关键词: 孔子, 中庸, 心, 常, 英译

Abstract: Due to its neglect of Tian(天)of the Confucian cosmology, traditional exegesis of the Analects is entangled in human or worldly affairs, which is contrary to the principle of zhongyong(中庸)to grasp the two ends and make use of their middle(执两用中). A study in the direction shows that, the modern Chinese and English translations of the two similar expressions in the book and the text of Zhongyong, are misleading, for not having established the heart as the resource of psychic energy, and putting aside the interaction between Tian and man. The English versions have gone further in trying to find given words in the target language, and replace rather than represent what is said in the two books, which is not in keeping with the teaching of Confucious and further reduces it to commonplace knowledge. According to Xiong Shili, Zhongyong means the constant presence of the heart(心常). Thus, consulting Daodejing(道德经), and making use of the Shakespearian heart and the English version of the Heideggerian die Anwesung, we propose a new translation: the-heart-ever-presencing. If the cross-cultural translation of the key words of Confucianism has become so inaccurate, there is a great historical challenge to the translators concerned in re-introducing and re-rendering cross-culturally Confucian thought by using Confucian methodology.

Key words: Master Kong, zhongyong(中庸), heart, presencing, English translation