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Studies in the History of Natural Sciences  2020, Vol. 39 Issue (1): 35-52    DOI:
ARTICLES     
Adaptation and Continuity in the Early Translation of Buddhist Astrology from India to China
ZHOU Liqun
School of Asian Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing 100089,China
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Abstract  Chinese translations of the Buddhist astrology text Śārdūlakarn·āvadāna and other scriptures preserved the main elements of Indian astronomy, such as terminology, divination by naka-s·tras, the Hindu calendar, solar shadow data, instrument design and so on. Within this continuity, the original text was changed according to the natural environment and social and cultural traditions. For example, some texts added Chinese geographical names, or used Chinese seasonal divisions and calendrical data. From the perspective of translation style, the astronomical translations were mainly based on quality, combining literal and free translation. The translation team, hosted by some renowned monk scholar, cooperated and used the strategy of a unified combination of domestication and foreignization when translating. The translated works included both mathematical and astronomical content popular with intellectual elites of the time, as well as describing timing instruments and simple divination technique that could be easily disseminated among the common people. This article uses the Buddhist translation methodologies, such as the “five kinds of lost originations” and “five principles not to translate”, to analyze continuity and adaptation in the early astronomical translations of Han Buddhism in terms of the characteristics of the stars, calendar timing and astrology. It then explores the adaptive strategies adopted by translators in cultural exchanges, and attempts to analyze which scientific texts could be effectively disseminated. Overall, it concludes that the longitudinal inspiration of a knowledge communication strategy is that knowledge and technology with universal value can be preserved in cultural exchanges, and that the horizontal inspiration of a knowledge dissemination strategy is that foreign knowledge and technologies that resonate with the local culture of the target country or region can be better integrated.

Key words： early translation      Buddhist astrology      India      China      continuity and adaptation     
Received: 08 August 2019      Published: 17 June 2022
ZTFLH:  N092  
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ZHOU Liqun. Adaptation and Continuity in the Early Translation of Buddhist Astrology from India to China. Studies in the History of Natural Sciences, 2020, 39(1): 35-52.

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http://www.shns.ac.cn/     OR     http://www.shns.ac.cn/Y2020/V39/I1/35

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