Sam Addington Posted May 21, 2008 at 12:29 PM Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 at 12:29 PM I recently picked up 儒林外史and thought I'd give it another stab. The first thing I read is a poem: 人生南北多歧路 将相神仙也要凡人做 百代兴亡朝复暮 江风吹倒前朝树 功名富贵无凭据 费尽心情总把流光误 浊酒三杯沉醉去 水流花榭知何处 I propose the following translation: Many are the roads man has to travel Soldiers and saints -- all are men Generations pass from life to death Morning fades into night The winds of war blow down the mighty oak Leaving no evidence of greatness You exhaust the heart and spirit Only to be exposed to shame Three cups of muddied wine Enough to render you drunk Water flows, the flowers fade Who knows where it all leads Does this poem pretty well summarize the theme of 儒林外史? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studentyoung Posted May 22, 2008 at 02:30 AM Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 at 02:30 AM 人生南北多歧路Many are the roads man has to travel So many misleading forked roads a man will face in his life time 将相神仙也要凡人做Soldiers and saints -- all are men High ranked officials and gods—all are mortals 百代兴亡朝复暮Generations pass from life to death Morning fades into night The rise and fall of dynasties keeps changing alternatively day after night 江风吹倒前朝树The winds of war blow down the mighty oak The river winds blow down the tree grew in the previous dynasty (今朝之风竟可吹到前朝之树,宁不教人感慨万千?) 功名富贵无凭据Leaving no evidence of greatness Leaving no evidence of honor and rich (Note: According to Sam Addington’s suggestion in #3 post, I mature the line as “Leaving no evidence of fame and glory”.) 费尽心情总把流光误You exhaust the heart and spirit Only to be exposed to shame Exhaust the heart and spirit Only to find missing all prime time. 浊酒三杯沉醉去Three cups of muddied wine Enough to render you drunk Just get drunk by three cups of muddied wine 水流花榭知何处Water flows, the flowers fade Who knows where it all leads Water flows, flowers fade, Only God controls the web of life! Does this poem pretty well summarize the theme of 儒林外史? Hehe. (只苦笑而不语。) Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Addington Posted May 22, 2008 at 11:38 AM Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 at 11:38 AM As I continued reading this morning, I realized I may have misinterpreted 功名富贵无凭据 I think this may be better translated "Fame & glory (honor & riches) cannot be substantiated." In other words fame & glory are just illusions. This is backed up by the first lines of the text which follows the poem: 这一首词,也是个老生常谈,不过说人生富贵功名是身外之物,但世人一见了功名,便舍性命去求他,及至到手之后,味同嚼蜡。 This poem is an old pearl often discussed. Not only are fame and riches external objects, but men will kill themselves in an effort to attain them. Once attained, they leave the taste of wax in the mouth. I think it is safe to say that the text has highly Buddhist overtones, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monto Posted May 22, 2008 at 11:52 AM Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 at 11:52 AM I think it is safe to say that the text has highly Buddhist overtones, right? I smell more 道学 than 佛学。 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Addington Posted May 22, 2008 at 01:59 PM Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 at 01:59 PM Please explain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
studentyoung Posted May 23, 2008 at 02:48 AM Report Share Posted May 23, 2008 at 02:48 AM I think this may be better translated "Fame & glory (honor & riches) cannot be substantiated." In other words fame & glory are just illusions. Agree! Hehe. (轻轻一笑,点头不语,心中甚服。)I have added an note in 2# post. This poem is an old pearl often discussed. Not only are fame and riches external objects, but men will kill themselves in an effort to attain them. Once attained, they leave the taste of wax in the mouth. Hehe. How about take a look at this? -> 其实,人的悲剧往往是性格的悲剧。而人的性格,则跟原生家庭的教育息息相关。在笔者看来,肯尼迪家族的悲剧就是自我制造的悲剧。如果不是老肯尼迪夫妇在教育孩子方面太过功利又冷漠无情,他们的孩子也不至于为了讨好他们而形成事事争强好胜、傲慢自大的亡命性格。须知巨大的成功往往伴随着更大的风险。追求成功、追逐权力本身就是一个人生的魔咒。 http://gzdaily.dayoo.com/html/2008-05/23/content_202541.htm I think it is safe to say that the text has highly Buddhist overtones, right? I smell more 道学 than 佛学。 Perhaps monto means that the poem expresses some sense of “inaction无为” and “seclusion避世”, especially in “费尽心情总把流光误” ,“浊酒三杯沉醉去”, “水流花榭知何处”. I think you take the text has highly Buddhist overtones, because you fell the sense of “impermanence无常” (or the uncertainty of like) in the poem, like, “百代兴亡朝复暮”, “江风吹倒前朝树”, “功名富贵无凭据”. (本来还想多写点,病得不轻,头直打眩,咳个不住,霎时间,脑子一片空白,啥都不起来了。——惜乎!) Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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