1 Introduction

This paper probes into the relationship between modern Chinese translation activities and saving the nation from extinction, and points out that after the failure of the Westernization Movement, western translation became an important means for intellectuals to explore the path of saving the country. The theory of evolution began to spread in China in the 1870s, and Yan Fu's translation of "Tianyan Lun" had a significant impact on the bourgeois revolution in modern China. As the foundational work of the theory of biological evolution, the dissemination of "The Origin of Species" in China has significant enlightening significance for modern Chinese society. In 1920, the first complete translation of "The Origin of Species" was published in China, and there have been 31 translations to date. The author will analyze the translation, publication, collection, and reader acceptance of "On the Origin of Species" in China based on these 31 translations, in order to promote related research.

Introduction to the Chinese translation of "The Origin of Species"

The Origin of Species was first published in 1859 and published in six editions from 1872, with many Chinese translations based on the sixth edition published in 1872. Before the 21st century, there were 7 translations, but in the first 20 years of the 21st century, the number of translations significantly increased to 24, including 11 compiled translations, 3 joint translations, and 21 independent translations.

3 Research Status and Problems

The research on the Chinese translation of "The Origin of Species" can be divided into three directions: overall translation research, comparative research on translation quality, and research on the dissemination of Darwin's ecological ideas. The overall translation research contributes to data organization, but there are omissions and insufficient micro text research; The comparative study of translation quality focuses on micro comparison, lacking examination of the connection between macro society and text deformation; The study of ecological thought dissemination focuses on the dissemination of evolutionary ideas and does not involve translation. The paper analyzes the acceptance of "The Origin of Species" in China from multiple perspectives.

4 Translators and publishing institutions

The translator plays a crucial role in translating 'The Origin of Species', and their identity, educational background, and professional experience have a significant impact on the quality of translation. From the beginning of the 20th century to the 21st century, a total of 41 translators participated in translation, among which translators before the 21st century mostly had biological backgrounds, while translators after the 21st century had more diverse backgrounds. Publishing institutions play a decisive role in the dissemination of 'The Origin of Species', with Science Press, Commercial Press, and Shaanxi People's Publishing House being the main publishing forces. Science Press has become an important publishing institution for "The Origin of Species" due to its technological publishing background and the professional influence of translators. The Commercial Press, with its long history and academic publishing tradition, has had a profound impact on the dissemination of 'The Origin of Species'. Shaanxi People's Publishing House has become an important publisher of "The Origin of Species" in the 21st century due to its geographical advantages and the professional background of translators.

The Content and Influence of the Text on the Origin of Species

The Origin of Species "is Darwin's work on the theory of biological evolution, which focuses on the struggle for survival and natural selection. The book argues for the origin of species and diversity of life through aspects such as variability, heritability, and artificial selection. Research on the translation of 'The Origin of Species' shows that auxiliary texts such as titles, covers, and prefaces have a significant impact on readers. The cover design and translator's preface of different translations reflect the translator's translation ideas and purposes. For example, Ma Junwu's translation emphasizes the scientific value and social impact of "The Origin of Species," while Miao Deshou's translation focuses on popularizing science and filling translation gaps. These auxiliary texts help us better understand the translation, discover translation phenomena, and have significant implications for translation research.

The Spread and Acceptance of "The Origin of Species" in China

The dissemination and acceptance of 'The Origin of Species' in China involve the generation, selection, communication, influence, acceptance, and dissemination of translated texts. Translation behavior includes five elements: translation subject, content, approach, audience, and effect. Through the evaluation of reading on Douban, analysis of library collections and citation numbers, it was found that "The Origin of Species" has a good acceptance and quality in China. The versions translated by experts and scholars are more easily accepted, and classic translations, although obscure, are of superior quality. According to the collection and citation count of the library, the joint translation by Zhou Jianren et al. and Shu Degan et al. in 1995 was recognized by scholars and researchers as having high academic value. The Origin of Species has a wide-ranging impact, involving fields such as ecological security, traditional Chinese medicine, medicine, art philosophy, gardening, religion, etc., and has a profound shaping and construction effect on Chinese society.

7 Conclusion

Since the first complete translation of 'The Origin of Species' in 1920, it has been translated, introduced, and disseminated in China for over a hundred years, exerting a profound influence on Chinese society. Over the course of a century, a total of 31 translations were produced, involving 41 translators and over 20 publishing houses. Before the 21st century, translators were mostly in professional fields, but after the 21st century, the translator community has become more diverse. The number of citations for translated works exceeds 20000, and academic research is gradually increasing, providing ample space for translation, introduction, and reception studies.