The paper begins by situating Bing Xin within the context of the May Fourth Movement in China, a period marked by significant social and political change, including the rise of modern Chinese feminism. It highlights the intersection of feminism and translation studies, noting the emergence of feminist translation theory in the West and its subsequent influence. The introduction introduces Bing Xin as a prominent female writer and translator, emphasizing her extensive translation career and her translation of Tagore's *The Gardener* as a key example of her work. The paper's central focus is established: to analyze how Bing Xin's feminist perspective shaped her translation of Tagore's poetry, demonstrating the interplay between gender, language, and translation in the context of early twentieth-century China. The introduction also touches upon the evolution of women's roles and identities in China, transitioning from traditional Confucian ideals to the emergence of the 'New Woman' in the May Fourth period. This evolving identity provides a crucial backdrop for understanding Bing Xin's feminist approach to translation.

The paper reviews existing literature on Bing Xin, focusing on studies that analyze her writings from a feminist perspective. It also incorporates scholarly work on feminist translation theory, emphasizing the key concepts and debates within the field. The review discusses how feminist translation challenges traditional notions of translator neutrality and fidelity to the source text, highlighting the active role translators can play in shaping meaning and challenging patriarchal power structures. It references scholars who have explored the gendered nature of language and the ways in which translation can be used to subvert or reinforce gender stereotypes. The literature review sets the theoretical stage for the analysis of Bing Xin's translation practices, connecting her work to the broader discourse on feminist translation.

The research methodology employed is a case study approach, focusing on specific excerpts from Bing Xin's translation of *The Gardener*. The methodology involves detailed textual analysis and commentary, comparing Bing Xin's translated text with the original English version of Tagore's work. The analysis systematically examines Bing Xin's translation choices, paying close attention to her use of language, vocabulary, and stylistic features. The paper identifies specific instances where Bing Xin deviates from the source text, interpreting these deviations through a feminist lens. This analysis explores how changes in pronouns, vocabulary, and sentence structure reflect Bing Xin's feminist ideals and her attempts to challenge potentially patriarchal tendencies in the original text. The methodology also takes into account the historical and cultural context of Bing Xin's translation, recognizing the limitations of applying contemporary feminist translation theory to a work produced decades before its emergence. The study, therefore, focuses on identifying what elements within Bing Xin's work can be considered feminist within the specific cultural context of her time.

The analysis reveals several key ways in which Bing Xin's translation reflects her feminist perspective. Firstly, her consistent use of the female pronoun “她” (she) in her translation is highlighted as a significant departure from traditional Chinese writing, which lacked a dedicated female personal pronoun. This demonstrates her commitment to enhancing the visibility of women in the language itself. Secondly, the paper examines instances where Bing Xin modifies Tagore's portrayal of female characters, often enhancing their agency and challenging stereotypical representations. For example, the analysis of Poem #36 shows Bing Xin amplifying the female character's assertive response to a male character, demonstrating her desire for women to enjoy equal status in communication. In Poem #48, Bing Xin's translation subverts the traditional ethics of silent female behavior and the subordination of women to men, advocating for freedom of love and bodily autonomy. The analysis of Poem #59 demonstrates Bing Xin's inclusive interpretation of the term 'men', translating it as 'human beings' to avoid unintentional sexism and to emphasize the equal contribution of both men and women to the shaping of female beauty. The analysis of Poem #77 emphasizes the girl's contribution to her family through physical labor, contrasting with a stereotypical view of women in submissive roles. The paper analyzes Bing Xin's strategies of supplementing, amplifying, and 'hijacking' the source text to achieve her feminist goals. The analysis includes several other examples where Bing Xin subtly or overtly adjusts the text to enhance the agency and status of women, giving voice to women's experiences and perspectives. This demonstrates Bing Xin's active role as a translator who not only mediates but also reshapes the meaning of the original text to reflect her own feminist ideology.

The findings of the study demonstrate that Bing Xin's translation of *The Gardener* goes beyond mere linguistic transfer; it is a deliberate act of feminist intervention. Bing Xin’s translation practices align with key tenets of feminist translation theory, even though the theory itself did not exist during her time. Her changes to the text are not simply stylistic but ideological, reflecting a conscious effort to challenge patriarchal norms and elevate women’s voices and presence. This discussion considers the broader implications of Bing Xin's work for understanding the history of feminist translation and the intersection of gender, language, and translation more generally. It also examines the limitations of applying Western feminist translation theory to this specific case and the importance of contextualizing feminist translation practices within their respective socio-historical contexts. The discussion highlights the unique contributions of Chinese women translators to the field of translation and their under-researched role in shaping the linguistic landscape of China.

This study concludes that Bing Xin's translation of *The Gardener* offers a compelling example of an early form of feminist translation practice in China. Her subtle yet impactful modifications to the source text demonstrate a conscious attempt to challenge patriarchal power structures and promote gender equality. The paper emphasizes the need for further research on female translators in China to better understand the evolving relationship between feminist consciousness, language, and social change. Future research could explore other translations by Bing Xin and other Chinese women translators to identify recurring patterns and strategies, furthering the understanding of feminist translation in a non-Western context.

The study primarily focuses on a single translation, limiting its generalizability to the broader context of feminist translation in China. Additionally, the interpretation of Bing Xin's translation strategies relies heavily on the authors' feminist lens. While this approach provides valuable insights, it is important to acknowledge that other interpretations might be possible. Future research should examine a wider range of Bing Xin's translations and consider other perspectives on her work.