Encouraging Learning, though written by Xunzi two thousand years ago, still has its practical meaning on the ground that it encourages a considerable number of people to learn, to know how to learn. However, there are only two translations, translated respectively by Burton Waston and John Konblock, available. M. A. K. Halliday holds that translation, generally speaking, is to seek the equivalence between source language and target language in interpersonal function, ideational function as well as textual function. A comparative analysis between two English versions will be delivered, aiming to, first of all, show how a functional analy-sis can provide insight into the study of translation and test the applicability of systematic functional linguistic in discourse analysis and translation studies; second, find out the merits and demerits of two versions through comparison. The conclusions are, firstly, both versions all have their merits and demerits to speak of but to realize the equivalence in ideational function, interpersonal func-tion and textual function, both versions still call for further improvement. Secondly, in the translation of Chinese ancient classics, the obscure or unintelligible words as well as background information related to the author or time are all needed to be verified be-fore engaging in actual translation; finally, that Functional Grammar can provide a new perspective for translation study is undeni-able and self-evident.
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