1 Introduction

After the Opium War, China faced the impact of Western literature, and the development of translated literature was slow. Early translators adopted a "Sinicization" strategy and lacked translation precedents. The Westernization Movement trained foreign language talents, but few people really understood foreign literature, and translation was biased under the imperial examination system. The rise of translated literature in the late 1890s was closely related to the development of modern education and the emergence of new intellectuals. This article explores how new-style education cultivates a professional translator team, how the abolition of the imperial examination promotes the professionalization of translation, and the impact of the overlapping identities of translators and educators on translation practice, revealing the key role of new-style education in promoting the transformation of modern Chinese culture.

Background and Process of Modern Education Transformation

The chapter on the background and process of education transformation in modern China points out that in the face of national crisis, the Chinese education system has undergone profound changes. After the First Sino Japanese War, the imperial examination system was abolished and new-style schools emerged, introducing Western educational concepts and curricula, especially the emphasis on foreign language education, which provided a foundation for the training of professional translators. The new-style schools such as the Military Academy of the Self Strengthening Movement cultivated new talents, broadened students' horizons, and promoted the transformation of thinking modes. The education policy of the Qing government established new educational objectives, including industrial, military civilian, women's, teacher education, and study abroad education, shifting from cultivating traditional officials to cultivating talents that meet the needs of modern society. This transformation not only affects individuals, but also changes the social, cultural, and psychological structure, promoting the modernization process of Chinese culture.

A translator team trained by modern education

The rise of new-style schools in the transformation of modern Chinese education played a key role in cultivating foreign language talents and forming a team of translators. The Fujian Shipbuilding Academy and other institutions have achieved remarkable results in cultivating translators. Outstanding translators such as Yan Fu have emerged from here, and their translated works such as "Tianyan Lun" have had a profound impact on China. The new-style education not only directly affects the cultivation of translators, but also indirectly affects traditional intellectuals, such as the success of Lin Shu's translation career, which is related to new-style education. Lin Shu's translation practice and style were influenced by modern education, and his work selection and translation style were closely related to the publishing house's market strategy. The translators trained by modern education have also had an important influence in non fiction fields such as poetry, drama, and biography. The translated works of Hu Shi, Ma Junwu, Wang Guowei, and others have enriched Chinese readers' understanding of Western culture. The translator team trained by modern education is constantly improving in terms of quantity, quality, and diversity, introducing new ideas and cultural perspectives to China and promoting the transformation and modernization process of Chinese culture.

Abolition of the imperial examination system and professionalization of translators

The abolition of the imperial examination system marked a profound change in the ideological and cultural fields of modern China, which had a subversive impact on the selection and employment of talents by the ruling class and the life goals of intellectuals. The imperial examination system once built the dream of "Buyi Qingxiang" in Chinese traditional society, but its abolition, although it shattered the dream of countrymen to become an official through study, is an inevitable move to conform to the development of the times. Readers follow the trend of the times and devote themselves to emerging professions, and translation has gradually become a new career choice. In modern times, major newspapers and bookstores began to pay translators for their work, and the remuneration system was gradually established, making translation a profession that could sustain one's livelihood and even become wealthy. For example, publications such as "New Fiction", "Fiction Forest", and "Fiction Monthly" have established detailed remuneration standards for translated works, and the Commercial Press also has corresponding remuneration standards. The establishment of the remuneration system has promoted the vigorous development of the translation industry, but it has also brought about the problem of uneven translation quality. The rapid expansion and commercialization trend of the translation market reflects the strong demand for Western culture in society, but also exposes many problems in the early stages of the development of emerging professions. However, at that time, the literary translation community still formed a translation team with a certain scale, expertise, and characteristics, which made important contributions to the development of modern Chinese translated literature. The abolition of the imperial examination system created an important opportunity for the professionalization of translators, changed the life trajectory of scholars, and provided new possibilities for the transformation of modern Chinese culture. Translation, as an emerging profession, not only provides a means of livelihood for intellectuals, but also serves as an important bridge connecting Chinese and Western cultures, playing an indispensable role in the cultural transformation of modern China.

The overlap of translator and educator identities

The transformation of education in modern China has given rise to the phenomenon of overlapping identities between translators and educators, which is both rooted in tradition and responds to the changes of the times. Traditional literati, such as the Tongcheng School literati, established academies in various places and regarded literary education as the "essence of the profession". After the rise of new-style schools and the abolition of the imperial examination system, many scholars devoted themselves to new-style education, synchronizing with the identity of translators. Many famous translators such as Lin Shu, Yan Fu, Gu Hongming, Wang Guowei, etc. not only received modern education, but also actively participated in the education industry. After returning from England, Yan Fu taught at Tianjin Naval Academy, cultivating translation talents and introducing translated works into the classroom, providing materials for the construction of modern cultural psychology among Anhui youth. Lin Shu closely integrated translation with education and participated in social and cultural transformation by translating Western novels. Other translators such as Bao Tianxiao and Chen Jinghan have also introduced translated works in their teaching, which has influenced students. This dual identity makes translators pay more attention to the educational function in translation practice, such as Bao Tianxiao shaping the image of female teachers in his works, and Liang Qichao and others highlighting their educational experiences when translating biographies of Western women. Female translators such as Xue Shaohui enhance and express themselves through translation practice, emphasizing the fact that Western women's studies are thriving. Some translators, such as Wang Guowei and Ma Junwu, directly influence students' thinking by translating educational or literary works. The coincidence of the identities of translators and educators is a product of the transformation of education and cultural change in modern China, bringing rich and diverse "spiritual food" to students in new-style schools, laying the foundation for the formation of the main body and receiving group of the May Fourth New Culture Movement, reflecting the transformation of the role of modern Chinese intellectuals, and highlighting the important role of translation in cultural transformation.

6 Conclusion

The transformation of education in modern China is closely linked to the birth of professional translators. New education has cultivated intellectuals with an international perspective, such as Yan Fu, which has promoted the translation industry and cultural transformation. The abolition of the imperial examination system made translation more professional, and the establishment of a remuneration system promoted the development of translation. Translators and educators share the same identity, such as Lin Shu, who spread new knowledge and ideas through translation, laying the foundation for the May Fourth Movement. The interactive relationship between modern education and professional translators has had a profound impact on the transformation of Chinese culture, promoting the dissemination of Western knowledge and ideas, advancing the role transformation of intellectuals, and constructing a modern knowledge system. However, issues such as uneven translation quality and commercialization tendencies also arise, reflecting the complexity and contradictions of cultural transformation. This study has implications for the current education and translation industry in China. Cultivating high-quality translators with cross-cultural understanding abilities remains an important task in education, and the crucial role of translators in cultural exchange and knowledge dissemination needs to be emphasized.