| Sumario: | Hau Kiou Choaan, an English translation of the seventeenth-century Chinese fiction Haoqiu Zhuan, attained recognition from publishers after Thomas Percy made substantial alterations. Percy and his fellow writers referred to this process as "naturalization." This article explores Percy's translation and editing practices within the context of the eighteenth-century debates on naturalization acts. The naturalization of Chinese fiction, as embodied in alterations, annotations, and character adjustments, mirrors the complexities inherent in the struggles of naturalizing foreigners in Britain. Percy's editorial endeavours also reflect his desire to regulate and reshape both the Chinese literary genre and its Chinese characters. Instances of mistranslation and additional cultural footnotes in Percy's English version further underscore the Chinese text's resistance to complete naturalization and the difficulties involved. Percy and his publishers' treatment of this Chinese work reveals the intricate dynamics of debates over citizenship, belonging, and the reception of foreign literature featuring non-British characters.
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