YueFeng <scp>and</scp> LinFeng: James Legge: A Critical Biography. Jinan: Shandong Educational Press, 2023; pp. 398.

Framed within six meticulously detailed chapters, an introduction, and a conclusion, the authors combine biographical narrative, translation analysis, and cultural commentary to paint a nuanced portrait of Legge as a pivotal figure in the cross-cultural exchange between China and the West. The introduction presents James Legge (1815–1897), who arrived in China in 1843 as a missionary of the London Missionary Society. It emphasises his efforts to aid local Chinese populations and promote societal modernisation, providing crucial context for understanding his later achievements. Chapter 1 offers a detailed account of Legge's life trajectory. It highlights his perseverance through financial difficulties and health threats during his time in Malacca, illustrating his unwavering commitment to his missionary career and ideals. In Hong Kong, Legge's extensive social connections, support for the local Chinese, opposition to the opium trade, and organisation of disaster relief activities underscore his significant role in the community. His contributions to the modernisation of education and Chinese journalism through initiatives like The Chinese Serial (1853–1856) are noteworthy. This chapter lays the groundwork for understanding Legge's dedication to translating Chinese classics, which later established his reputation as the first professor of sinology at the University of Oxford. Chapter 2 delves into Legge's translation of the Confucian classics, specifically the Four Books. The analysis reveals how these translations profoundly influenced Western understanding of Chinese culture. The chapter discusses the detailed annotations that Legge provided, which, while invaluable to scholars, were often daunting for general readers. Legge's translations are lauded for their faithfulness to the original texts and their syntactic consistency, reflecting his deep respect for Chinese culture. The use of foreignisation strategies in his translations is highlighted, showcasing his intention to preserve the original cultural nuances for scholarly research rather than popular consumption. Chapter 3 provides an in-depth analysis of Legge's translation of the Five Classics. It highlights his methodological approaches and the cultural priorities he maintained. Legge prioritised cultural over literary aspects, used sonorous and archaic language aimed to capture the original's complex style and contributed to the creation of culture-specific terms. The chapter also examines his strategy of contextualising Chinese culture within a Christian framework, demonstrating his cultural affinity. Chapter 4 extends the analysis to Legge's translations of Chinese Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian classics. His translation featured faithful and thick style, a blend of Christian and Confucian interpretations, and profound depth, showcasing his comprehensive understanding of Chinese philosophical texts and cross-cultural perspectives. Chapter 5 explores the origins and characteristics of Legge's sinological thought. It provides a detailed analysis of his tendencies towards cross-cultural integration and his stylistic inclinations within specific social and historical contexts. Legge's nonconformist background and Scottish philosophical heritage are examined as key factors that shaped his open-minded approach. His interactions with the Chinese on equal and friendly terms, along with his resistance to British militarism, are highlighted as reflections of his evolving views on Confucianism and Confucius. The conclusion reaffirms James Legge's status as a premier translator of Chinese texts into European languages and a champion of Chinese culture. His distinctive approach to blending Chinese and Christian cultural elements made his translations unique, although it also stirred controversy even among missionaries. Nevertheless, Legge's contributions eventually garnered widespread recognition and acclaim, securing his lasting legacy in the annals of sinology and the religious history. This book is a definitive scholarly resource, offering an in-depth analysis of James Legge's contributions. The authors' rigorous approach in examining Legge's life, translation methodologies, and cultural impact provides valuable insights for scholars and students alike. The book's strength lies in its detailed exploration of Legge's translations, highlighting the complexities and challenges he faced in bridging Eastern and Western cultures. Additionally, the contextual analysis of Legge's sinological thought as a missionary scholar offers a nuanced understanding of his intellectual legacy. The book elucidates how James Legge's path was shaped within the socio-historical context. On a macro level, Legge's involvement in the translation of Chinese classics into English is directly linked to the global spread of Christianity. On a micro level, Legge infused his own Christian elements into his interpretations of Chinese classics, despite having a conflicted attitude towards Chinese traditions. From a historical perspective, Legge employed methods akin to Biblical exegesis, seeking traces of Christianity within Confucian classics. His thought can be seen as an extension of the figurism tradition of the Jesuits. Legge developed an open-minded approach, which became the foundation for his intellectual transformation. His prolonged engagement with translating Chinese classics served as a catalyst for this transformation. When religion inspired translation, a platform for East–West communication was established. On this platform, Legge and his peers initiated dialogues between Christianity and Confucianism, as well as Christianity and Taoism. Legge's nonconformist thought is reflected in his positive interactions with the Chinese people in daily life. These facilitated his work and were mirrored in his translations, and his attitude towards Confucius and Confucian classics significantly shifted from criticism to admiration, recognising the potential harmony between Confucian and Christian thought. This book provides a model for in-depth research on missionary scholars. Such research is grounded in the texts, seeking the realm and connotations between the lines, while also transcending the text to explore the relevant background and motivations. Thus, the study of Legge spans across disciplines such as language, religion, and history. For Legge, there is a clear interplay between his cultural ideals, missionary motivations, and translation strategies. A comprehensive understanding of his cultural background, mindset, personality, missionary endeavours, translated texts, and written theories allows for a multifaceted understanding of this sinologist and translator. Overall, this book is an essential contribution to the religious history, the study of cross-cultural translation and the history of sinology.