诠释学视域下《道德经》“天下”思想的翻译对比研究

A Comparative Study of Translating the “Tianxia” Concept in the Tao Te Ching from a Hermeneutical Perspective

摘要: 本文基于诠释学视角，结合语料库方法，以《道德经》核心哲学概念“天下”为研究对象，对比理雅各、林语堂与哈彻三译本的不同诠释。研究发现，三译本对“天下”思想的诠释存在共性：三译本均以“world”为最高频译法，对“天下”作为社会或世界范围的基本语义存在普遍认同。然而，理雅各融合神学与政治实体观，将“天下”诠释为兼具宗教意涵与政治秩序的世界共同体；林语堂的诠释凸显人文色彩和“天下”的包容性，聚焦人类社会与现实治理；哈彻赋予“天下”自然与动态属性，弱化政治色彩。三译本对“天下”思想的诠释偏差与译者时代背景、文化身份等因素相关。本研究表明，老子“天下”思想内涵深远，理解不同译者对其“天下”思想的诠释，有助于更完整地还原老子哲学思想的本来面貌。

Abstract: From the perspective of hermeneutics and combined with the corpus method, this study examines the translation of “Tianxia” (天下), a core philosophical concept in the Tao Te Ching, through a comparative analysis of three English translations by James Legge, Lin Yutang, and Bradford Hatcher. The findings reveal that while all three translators converge on “world” as the dominant rendering, reflecting a shared recognition of Tianxia’s basic semantic scope. However, Legge integrates theology and the view of political entity, interpreting “Tianxia” as a world community with both religious connotations and political order; Lin Yutang’s interpretation highlights humanistic qualities and the inclusiveness of “Tianxia”, focusing on human society and realistic governance; and Hatcher endows “Tianxia” with natural and dynamic attributes while weakening its political connotations. These divergences are closely tied to each translator’s historical context, cultural identity, and philosophical commitments. This study implies that Laozi’s concept of “Tianxia” carries profound connotations, and understanding how different translators interpret this concept helps to more comprehensively restore the original form of Laozi’s philosophical thought.