Abstract：Abstract： For researchers in translation studies, analyzing paratexts of translations in depth could not only help reveal translators’ strategies but also promote an understanding about the nature of translation. Based on previous studies, the authors of this article categorize two kinds of paratexts in translation studies, that is, the intentional paratext and the contextual paratext, and analyze their connotations and functions correspondingly. Based on this category, the authors analyze the English translation of Peony Pavilion by Cyril Birch (1980 edition and 2002 edition). Through comparison, it is found that the paratexts of 2002 edition could better promote the reception and circulation of the translation in the target language. This research might be a conducive exploration in translation studies from the paratextual perspective, a trial to enrich the current approach，and to offer some alternatives for research in the English translation of Chinese classics.
Key words: intentional paratext; contextual paratext; English translation of Peony Pavilion; Cyril Birch
