(East-West Question) "Foreign Chinese Medicine" Eisen: How to decipher and introduce the "going overseas" of traditional Chinese medicine classics?
China News Agency, Jinan, April 26th: How to decipher the introduction of Chinese medicine classics "going to the sea"?
——Interview with Iranian expert and "foreign Chinese medicine" Aisen from the School of History and Culture of Southwest University
China News Agency reporter Zhao Xiao
In recent years, Chinese medicine has been continuously recognized and tried by Westerners, and the dissemination of Chinese medicine classics has ushered in new opportunities.
As a medical system rooted in the soil of traditional Chinese culture, most of the commonly used nouns and professional terms in traditional Chinese medicine are difficult to find a completely corresponding interpretation in the Western discourse system. Therefore, the first thing to overcome when Chinese medical classics go overseas is the translation problem.
How to overcome the language barrier of "going out" in traditional Chinese medicine books?
How to make overseas people better understand and use traditional Chinese medicine?
Ehsan Doostmohammad (English name Ehsan Doostmohammad), an Iranian expert from the School of History and Culture of Southwest University, who is studying in Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, majoring in acupuncture and massage, and has nearly 10 years of experience in translating traditional Chinese medicine classics, recently accepted an interview with China News Agency. The exclusive interview of "Dongxiwen" expressed opinions on the translation, introduction and dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine classics.
The following is a summary of the interview transcript:
China News Agency reporter: You have completed the Persian translation of many traditional Chinese medicine classics such as "The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine", "Su Wen" and "The Synopsis of the Golden Chamber". From your experience in translating and publishing books, how is the spread of TCM books and classics overseas, especially in Persian-speaking countries?
Eisen:
At present, other types of Chinese books such as literature, history, and philosophy are attracting more and more attention overseas, and the pace of Chinese book copyright export is accelerating, but the foreign translation and introduction of Chinese medicine books is still in its infancy.
In the process of translating TCM classics, my biggest impression is that TCM classics not only contain the theoretical knowledge of TCM, but also contain profound Chinese culture and unique TCM way of thinking.
However, the types of traditional Chinese medicine books are not rich enough, and most of them are relatively professional, which is not suitable for ordinary readers to read and understand. Some books published externally need to be revised according to the reading habits and cultural background of foreign readers.
Chinese medicine theory such as yin yang and five elements, qi, blood and spirit can still be understood by Chinese readers, but in the eyes of foreign readers, it is "unintelligible". The root cause is the difference caused by different cultural backgrounds.
In Iran and other Persian-speaking countries, the spread of traditional Chinese medicine is mainly based on acupuncture.
Compared with acupuncture, other types of books on Chinese medicine have not been significantly promoted in Iran.
Books on Chinese herbal medicine, prescriptions, TCM diagnostics, and TCM health preservation are still scarce.
With the change of the Iranian people's health concept in recent years, and the continuous popularization and application of alternative medicine in Iran, the absence of popular books on traditional Chinese medicine is more obvious than before.
Young people from Central Asian countries receive Chinese medicine education at Gansu University of Chinese Medicine.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Yang Yanmin
China News Agency reporter: The status of the Chinese medicine translation talent team directly affects the depth and breadth of the internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine. What kind of people can undertake the translation of traditional Chinese medicine books?
Aisen:
With the implementation of the "Belt and Road" initiative, traditional Chinese medicine has entered a new stage of development in the countries and regions along the "Belt and Road".
Especially during the spread of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, traditional Chinese medicine has become one of the important means for countries and regions along the "Belt and Road" to contain the spread of the virus.
The demand for translation talents of traditional Chinese medicine books and documents is more urgent than ever.
Traditional Chinese medicine culture is rooted in the soil of traditional Chinese culture.
A qualified translator needs to have a certain understanding of Chinese, Chinese culture, and Chinese medicine culture in order to ensure accurate transmission of the connotation of Chinese medicine culture.
It is difficult to guarantee the accuracy of translation of professional knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine if it is only translated by language professionals, and the language expression level of translation only by professionals of traditional Chinese medicine cannot be satisfactory.
In addition, it is necessary to avoid the disadvantages brought by "second-hand translation".
In recent years, although the number of Chinese medicine translations published in Iran has increased, most of the translators do not understand Chinese and can only re-translate the English version of the book as the mother.
"Second-hand translation" may play a certain role in promoting the spread of traditional Chinese medicine in Iran in a short period of time, but because the English version is compared with the original Chinese version of traditional Chinese medicine books, there are inconsistencies in the translator's understanding and translation standards. The problem, coupled with the differences between the Persian culture in Iran and the cultures of English-speaking countries, also led to the uneven quality of Persian translations.
If TCM books and classics want to be better understood and accepted by overseas people, it is necessary to have "Traditional Chinese medicine + Chinese + foreign language (small language)" compound talents as a bridge in the middle, who not only master the professional knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine, but also Have a solid language foundation in Chinese and other minor languages, can directly refer to the original text of Chinese works for translation, and improve the accuracy of foreign translation content.
At the same time, it is suggested that China and other countries with small languages should form an expert team to establish the translation standard of proper nouns and small languages in traditional Chinese medicine culture.
