Burton Watson (1925-2017) was an American scholar and translator renowned for his numerous translations of Chinese and Japanese literature into English. His work covered an extensive range of Asian classics, including poetry, philosophy, history, and Buddhist texts. Watson's translations were widely appreciated for their clarity and accessibility, helping to bring the beauty and wisdom of East Asian literature to a broader English-speaking audience. Some of his notable translations include the works of Chuang Tzu, Mo Tzu, Xunzi, and the poet Du Fu, as well as the classic Japanese literature "Tales of Ise" and "The Pillow Book." He was a recipient of the PEN Translation Prize and the Gold Medal Award of the Translation Center at Columbia University, where he also studied and later taught. Watson's contributions to the field of Asian studies have made him a significant figure in cross-cultural literary scholarship.