PEN Translation Prize
2 appearances
-
Edition 20 (1982) Winner
-
Edition 35 (1995) Winner
Burton Watson
バートン・ワトソン
Bāton Watoson
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1925-06-13 （New Rochelle, New York, United States）
- Died
- 2017-04-01 （Kamagaya, Chiba, Japan） age 91
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English, Chinese, Japanese
- Residence History
- United States (New Rochelle; Columbia University) → Japan (Kyoto; Kamagaya, etc.)
Career
- Occupations
- Sinologist, Translator, Writer
- Active Years
- 1950-2017
- Affiliations
- Columbia University, Stanford University, Doshisha University (former), Kyoto University (research assistant), Soka Gakkai (worked as translator)
- Influenced By
- Ezra Pound, Arthur Waley, L. Carrington Goodrich, Wang Chi-chen, Donald Keene
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University | Faculty of Arts and Sciences | Chinese Language and Literature | BA, MA, PhD | 1945–1956 | United States |
Columbia University
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
/ Chinese Language and Literature
Degree:
BA, MA, PhD
Period:
1945–1956
Year of Graduation:
1956
Country:
United States
Attended Columbia on the G.I. Bill. Earned BA (1949), MA (1951), PhD (1956).
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Gold Medal Award of the Translation Center, Columbia University | — | — | Translation Center, Columbia University | 受賞 |
| 1982 | PEN Translation Prize | From the Country of Eight Islands: An Anthology of Japanese Poetry (co-translated with Hiroaki Sato) | — | PEN (America) | 受賞 |
| 1995 | PEN Translation Prize | Selected Poems of Su Tung-p'o | — | PEN (America) | 受賞 |
| 2015 | PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation | — | — | PEN (America) | 受賞 |
Gold Medal Award of the Translation Center, Columbia University
1979
Organization:
Translation Center, Columbia University
Result:
受賞
PEN Translation Prize
1982
Work:
From the Country of Eight Islands: An Anthology of Japanese Poetry (co-translated with Hiroaki Sato)
Organization:
PEN (America)
Result:
受賞
PEN Translation Prize
1995
Work:
Selected Poems of Su Tung-p'o
Organization:
PEN (America)
Result:
受賞
PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation
2015
Organization:
PEN (America)
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
PEN/Ralph Manheim Medal for Translation
1 appearances
-
Edition 12 (2015) Winner
Works
Major Works
Selected Poems of Su Tung-P'o
1994 Poetry / TranslationA selection of poems by the Song-dynasty poet Su Tung-p'o (Su Shi), translated into English.
naturefriendshiphuman observationpolitical and philosophical reflection
The Lotus Sutra
1993 Religious text / TranslationAn English translation of the influential Buddhist scripture, the Lotus Sutra.
Buddhist doctrinebodhisattva practicesalvation
The Tale of the Heike
2006 Classical literature / TranslationAn English translation of the Japanese epic The Tale of the Heike, depicting samurai culture and the rise and fall of the Taira clan.
bushidorise and fallwar and fate
Cold Mountain: 100 Poems by the T'ang Poet Han-Shan
1970 Poetry / TranslationTranslations of poems attributed to the Tang poet Han-Shan (Cold Mountain), featuring Zen-inflected nature and recluse themes.
Zennaturesolitude
The Selected Poems of Du Fu
2002 Poetry / TranslationA selection of poems by the Tang poet Du Fu, translated into English; noted for historical awareness and empathy.
historical consciousnesssocial critiquehuman compassion
Bibliography
- The Lotus Sutra
- Selected Poems of Su Tung-P'o
- The Tale of the Heike
- Cold Mountain: 100 Poems by the T'ang Poet Han-Shan
- The Selected Poems of Du Fu
- The Complete Works of Chuang Tzu
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Clear, natural English idiom emphasizing fidelity to the original while preserving poetic rhythmRespects original style and sense, choosing readable English for modern readers
- Recurring Motifs
- Zen and Buddhist themesnature imagerysolitude and wanderingrespect for classical sources
Legacy
Burton Watson was internationally respected for his translations of Chinese and Japanese classics, bridging scholarship and literature. His translations combined accuracy with elegant English and influenced many readers and scholars.
Trivia
- Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; his experiences in Japan deepened his interest in East Asia.
- Never married; long-term partner was Norio Hayashi.
- Lived in Japan from 1973 until his death in 2017 in Kamagaya.