A Study on the Translation and Dissemination Strategies of The Book of Songs from the Perspective of Reception Aesthetics

This study examines the translation and dissemination of onomatopoeic words in The Book of Songs through the lens of Reception Aesthetics, which emphasizes readers’ role in realizing a text’s meaning. It introduces core concepts—“expectation horizons”, “calling structure”, and “aesthetic distance”—and analyzes features of The Book of Songs’ onomatopoeia. Comparing Xu Yuanchong’s and James Legge’s translations reveals Xu excels in preserving phonetic beauty and stimulating imagination, while Legge aligns closer to Western aesthetic preferences. Finally, it proposes dissemination strategies: tailoring content to readers’ expectations, constructing calling structures to inspire engagement, leveraging translator creativity for cultural-aesthetic unity, and optimizing through feedback mechanisms. These aim to enhance cross-cultural dissemination and integrate cultural heritage with aesthetic value.