红色在中西文化中的内涵差异及其翻译策略(6)

The Differences of the Connotation of the Color Red and Their Translation Strategies红色在中西文化中的内涵差异及其翻译策略

the differences of the connotation of the color red as an example, In order to study the differences of cultural connotation and adopt the corresponding translation strategy.

2. The Connotation of the Color Red

2.1 Chinese Culture and "红"

2.1.1 Advocating the Historical Origin of Red

―Red‖ is the main tone in the Chinese nation color spectrum, Chinese favor for red with a long history. Since ancient times, from the old to the youth, all has a deep interest and affection in red. Because in the Chinese language and culture, ―red‖ is closely linked with marriage and festival and the color of happiness, which contains active, positive color meaning and cultural connotation. Red has always been decorated with Chinese life and festivals, “红” in the Chinese culture is derived from the sun, because of the hot sun like fire, its color is red. The ancients believed that sun rise and all creations wake up‘. People feel all things breeding and full of vibrant under the sun, thus have a warm feeling on the red. In addition, the Chinese nation is fond of red, which evolved from blood worship, fire worship and sun worship in the ancient times. In the primitive society, the hunting activities inevitably will be bloodshed and death. In some original tombs, red iron ore powder sprinkled on the ground beside the corpse. The ancestors used to turn undead and pray for regeneration. Visibly, blood can lead to evil or ward off evil spirits. While fire can resist cold and wild animal, and baked food, so ancestors think it can get rid of evil and eliminate disaster. As for the sun, it rises with fiery red, which has dazzling rays of light and burning temperature that brings light and warmth、hope and peace to the mankind. People think this is the gift of god to send power to make everything vitality, therefore, our ancestors full of worship for the mysterious of red. Owing to the Chinese cultural has a long history, there was never a fault, making the Chinese nation enrich and continue the worship of red.

2.1.2 Concrete Performance of Advocating Red

2.1.2.1 The Symbol of Authority and Dignity

Because different nation have different historical development, describing the physical of the same color in all languages is generated by the psychological meanings cannot be identical, often with distinctive ethnic characteristics.

In ancient Chinese primitive society, red is the first one to be applied to human life in color and a symbol of the ancient Chinese southern. In addition, ―红‖in China is considered as a happy festive color, means solemn and noble. Before the 11th century, Zhou dynasty, palace buildings generally use red, and spread to future generations. Because the imperial palace is the supreme ruler‘s activity place, it must show "supreme"、"noble and rich" everywhere and all the time. Therefore, since the ancient times, people have already treated red as the supreme color. Senior official monopolize ―红‖, officials、residence and dress are also mainly in red. Du Fu said:“朱门酒肉臭，路有冻死骨”，“朱门”means the red door, it is known that only ancient high officials and noble lords can use red as wealthy homes, not only people cannot use it, low-level officials also cannot use. So the Chinese ancient high officials and noble lords‘ house known as“朱门”, a powerful person‘s sedan is called“朱轩”, the