Abstract: Creative faithfulness in translation aims to achieve a relative balance between the source text and the translation version, covering idea, content, form, and other aspects, to bring the translator's subjectivity and creativity into full play. Its core idea is that translation is a harmony between faithfulness and creativity, namely, creativity is embodied in faithfulness, and faithfulness is sought in creativity. In China, the exploration of the relationship between faithfulness and creativity has undergone three stages:the embryonic stage,the development stage and the exploration stage. Historically,no final conclusion has been reached on the discussion about faithfulness and creativity. From a radical view,some scholars with a heavy emphasis on faithfulness insist on total faithfulness, while others with a strong emphasis on creativity prefer creative treason. Actually, translation, "an art that has its limits", needs to be conducted according to social cultural norms.

Key words: faithfulness, creativity, total faithfulness, creative treason, creative faithfulness