Intersecting language and society: a prototypical study of Cinderella story translations in China

The stories of Cinderella, highlighting the theme of kindness, are classic children’s literature worldwide. In China, the translation of the Cinderella stories has been listed in the Chinese textbook series launched in 2004, exerting a profound influence on generations of Chinese readers. This study investigates how Huiguniang, the Chinese counterpart of the character Cinderella, has become a household name among Chinese children. By examining the changes, correlations, and shifts of their prototypical features under the framework of the Aarne-Thompson-Uther classification in the three Chinese translations of the Cinderella stories and the ancient Chinese folklore The tale of Ye Xian, the study examines how factors such as external stability, internal dynamic trade-offs, and the iterative nature and empowerment of translation have popularized and canonized Huiguniang in China. The study further extends its focus within the broader context of discourse studies, embracing the intersections of language and society, as it brings to light the intricate dynamics of translation, empowerment, and cultural reception.