The Textual Circulation and Symbolic Meaning of “ying-te-na-xiong-nai-er”

Abstract: L’Internationale is the political symbol of proletarian revolution all over the world. In 1887, Eugène Pottier published the poem titled “L’Internationale” in his personal collection. Although there existed differences between the original manuscript and the published version, both of them were dedicated to the International Workingmen’s Association as a hymn. In 1902, L’Internationale was translated in Russian by А. Я. Коц. In Lenin’s opinion, L’Internationale was “the hymn to all the proletariat.” After 1920, L’Internationale was introduced into China from both France and the Soviet Union, and there emerged two Chinese translations respectively by Lie Bei, Zhang Taoyu, Geng Jizhi and Zheng Zhenduo, Qu Qiubai, Xiao San and Chen Qiaonian, among whom, Qu Qiubai was the first person who transliterated the keyword “internationale” as “ying-de-na-xiong-nai-er” in Chinese. L’Internationale played an important role in Chinese revolution, with the translations of the lyric and their practical uses embodying the collective wisdom of the Chinese Communists. In 1962, People’s Daily published the official Chinese version of L’Internationale, and it was regarded as a symbol of international communism.