Hyebin Lee

This project continues the modern scholarship on the transmission of Buddhism from India to China by focusing on one of the most important figures among the early Chinese Buddhist translators, namely Zhi Qian (c. 193-252 CE). His translation style is characterized as kaleidoscopic, as Jan Nattier describes, due to the high degree of diversity and variability in his language. By concentrating on his major works, this study investigates his lexical choices and stylistic features of translation, analyzing techniques and underlying strategies in the context of his historical and personal background. In doing so, it is hoped that this project contributes to our understanding of the Chinese Buddhist translation in general, showing the complexity and dynamics of Zhi Qian’s language.