論台灣史的史料翻譯 ： 以陳政三《征臺紀事》譯本為例

Abstract

本文試圖初步探討臺灣史料翻譯活動在臺灣史研究領域所擔任的角色。臺灣史研究領域在近三十年來的發展歷程，與臺灣戒嚴末期開始逐漸醞釀的政治民主化，以及文化國族主義的發展息息相關。本論文欲藉若林正丈和蕭阿勤這兩位政治與社會學者針對二十世紀末的臺灣政治與社會所進行的相關研究基礎，為從1990年代以降的臺灣史料翻譯活動簡述其發展的時代背景。 本文所及的臺灣史史料所指涉的類型，主要是西方人在開港通商後的19世紀臺灣島上所留下的各種文字記錄，並以陳政三所譯的《征臺紀事》作為主要探討文本，並輔以另一作《福爾摩沙島的過去與現在》作為各種面向的對照。19世紀在台西人的文字紀錄譯介，在1990年代末至2000年代初開始大量出現，過去的研究多半已經指出，這些出版品的贊助者和譯者，在促使文本產出的背後動機是所謂「臺灣意識」的興起。本文除了藉由敘述臺灣史料翻譯活動的時代因素，企圖具體解釋「臺灣意識」的產生和影響之外，也在此觀察此時的臺灣史料翻譯取向，是否呼應了當時的臺灣史研究領域在史料選擇方面的轉向。此時的臺灣史研究領域為建立以臺灣為研究核心的主體性，開始使用傳統中國視角以外的材料，企圖建立以「臺灣人視角」為主的歷史敘事，本文將會分析，此時開始蓬勃發展的臺灣史料翻譯所產生的譯文本，對當時的臺灣史研究領域之間如何相互影響。

This thesis embarks on a preliminary exploration of the crucial role that translation activities involving Taiwanese historical materials have played in shaping the field of Taiwanese history research. The remarkable growth and transformation of Taiwanese history studies as an academic discipline over the past three decades are deeply intertwined with two significant developments: the political democratization that took root following the end of martial law in Taiwan, and the parallel rise of cultural nationalism. To contextualize the emergence and evolution of translation efforts concerning Taiwanese historical sources, this study will briefly outline the historical background of these activities since the late 1990s. This will be achieved by referencing key studies on late 20th-century Taiwanese politics and society, particularly drawing insights from the works of Masahiro Wakabayashi (若林正丈) and Hsiau A-chin (蕭阿勤), whose scholarship offers valuable perspectives on this transformative period. The Taiwanese historical materials referred to in this study are mainly written texts left by Westerners on Taiwan Island in the 19th century after the opening of treaty ports. Edward House’s The Japanese Expedition to Formosa, will be the main material to be discussed in this thesis, along with the comparison with James Wheeler Davidson’s The Island of Formosa Past and Present in various aspects in translated text by Jackson Tan (陳政三). The translation and introduction of these transcripts began to appear in large numbers from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Past studies have predominantly suggested that the sponsors and translators behind these crucial publications were primarily driven by a burgeoning “Taiwanese consciousness.” Building upon this, this thesis will not only elaborate on the nuanced meaning of “Taiwanese consciousness” by detailing the specific temporal factors influencing the translation of Taiwanese historical materials, but will also critically examine a key correlation. It will observe whether these translation activities directly correspond to a significant shift in the selection of historical materials within the broader field of Taiwanese history research. During that pivotal period, the academic discipline of Taiwanese history was actively striving to establish Taiwan’s own historical subjectivity. This endeavor led to a conscious effort to incorporate and utilize materials that offered non-China-centered perspectives, thereby building a historical narrative firmly rooted in the viewpoint of “Taiwanese people.” Consequently, this thesis aims to thoroughly analyze the mutual influence and interplay between the increasingly flourishing activities of historical material translation and the evolving landscape of Taiwanese history studies at that time.