose) is a core cultural image in ancient Chinese poetry, carrying profound cultural connotations. Its translation involves not only linguistic conversion but also cross-contextual transmission of cultural semantics. From the perspective of cultural translation theory, this study focuses on Xu Yuanchong’s English translations of ancient Chinese poetry. By sorting out the historical and cultural origins and multiple semantic orientations of the “Hongyan” image, it systematically analyzes the translation strategies adopted by Xu, image retention with contextual reinforcement, cultural compensation, aesthetic reconstruction, and strategic omission. The findings reveal that Xu was not a passive transmitter of linguistic content but an actively conscious “cultural mediator” who skillfully employed target-language poetic conventions and reader schemata to effectively transfer the high-context “Hongyan” image from Chinese culture into the English-speaking world, all while respecting the spirit of the source text. His practice exemplifies a dialectical unity of “creative treason” and “cultural confidence,” offering a paradigmatic model for Chinese literary translation that harmonizes aesthetic excellence with cross-cultural communicative efficacy.

Keywords: cultural translation theory, Xu Yuanchong, ancient Chinese poetry, “Hongyan” image, translation strategies, Three Beauties principle

Article Info: Received: 07 Nov 2025; Received in revised form: 03 Dec 2025; Accepted: 08 Dec 2025; Available online: 12 Dec 2025

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.106.46