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Ancient Chinese fable – The Compassionate Man

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·大善士》 昔有人得一鳖,欲烹而食之,不忍当杀生之名,乃炽火使釜自沸,横筱为桥,与鳖约曰:“能渡此则活汝。” 鳖知主人以计取之,勉力爬沙,仅能一渡。 主人曰:“汝能渡桥甚善,更为渡一遭。” ——《程史》 The Compassionate Man A compassionate man once caught a turtle. He wanted to make it into soup, but unwilling to be accused of taking life, he boiled a panful of water and, placing a rod over the pan, said to the turtle, “If you can get across the pan, […]

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Ancient Chinese fable – Swallowing a Date Whole

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·囫囵吞枣》 客有曰:“梨益齿而损脾,枣益脾而损齿。” 一呆子方思久之曰:“我食梨则嚼而不咽,不能伤我之脾;我食枣则吞而不嚼,不能伤我之齿。” ——《湛渊静语》 Swallowing a Date Whole A fool once heard someone say that pears were good for the teeth but harmful to the spleen, and that dates were good for the spleen but harmful to the teeth. After pondering the matter a considerable while, he said: “From now on, when I eat

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Ancient Chinese fable – Whence Comes Rice?

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·米从哪里来》 蔡京诸孙,长生膏梁,不知稼穑。 一日,京醆问之曰:“汝曹日啗饭,试为我言米从何处出?” 其一对曰:“从臼子里出”。京大笑。 其一旁应曰:“不是,我见在席子里出。”盖京师运米以席囊盛之,故云。 ——《独醒杂志》 Whence Comes Rice? The grandsons of Cai Jing, the notorious prime minister, who grew up in riches, could not tell wheat from rice. One day, while having a meal, Cai Jing said, “You eat rice every day. Do you know where it comes from?” “From the mortar, ”

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Ancient Chinese fable – The Cuttlefish

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·墨鱼》 海中乌鲗鱼,有八足,能集攒口,缩口藏腹,腹含墨,值渔艇至,即喷墨以自蔽。渔视水黑,辄取网获之。 ——《谭概》 The Cuttlefish The cuttlefish has four pairs of legs which it can draw into its beak, and it can hide its beak under its belly. As an added precaution against danger, it emits a jet of ink to screen itself and it does this when it meets a fishing boat. Whereupon

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Ancient Chinese fable – A Moment of Idleness

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·半日闲》 有贵人游僧舍,酒甜,诵唐人诗云:“因过竹院逢僧话,又得浮生半日闲”。僧闻而笑之。贵人问僧何笑?僧曰:“尊官得半日闲,老僧却忙了三日。” ——《谭概》 A Moment of Idleness A high official paid a visit to a monastery. The monk in charge, having been notified of this previously, had made meticulous preparations for this occasion. After several drinks, the official recited a Tang poem: Passing by the monastery I drop in to have a chat with

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Ouyang Xiu: The Roadside Hut of the Old Drunkard ~ 欧阳修·《醉翁亭记》 with English Translations

