On the Role of Translation in the Reconfiguration of Chinese Literary Field in the May Fourth Era

The May Fourth era was a vigorous period in translation theory and practice in China, as well as a crucial period for the formation of Chinese discourse of modernity. Taking some of Bourdieu’s concepts as a starting point, this paper attempts to study the key role of translation in the reconfiguration of Chinese literary field during the May Fourth era. Modern Chinese intellectuals relied on translation for articulation of their cultural enlightenment project, and derived much of their cultural power from their translation of Western works at that time. It is indicated that translation in the May Fourth era, far from being considered a secondary, marginal activity, constituted one of the important elements participating in the struggle for cultural legitimation and supremacy, and provided easy access to “cultural capital” and “symbolic power” for modern Chinese intellectuals in the Chinese discourse of modernity during the early twentieth century.