Abstract: In the recent decade, the academia at home and abroad has paid increasing attention to the study on the translation and transmission of classical Chinese novels in the English-speaking world. However, the issue of source text of translation has been largely neglected and treated without meticulous verification, particularly so in the case of the English translation of Journey to the West (Xiyouji). As the first step of examining translated texts, the discussion and clarification of the source text is not only conducive to the precise and overall comprehension of follow-up issues, including the translator's interpretation of the theme of the novel, his or her awareness of the textual issues of the original, as well as his or her intentions and strategies in translation; it will also help to establish new directions for enhancing future translations of Journey to the West into English. Utilizing first-hand archival materials and combing the English translation history of Journey to the West with its academic history, the paper will investigate the source text issues involved in three periods of its English translation history, namely the period of missionary translation (1854-1929), the period of popularizing translation (1930-1976), and the period of scholastic translation (1977-2012).

Key words: English translation of Xiyouji, source text of translation, textual history of Xiyouji, history of translation

摘要： 近十几年来,海内外学界对中国古典小说在英语世界的翻译与传播之研究持续升温,但翻译底本的问题总体上较少获得重视和仔细考证,尤以《西游记》的英译为甚。作为译本研究的初步环节,讨论厘清底本问题有助于对后续问题的正确全面认识,包括译者对小说主旨的理解和对小说版本的意识,译者的翻译动机和翻译策略等等,也可为今后《西游记》英译事业的发展开辟新的道路和方向。本文利用一手档案,结合《西游记》英译史和学术史的发展脉络,详述传教士翻译时期(1854-1929)、通俗化翻译时期(1930-1976)和学术性翻译时期(1977-2012)三个阶段各自涉及的底本问题。

关键词: 《西游记》英译, 翻译底本, 《西游记》版本史, 翻译史