《醉翁亭记》是宋代文学家欧阳修创作的一篇文章。宋仁宗庆历五年(1045年),参知政事范仲淹等人遭谗离职,欧阳修上书替他们分辩,被贬到滁州做了两年知州。到任以后,他内心抑郁,但还能发挥“宽简而不扰”的作风,取得了某些政绩。《醉翁亭记》就写在这个时期。 欧阳修·《醉翁亭记》 环滁皆山也。其西南诸峰,林壑尤美。望之蔚然而深秀者,琅琊也。山行六七里,渐闻水声潺潺,而泄出于两峰之间者,酿泉也。峰回路转,有亭翼然临于泉上者,醉翁亭也。作亭者谁?山之僧曰智仙也。名之者谁?太守自谓也。太守与客来饮于此,饮少辄醉,而年又最高,故自号曰“醉翁”也。醉翁之意不在酒,在乎山水之间也。山水之乐,得之心而寓之酒也。 若夫日出而林霏开,云归而岩穴暝,晦明变化者,山间之朝暮也。野芳发而幽香,佳木秀而繁阴,风霜高洁,水落而石出者,山间之四时也。朝而往,暮而归,四时之景不同,而乐亦无穷也。 至于负者歌于途,行者休于树,前者呼,后者应,伛偻提携,往来而不绝者,滁人游也。临溪而渔,溪深而鱼肥;酿泉为酒,泉香而酒冽;山肴野蔌,杂然而前陈者,太守宴也。宴酣之乐,非丝非竹,射者中,弈者胜,觥筹交错,坐起而喧哗者,众宾欢也。苍然白发,颓然乎其中者,太守醉也。 已而夕阳在山,人影散乱,太守归而宾客从也。树林阴翳,鸣声上下,游人去而禽鸟乐也。然而禽鸟知山林之乐,而不知人之乐;人知从太守游而乐,而不知太守之乐其乐也。醉能同其乐,醒能述以文者,太守也。太守谓谁?庐陵欧阳修也。 The Roadside Hut of the Old Drunkard Ouyang Xiu The District of Chu is enclosed all around by hills, of which those in the southwest boast the most lovely forests and dales. In the distance, densely wooded and possessed of a rugged beauty, is Mt. Langya. When you penetrate

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Ancient Chinese fable – Baboons

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·猩猩》 猩猩知往而不知来。山谷间,常树十为群。里人以酒并糟设于路侧,织草为屐,更相连结。猩猩见酒及屐,知里人设张,则知张者祖先姓字,乃呼名云,奴欲张我,舍而去。后自再三,相谓曰:“试共尝酒。”及饮其味,逮乎醉。因取屐着之而踬。乃为人擒,无遗者。 Baboons In the valleys in the south there are savage baboons which always go in groups. The local people, knowing their ways, place wine dregs by the roadside, and a string of straw sandals across the road. On seeing the wine and sandals, the baboons set up a loud clamour and turn

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Ancient Chinese fable – The Kingfisher

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·翠鸟》 翠鸟先高作巢以避患。及生子,爱之,恐坠,稍下作巢。予长羽毛,复益爱之,又更下巢,而人遂得而取之矣。 ——《谭概》 The Kingfisher The kingfisher is a timid bird. It always builds its nest high up in the tree as a protection against danger. When the fledglings hatch, it is so apprehensive for fear they should fall that it builds the nest lower down. When their feathers begin to appear, it becomes

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Sikong Tu: Motion ~ 司空图·《二十四诗品·流动》 with English Translations

司空图(837年—907年),河中虞乡(今山西运城永济)人。字表圣,自号知非子,又号耐辱居士。晚唐诗人、诗论家。司空图成就主要在诗论,《二十四诗品》为不朽之作。《全唐诗》收诗三卷。 司空图·《二十四诗品·流动》 若纳水輨,如转丸珠。 夫岂可道,假体如愚。 荒荒坤轴,悠悠天枢。 载要其端,载同其符。 超超神明,返返冥无。 来往千载,是之谓乎。 Motion Like a whirling water-wheel, Like rolling pearls,– Yet how are these worthy to be named? They are but illustrations for fools. There is the mighty axis of Earth, The never-resting pole of Heaven; Let us grasp their clue, And with them be blended in One, Beyond

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Lu Chi: Finding Form ~ 陆机·《文赋·文风》 with English Translations

《文赋》是晋代陆机的文艺理论作品。该赋序言说明创作缘由和意图,指出“意不称物,文不逮意”的困惑,认为对写作的认识,虽然可以借览前人的经验,但主要靠个人在实践中摸索。 陆机·《文赋·文风》 若夫丰约之裁,俯仰之形。因宜适变,曲有微情。或言拙而喻巧,或理朴而辞轻。或袭故而弥新,或沿浊而更清。或览之而必察,或研之而后精。譬犹舞者赴节以投袂,歌者应弦而遣声。是盖轮扁所不得言,故亦非华说之所能精。 Finding Form Lu Chi Know when the work should be full, and when it should be compacted. Know when to life your eyes and when to scrutinize. Adapt to occasions as they arise; permit emotions to be subtle. When the language is common, the image must be telling. When the thinking is

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