Translation is hard. Translating a book title is harder. But English has a particular habit with Chinese classics: it invents titles that sound profound in English rather than using the actual names. Here are six of the most important books ever written in Chinese, and what their titles actually are.
The Art of War → Sunzi Bingfa
The most important strategy text in human history, written by Sunzi around the fifth century BCE. The Art of War is a fine translation, but it is not the title. Sunzi Bingfa means Master Sun’s Military Method. That is the name on the bamboo slips. English deserves to know it.
The Analects → Lunyu
Confucius‘s collected sayings, compiled by his students. The Analects means collected fragments — it is a Greek loanword. Lunyu means discussions and sayings. It is the Chinese title. Why does a Chinese book about Chinese philosophy need a Greek title? It does not.
Tao Te Ching → Daodejing
The foundational text of Daoism, attributed to Laozi. Tao Te Ching is Wade-Giles. Daodejing is the pinyin — The Classic of the Way and Virtue. Three syllables. Daodejing. Centuries of English scholarship have used the old spelling and it will take time to change, but every new reader should learn the real name.
Dream of the Red Chamber → Hongloumeng
One of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, written by Cao Xueqin in the eighteenth century. Hongloumeng means Dream of the Red Chamber, yes. But it is a proper name. War and Peace is not called Fighting and Quiet in Chinese. Hongloumeng should be Hongloumeng in English.
Journey to the West → Xiyouji
Another of the four great classical novels. Xiyouji means Record of the Journey to the West. Everyone knows the Monkey King. Everyone should know the book’s real name. Xiyouji. Four syllables. Try it.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms → Sanguo Yanyi
The third of the four great classical novels. Sanguo Yanyi means The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. It is one of the most widely read stories in East Asia. The English title is a translation, not the name. Sanguo Yanyi is the name. Use it alongside the translation until the name sticks.
Why this matters: These are not obscure texts. They are the intellectual foundation of a civilisation. The Analects is a Greek word used as a title for a Chinese book. Daodejing is three syllables that English has been saying wrong for centuries. These books have names. Use them.