On Wu Mi's Notion of “Translation as Imitation”

This article closely examines Wu Mi's discussions of the relationships between imitation, translation, and creation.Wu's views on this issue can be recapitulated as follows:literary creation begins with imitation as the first stage, translation is a beneficial way of practicing imitation, and a superb translation can be considered creation.Though it is not difficult to notice that Wu's views on the relationship between translation, imitation, and creation echo ideas in both Chinese and Western traditions, this article argues that Wu's notion of "translation as imitation" is not a mere borrowing or rehashing of existing ideas.Rather, Wu formed his own conception of translation,in the context of the 1920s cultural scene in China,through a selective integration of ideas from both traditions.In the conclusion, the author further reflects on the importance of examining the temporalities of translation, as is highlighted by Wu's notion of "translation as imitation", for translation studies.