Logo
The Research Centre for Translation centers itself around the idea of translation, our two principal endeavours being translating Chinese literature into English and research in translation studies. Our logo represents the scope of our work, signifying cultural exchange: the three horizontal stripes stand for the standard form of printed English, with the vertical stripes corresponding to that of Chinese. The letters RCT represent the Research Centre for Translation, with the vermilion background meant to call to mind the colour of seals used to validate traditional Chinese texts.
History
RCT was founded in 1971 as the Centre for Translation Projects, the brainchild of the late Mr Stephen C. Soong (1919–1996), a prolific writer and translator, and an active figure in the promotion of translation education and research. Work in the early years focused on establishing a quality publishing base for Chinese literature in English translation. The Centre’s flagship journal Renditions was successfully launched in 1973 by the Chinese-American translator George Kao (1912–2008), then a visiting senior fellow at RCT. The journal’s success paved the way for more publications, including the launch of the hardcover Renditions Books series in 1976. With its reputation and long-term viability ensured, the Centre then turned its attention to research in Chinese literature, translation studies and comparative literature. Additional restructuring in 1983 further strengthened RCT as a research centre for Chinese literature and translation studies. The present name, the Research Centre for Translation (RCT), was adopted at this time.
Mr. Stephen C. Soong (1919–1996)
Mr. Geroge Kao (1912–2008)
The period between the middle and late 1980s saw remarkable growth in literary creativity in mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, which inspired an increase in translating and publishing activity at the Centre, including the launch of the Renditions Paperbacks series in 1986.
The early years: teachers and students at a graduation dinner of an Advanced Diploma in translation organized by the centre in 1970s.
Since the 1990s, the emphasis of the Centre’s work has gradually shifted towards translation studies, especially in relation to the historical and cultural contexts of China. The Translation Studies Research Series, initiated by RCT, represents some of the Centre’s research work in this area. In recent years, additional activities have been organized by RCT to promote translation studies, particularly the influence of translation in Asian history and culture. These include the biennial Young Researchers’ Conference on Chinese Translation Studies and the Summer School on Chinese Translation History, both of which aim to provide a platform for young scholars worldwide to be actively engaged in translation studies. This year, the Centre is launching the inaugural issue of the Chinese journal Studies in Translation History (Fanyishi yanjiu). The publication of this journal will mark another important milestone for RCT in furthering its mission to cultivate high-level research in this area.
Milestones
1971
Founding of Centre for Translation Projects
Philp S.Y. Sun became Centre Director
1973
Inaugural issue of journal Renditions and Stephen C. Soong became Centre Director
1976
Launch of the hardcover Renditions Books series
The first Renditions Book:
The first Renditions Book:
Chinese Classical Prose: The Eight Masters of the T'ang-Sung Period
1978
Centre restructured and renamed to Comparative Literature and Translation Centre
1982
Five Seasons of a Golden Year won Association of American University Presses Design Award
Stephen C. Soong with a copy of Five Seasons of a Golden Year
Stephen C. Soong with a copy of Five Seasons of a Golden Year
1983
Renamed centre to Research Centre for Translation (RCT)
1984
John Minford became Centre Director
1986
Launch of Renditions Paperback series
The first three titles of the Renditions Paperbacks
1987
Eva W.Y. Hung became Centre Director
1988
Established Renditions Fellowship programme
1989
Vignettes from the Chinese won Merit Book award of the Hong Kong Print Awards
1994-95
Lecture Series
Renowned scholars, Gideon Toury, Tejaswini Niranjana, Eugene Eoyang, Andre Lefevere and Susan Bassnett, gave lectures in Renditions 21st Anniversary Lecture Series.
1997
Establishment ofn Stephen C. Soong Translation Studies Memorial Awards
Mrs Mae Soong presenting an award certificate to Dr. Chu Chiyu
1999
Launch of Translation Studies Research Series
2002
Launch of electronically-based Renditions CD-ROM Series and Renditions PDA Series
2004
Inauguration of Young Researchers' Conference on Chinese Translation Studies
2005
Lawrence Wang-chi Wong became Centre Director
2007
The Carving of Insects won the 2007 Literary Award for Translation at the 17th Annual PEN USA Literary Awards Festival
2008
To Pierce the Material Screen: An Anthology of 20th-century Hong Kong Literature launched during the Hong Kong International Literature Festival
2009
Inauguration of Summer School on Chinese Translation History
2011
Inaugural issue of journal Studies in Translation History
2013
Establishment of Renditions Distinguished Lecture Series on Literary Translation
Prof Howard Goldblatt as the first speaker
Prof Howard Goldblatt as the first speaker
2015
Inauguration of the International Conference on Chinese Translation History series
2021
Organized Lecture Series on Studies in Translation History in Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the RCT
Past Conferences
21-23 April 2022
"Chinese Culture in Translation: Sinologists as Translators” Conference
Department of Oriental Studies, Sapienza University of Rome & RCT, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Online/Rome, Italy, 21–23 April, 2022
“Chinese Culture in Translation: Sinologists as Translators” Conference is co-organized by the Department of Oriental Studies, Sapienza University of Rome and RCT, CUHK.
Department of Oriental Studies, Sapienza University of Rome & RCT, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Online/Rome, Italy, 21–23 April, 2022
“Chinese Culture in Translation: Sinologists as Translators” Conference is co-organized by the Department of Oriental Studies, Sapienza University of Rome and RCT, CUHK.
