20세기 초기 중국의 『춘희』 번역과 전유

Abstract

This article is an attempt to examine Chinese translation and appropriation of The Lady of the Camellias in early twentieth century. Alexandre Dumas fils, a prolific French playwright and novelist, wrote this novel in 1848. The first chinese translation of this novel, translated jointly by Lin Shu, the most important literary translator in late Qing period, and oral translator Wang Shou-chang, was entitled Bali Chahuanü Yishi. Since Lin and Wang's translation was published in 1899, it caused a great sensation. the image of Chahuanü, the Chinese another name of Marguerite, was constantly being recreated in drama and fiction during early twentieth century. Firstly, the Spring Willow, an organization devoted to the study of various literatures and arts set up in Tokyo in 1906, gave a performance of The Lady of the Camellias in 1907. Secondly, a chinese literator Zhong Xin-qing, inspired by Bali Chahuanü Yishi, wrote New Camellias pubilshed in 1907 by Shenjiang novel company. this novel told a tortuous love story between a revolutionary intellect and famous courtesan of Shanghai. On the eve of Xinhai revolution, it was said that this author created one image of new Chahuanü based on Lin & Wang's translation. Thirdly, players of the New Stage of Shanghai staged Twentieth Century New Camellias, that premiered in June 1909 and won popularity . An illustrated description of its general plot could be found in Tuhua Ribao. The script was produced by members of the Shanghai Global Student Union. the play told a tortuous cross-class love story between a patriotic young gentleman who joined the army and a virtuous girl who was deceived and became a famous courtesan renamed Xin Chahua. It combined romance and patriotism quite well.