As Chinese culture is “going abroad，”translation of Chinese literature has garnered statewide attention with some controversies． Facing the gap between ideal and reality， some experts in the field of translation studies have shown more or less utilitarian tendencies which seek for quick success and are impatient for success， thus have some absolute or one-sided ideas in the discussion of translation texts， translation strategies and methods， and the dissemination of Chinese literature and culture． This paper proposes that a historical perspective should be adopted to study the translation of Chinese literature． In order to promote the translation of Chinese literature， we should return to the nature and aim of translation， consider the different stages of literary translation and the imbalance in cultural exchanges， and treat translation as a way of equal cultural exchange．