29-31 May 2013
Translation and Modernization in East Asia in the 19th and Early 20th Century Conference 十九至二十世紀初翻譯與東亞現代化國際研討會
This conference was held at The Chinese University of Hong Kong on 29–31 May 2013. It aimed to study the role played by translation in the modernization process of the East Asian countries in the 19th and early 20th century, a project at the Research Centre for Translation (RCT), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, supported by the University’s Focused Investment Scheme and the RCT Research Programme Fund.
This conference was held at The Chinese University of Hong Kong on 29–31 May 2013. It aimed to study the role played by translation in the modernization process of the East Asian countries in the 19th and early 20th century, a project at the Research Centre for Translation (RCT), The Chinese University of Hong Kong, supported by the University’s Focused Investment Scheme and the RCT Research Programme Fund.
- For more details about the programme, please click here.
01-02 Nov 2012
"From Late Ming to Late Qing: Literature, Translation, and the Construction of Knowledge” Conference, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, 1–2 November, 2012
“From Late Ming to Late Qing: Literature, Translation, and the Construction of Knowledge” Conference is co-organized by the Research Centre for Translation, CUHK and the Institute of Chinese Literature and Philosophy, Academia Sinica, Taiwan.
“From Late Ming to Late Qing: Literature, Translation, and the Construction of Knowledge” Conference is co-organized by the Research Centre for Translation, CUHK and the Institute of Chinese Literature and Philosophy, Academia Sinica, Taiwan.
27 Sep 2012
"Translation and Colonial Rule in Taiwan" Workshop, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, 27 September 2012
"Translation and Colonial Rule in Taiwan" Workshop is jointly organized by the Research Centre for Translation of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Cultural History Research Group of the Institute of Taiwan History, Academia Sinica Taiwan.
- To read the programme, please click here.
27-28 Oct 2011
Sinologists as translators in the 17–19th Century Conference
Sinologists as Translators in 17–19th century Conference is an international conference organized at The Chinese University of Hong Kong on 27–28 October 2011 in Celebration of the fortieth anniversary of the RCT.
- To read the conference programme and the abstracts of the selected papers, please click here.
15-17 Dec 2010
The Fourth Asian Translation Tradition Conference
The Research Centre for Translation co-organized the "Fourth Asian Translation Traditions Conference" (ATT4) with the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. The event was held at The Chinese University of Hong Kong on 15–17 December 2010. It was a sequel to three previous conferences held at AHRB Centre for Asian and African Literatures in London (2004), the Adivasi Academy in Tejgadh, India (2005), and Boğaziçi University in Istanbul (2008). Like the previous conferences, the fourth conference aimed to explore the Eurocentric bias of Translation Studies by exploring the richness and diversity of non-Western discourses and practices of translation. The focus was on translational exchanges among non-Western languages and change and continuity in Asian translation traditions.
The Research Centre for Translation co-organized the "Fourth Asian Translation Traditions Conference" (ATT4) with the College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. The event was held at The Chinese University of Hong Kong on 15–17 December 2010. It was a sequel to three previous conferences held at AHRB Centre for Asian and African Literatures in London (2004), the Adivasi Academy in Tejgadh, India (2005), and Boğaziçi University in Istanbul (2008). Like the previous conferences, the fourth conference aimed to explore the Eurocentric bias of Translation Studies by exploring the richness and diversity of non-Western discourses and practices of translation. The focus was on translational exchanges among non-Western languages and change and continuity in Asian translation traditions.
- To know more about the conference, please vist conference official site hosted by Research Centre for Translation, CUHK.
- For the report on the event published by Compilation and Translation Review, please click here.
19-21 May 2004
The International Conference on Asian Translation Traditions, co-organized with the AHRB Centre at UCL and SOAS, London University, 19–21 May 2004.
Conference papers are collected in Asian Translation Traditions
Edited by Eva Hung and Judy Wakabayashi Published by St. Jerome Publishing
Conference papers are collected in Asian Translation Traditions
Edited by Eva Hung and Judy Wakabayashi Published by St. Jerome Publishing
25-28 Aug 1999
International Conference on Culture and Translation, co-organized with Dept. of English, Peking University, 25–28 August 1999.
02-05 Dec 1998
4th Language International Conference on Translation & Interpreting: Building Bridges, co-organized with Academy of Social Sciences, Shanghai International Studies University, 2–5 December 1998.
11-12 Apr 1998
International Conference on Translation in Asia: Past & Present, co-organized with GITIS, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan, 11–12 April 1998.
Conference papers are collected in the book
Translation in Asia: Past and Present
Edited by Eva Hung and Yang Cheng-shu
Published by Peking University Press
Conference papers are collected in the book
Translation in Asia: Past and Present
Edited by Eva Hung and Yang Cheng-shu
Published by Peking University Press
03-05 Mar 1998
Working Conference on Translation Movements in China, 3–5 March 1998.
03-06 Jan 1996
International Conference on Early Modern Chinese Literature: Translation and Creation, 3–6 January, 1996.
Conference papers are collected in the books Translation and Creation (English) and Translation and Creation: on early modern Chinese translation of foreign fiction (Chinese).
Translation and Creation
Edited by David Pollard
Published by John Benjamins Publishing Company
Translation and Creation: on early modern Chinese translation of foreign fiction
Edited by Lawrence Wang-chi Wong
Published by Peking University Press
05-08 Dec 1988
International Conference on Hong Kong Literature, co-organized with Dept. of Chinese, CUHK and Joint Publishing Co. Ltd., 5–8 December 1988.
24 May 1986
Symposium on the Teaching of Translation in Hong Kong, 24 May 1986.