Patriotism and Resistance through Translation: Aeschylus’s <i>Persae</i> and the Ancient Greek Past in Wartime China

Abstract This article analyses the first Chinese translation of Aeschylus’s Persae by Luo Niansheng, initially published in 1936, a pivotal year in China’s modern history. The politically charged 1930s propelled Luo to frame the play primarily as a patriotic text, intended to inspire his Chinese readers during the ongoing war of resistance against Japan. His translations of Greek tragedy and adaptations of Greek history bridged the ancient Greek past with modern Chinese sociopolitical realities, reflecting his belief in the ‘shared’ experiences between ancient Greece and modern China. Through scholars like Hu Shi, Luo participated in a national translation scheme that used Greek history and culture to foster Chinese enlightenment, with institutional support and the rise of public media facilitating the dissemination of his translation. The article also explores Said’s concept of Orientalism, questioning whether Luo’s translation mirrors Orientalist perspectives or offers a distinctly Chinese viewpoint. It argues that Luo’s use of neologisms and his adaptation of key terms within the Chinese cultural framework highlight the complex interplay between his translation strategies and their impact on Chinese readers.