Abstract:  Itamar EvanZohar’s polysystem theory has helped stake out the territory of translation studies that seeks to take a substantive “cultural turn” and focus on the target culture. Polysystem Theory has opened up new avenues of translation research, such as “rewriting theory” and “manipulation theory” brought forward by André Lefevere, Theo Hermans and Susan Bassnett. This paper argues, with the strengths and limitations of the above theories in observation, the sole use of any single theory cannot help a researcher achieve a fullscale and indepth study of translated literature. Rather, a comprehensive “systems theories” that integrates all the above theories should be constructed to meet the requirements of the studies of translated literature history. It elaborates on the way polysystem theory can be integrated, and significance of the integrated systems theories to the development of the studies of translated literature history.

Key words:  nature of translated literature, studies of translated literature history, polysystems theory, systems theory, manipulation