2018 Sinology Prize Winner Stephen Owen Passes Away; Tang Prize Foundation Expresses Grief

The academic world mourns the loss of Stephen Owen, a towering figure in the study of Tang Dynasty poetry, who passed away on May 1st in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the age of 81. Owen, the recipient of the 2018 Tang Prize in Sinology, was widely respected for his profound scholarship and his unique ability to translate the nuances of classical Chinese poetry for a global audience.

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He was the authority on Tang poetry research, and had single-handedly completed the translation and annotation of over a thousand poems by Du Fu.

Owen's dedication to Tang poetry was unparalleled. He authored over 30 specialized works covering the poetry of the early, high, middle, and late Tang periods, many of which have been translated into Chinese. His monumental undertaking of translating and annotating more than a thousand poems by Du Fu, arguably the most celebrated poet of the era, stands as a testament to his scholarly rigor and passion. This work is considered essential for scholars and students alike.

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The above question was widely considered a very difficult question that year, and it also showed Taiwanese students Stephen Owen's translation skill in preserving the conciseness and subtlety of classical Chinese poetry, and the aesthetic of 'words having limits but meaning being infinite'.

His influence extended significantly to Taiwan, where his scholarship was integrated into the educational curriculum. In 2020, a question on the university entrance exam (Zhi Kao) for Chinese literature featured an English translation of a famous Du Fu line by Owen, challenging students to analyze different translation approaches. This inclusion highlighted Owen's significant impact and the international recognition of his work within Taiwan's academic circles.

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Du Fu represented the highest expression of Tang poetry culture.

Owen's approach to translation was characterized by a deep respect for the original text's aesthetic and philosophical depth. He famously translated Du Fu's line "A single gull on heaven and earth" as "In Heaven and Earth, a single gull of the sands," a rendition that prompted discussions on "naturalization" versus "foreignization" in translation. He believed that the beauty of poetry lay not just in its words but in its sound and imagery, urging students not to be overly constrained by linguistic or cultural boundaries. His passing is a profound loss to the field of Sinology, but his extensive body of work will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of scholars.

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You don't translate, then you won't lose the flavor.