Eisen is busy at home translating, reviewing, and proofreading Chinese classics in Persian.
Photo courtesy of the interviewee
China News Agency reporter: In your opinion, what matters should translators pay attention to in the process of translating traditional Chinese medicine books and classics?
Eisen:
First of all, we must consider the level of awareness of Chinese medicine culture among the people of various countries.
People in some countries have only heard of traditional Chinese medicine, but have not personally experienced and intuitively experienced traditional Chinese medicine therapy, and have no basic understanding of traditional Chinese medicine.
Although some theories of traditional Chinese medicine are profound, their principles are very simple. Translators must avoid making simple truths complicated and profound, and explain them in a relatively common language of the target country. And there must be enough annotations.
Traditional Chinese medicine is deeply influenced by traditional Chinese culture. Most of the terms of traditional Chinese medicine contain profound Chinese cultural connotations. How to convey the essence of traditional Chinese culture in translation is the biggest challenge for translators.
In the process of translation, we should not blindly use Western medical terms to explain TCM terms. We should keep the meaning of TCM professional vocabulary as authentic as possible, including its pharmacological essence and characteristic therapy, so as to guide more people to become interested in TCM and gradually accept it. Chinese medicine culture.
Photo by China News Agency issued by Ma Jian
China News Agency reporter: China and Iran are both ancient civilizations with a long history. You have been exposed to Persian traditional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine at the same time. What are the similarities between the two in terms of treatment concepts and methods? How to influence each other through the Silk Road?
Eisen:
The Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Road have enabled Iran and China to have frequent trade exchanges, and have also allowed the two countries to integrate and influence each other in medicine.
This effect has two aspects:
First, to deliver prescriptions to each other.
Herbal medicines from China are recorded in some representative works of Iranian traditional medicine.
Avicenna's book "Medicine", a Central Asian natural scientist and medical scientist, records 16 medicines introduced from China.
In addition, there are 17 medicines such as green salt, woody incense, asafoetida, agarwood, and Suhe recorded in the ancient Chinese pharmacy book "Xinxiu Materia Medica", and 59 herbs, such as honey grass, Dizhishi, Persian jujube, etc. recorded in "Compendium of Materia Medica". Medicines were introduced into China from Persia via the Silk Road.
Second, Persian traditional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine learn from each other and absorb the medicinal properties and main efficacy.
For example, cinnamon (Persian: Darchin, meaning: Chinese tree) is dry and hot, and has the effect of dispelling cold and relieving pain, treating arthritis, stomach pain, etc.; rhubarb (Persian: Rivand Chini, meaning: Chinese rhubarb) is cold and has moisturizing effect , Treatment of liver pain, constipation, etc.
These medicines from China are all recorded in Persian medical works, and they are similar to traditional Chinese medicine in terms of medicinal properties and indications.
In China's "Sea Medicine Materia Medica", "Chinese Medicine Dictionary" and other works, it is recorded that green salt comes from the Persian country, and its efficacy is the same as that recorded in Persian traditional medicine. .
Foreign businessmen visit Chinese cinnamon trees.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Huang Yaohui
All in all, Persian traditional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine have many similarities in basic theory, diagnostics, therapeutics, etc., which also lays the foundation for the current cooperation between Iran and China in the field of traditional medicine.
China News Service: At present, the Chinese government attaches great importance to and strongly supports the internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine. In the future, how to further promote the translation of traditional Chinese medicine books and classics?
Aisen:
Judging from the development trend in recent years, traditional Chinese medicine is rapidly integrating into the international medical system.
At this stage, China needs to go all out to increase the popularity of TCM books and classics overseas through the support and guidance of relevant policies, and to truly and objectively spread TCM culture to overseas readers.
At present, although China continues to carry out foreign exchanges and cooperation in the field of traditional culture and translation, and many projects have achieved remarkable results, the policy support and promotion in promoting Chinese medicine to cross the language and cultural barriers and go to the world are not enough, and various communication channels should be adopted. Expand the influence of traditional Chinese medicine by combining methods; encourage traditional Chinese medicine culture experts and foreign language translators to form teams and carry out cooperation; establish special foreign translation projects of traditional Chinese medicine classics, hold relevant seminars, translation talent training, classics collection, etc. Activity.
Translation plays a key role as a bridge in the process of internationalization and dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine.
For overseas readers to become unfamiliar with Chinese medicine culture, and from recognition to trust, it requires the belief, persistence and hard work of every Chinese medicine communication messenger, so that "Chinese medicine is a valuable wealth for the health of people in the world" is recognized. The medical value is highlighted.
(Finish)
Interviewee Profile:
Ehsan Doostmohammad (English name Ehsan Doostmohammad), an Iranian expert from the School of History and Culture of Southwest University, has long been engaged in the translation and introduction of Chinese traditional medicine, cultural studies and Chinese classics. New Coronary Virus Pneumonia Public Protection Manual, Famous Words of the Four Books and Five Classics, Bianhu Pulse, Tongue Diagnosis, Chinese Pharmacy, Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Compassion, University, The Doctrine of the Mean, Mencius, and Disciple Rules and other works.