As a collection of short jokes from the Ming and Qing dynasties, 'Laughing Forest Records' showcases Chinese folk customs through humorous language and is loved by British gentlemen. Between 1816 and 1925, four British sinologists translated it into English, becoming a window for the West to understand Chinese culture. The study will analyze four English translations, explore their commonalities and characteristics, as well as the evolution of English people's understanding of Chinese culture.

1、 Four English translations of 'Laughing Forest Chronicles'

In British translation and reception studies, Herbert Zhallis's Selected Translation of Chinese Jokes, published in 1925, is the most famous version, which aims to show the wisdom and humor of Chinese people. In the 19th century, Robert Morrison, Thomas Manning, and George Taylor also conducted translation work, but it did not receive widespread attention. Morrison's "Ordinary Chinese Conversations" selects jokes from "The Laughing Forest" as teaching materials, while Manning's "Chinese Jokes" emphasizes the importance of jokes in showcasing the mentality and social system of the Chinese people. Taylor's "The Humor of the Celestial Empire" aims to change Westerners' misunderstanding of China's lack of humor by translating jokes from "Laughing Forest Chronicles". Zhai Lisi's Selected Translations of Chinese Jokes guide readers to understand Chinese culture through humorous content, and his translation strategy revitalizes Chinese jokes in the English speaking world. These translated works have become an important medium for Western readers to understand China and Chinese culture.

2、 The commonality of content selection

In the study of the translation and reception of "Laughing Forest Chronicles" in the UK, four British sinologists collectively avoided vulgar content and preferred jokes that reflected social customs and injustice. They removed pornographic and vulgar jokes, and refined the original text to adapt to the Puritanism and literary style of Victorian era England. In translation, they replaced derogatory terms in the original text with more euphemistic words, such as translating "adulterer" as "gentleman" and "prostitute" as "girl", to reduce contempt for specific groups. At the same time, they paid attention to jokes that reflected Chinese social customs and legal system, such as the "Department of Craftsmanship," "Department of Extraordinary Gifts," and "Department of Greed and Frugality," which depicted common life and industry rules, as well as the personalities and behaviors of ancient people. The translators showcased the folk ecology and legal system of ancient Chinese society through these jokes, enabling Western readers to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and society.

3、 The English transmission process of "Laughing Forest Chronicles"

At the beginning of the 19th century, Britain began to translate and interpret Chinese materials in order to establish trade relations with China, and the study of Chinese studies was utilitarian. At the end of the 19th century, British universities and academic institutions established Chinese related courses, and Sinology became an independent discipline. The Western transmission of "Laughing Forest Records" reflects this academic transformation, and its acceptance process in Britain reflects the process of constructing an Eastern knowledge system in the West.

4、 Conclusion

The translation and introduction of literary works is an important way of cross-cultural communication. As a reflection of the social customs of the Ming and Qing dynasties, the translation and reception of "Laughing Forest Guangji" in the UK demonstrate the cognitive and reception process of Chinese folk literature in the West. The English translation and dissemination of this work not only enriched the history of cultural exchange between China and the UK, but also reflected the construction of the Western knowledge system towards the East.