Abstract

Chinese Buddhist texts have been translating into European Languages since 18th Century. As English is now a Lingual Franca, translation into English a worth to be noticed. Through the study on collected Buddhist text English-translation catalogues, translated texts, historic background and identities of translators and sponsors, more than 160 years of history of translating Chinese Buddhist texts tells four paradigms, namely Gospelic, academic, poetic and Buddhic paradigms.
Chinese Tripitaka was translated into English by Christian missionaries first in middle of 19th century. With the purpose of preaching, the translators attempted to interpret sutras with Biblical words, familiar to name-ratification (geyi) traditions when the Sanskrit texts translated first in China.

Academic translators began to illustrate Chinese Buddhism classics according to their own searching interests. From the establishing of the paradigm of Buddhism study as well as the translating ways by French-Belgium School, to the study by modern American scholars, various Buddhist texts translated partially or completely in their academic papers or works. By the end of 19th Century, Eastern Buddhists such as Suzuki Daisetz began to translate some Buddhism Scriptures to English, throughout the last century, Sangha, laymen and Buddhist societies dedicated themselves into translation practices with faith. Besides, there came another trend of rendering Buddhist literature which existed in Tripitaka, poets and writers joined the teams of Buddhist texts translation with poetic sense, Bill Porter and Thomas Cleary may give us a new feeling of Sutra in English.

Although the missionaries are now past for a long time, the effect of their translations remain still, anyway, the academic and poetic translations cannot be absolutely separated with Buddhists translations because translators might be with multi-identities. Thus, the four paradigms of translation will be continuingly effective in the future broadcasting of Buddhism.

Key words, Chinese Tripitaka, English Translation, Gospelize, academic, poetic