The View of Failure in Conventional History

The narrative framework taught in American history classes must fit the American Dream narrative.  Work hard and you can live the dream, regardless of your background.

But what if the individual is unable to accomplish one's goals?  Or goes against American culture?  Focusing on the individual level, the American history narrative is a stark dichotomy.  You are either a success or failure in the American Dream.  No individual historical figure is admirable after failure.

Americans associate the inability to accomplish a feat or reach a state as a "failure."  Failure is a subject we admonish, but rarely sympathize with.  When we "fail" in this sense, we blame out own ability or lack of resources.  We rarely accept it, regardless of who or what is responsible.

Su Shi was a failure in this context.  The emperor sends Su Shi away as political exile for going against the Wang Anshi reforms.  Su shi is unable to prevent suffering of his people and the eventual fall of the Northern Song.

Yet within a decade after Su Shi's death, his legacy was still a threat to Emperor Huizong.

 

(Also my favorite emperor in Chinese history.)

Lin Yutang points out heaven could not forgive the Northern Song's treatment of Su Shi.  A thunderbolt shattered a stone steele containing Su Shi's name and opposition party members to the emperor in Wende Hall, the place where Huizong's  government convenes. Emperor Huizong commented, "His stone steele is destroyed, but these people are hard to forget!"

Su Shi was unique in that he was both poet and politician in comparison to American history.  He was able to express his worldview through political maneuvering and artistic human expression.

I hope as I continue to read Lin Yutong's work, he can show me why I should admire the failings of Su Shi.

 

Fancy words

Chinese is unique in that every character has it's own unique meaning and sound.  English uses the same 26 characters to phonetically sound out a word.

Whenever I see characters that I don't understand, one of the following things happens:

1.  I have no clue.

2.  I know what it sounds like, but I have no idea what it means.

3.  I have no idea what is sounds like, but I know what it means.

The Dream of the Red Chamber is describing Qing dynasty aristocrats.  Here's an example of my thought process when I encounter fresh text:

頭上戴著金絲八寶攢珠髻，

On her head she carries gold thread and carries 8 precious jewels something

綰著朝陽五鳳挂珠釵；

Some verb dealing with thread  when five brilliant phoenixes hangs a pearl pin

項上戴著赤金盤螭瓔珞圈；

On top there is a red-gold disk of something insect something something hoop.

裙邊繫著豆綠宮條、雙衡比目玫瑰佩；

On her dress a myriad of bean red palace? strips, a pair of horizontal rose amulet

身上穿著縷金 百蝶穿花大紅洋緞窄褙襖，

On her clothes gold threaded hundreds of butterflies with bright red flowers fine? something something some type of clothing.

外罩五彩刻絲石青銀鼠褂;

Her outside something rainbow stone cut green fox scarf?

下著翡翠撒花洋縐裙。

Underneath something jade-colored flower something something dress?

Here's David Hawkes translation:

Her chignon was enclosed in a circlet of gold filigree and clustered pearls.  it was fastened with a pin embellished with flying phoenixes, from whose beaks pearls were suspended on tiny chains.  Her necklet was of red gold int he form of a coiling dragon.  Her dress had a fitted bodice and was made of dark red silk damask with a pattern of flowers and butterflies in raise gold thread.  her jacked was lined with ermine.  It was a slate-blue stuff with woven insects in coloured silks.  her under-skirt was of a turquoise-coloured imported silk crepe embroidered with flowers  (Cao 91).


Geez, I have to be Tim Gunn to understand this high level of fashion vocabulary!

(He'd tell me "make it work!"    Source)

If you want a visual of who this person is, it's Wang Xifeng (王熙鳳)：

(Source)

I have 117 chapters to go...

Works Cited

Cao, Xueqin, David Hawkes, E, Gao, and John Minford. The Story of the Stone: A Chinese Novel in Five Volumes. London: Penguin, 1973. Print.

La Mian Chinese Noodle Recipe in English! 牛肉拉麵

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahr-bIm6MrU

0:44  1 clear, 2 white, 3 red, 4 green, 5 yellow

0:54  Let’s introduce the ingredients! Beef, Noodle flour, scallion, daikon, cilantro, salt, msg, pepper, LYE / SODA WATER/ alkali powder (BE SURE THIS IS FOOD GRADE AND SOMETHING YOU CAN FIND IN A SUPERMARKET, NOT A HARDWARE STORE!)

1:12  PROVERB: A SOUP BEFORE A MEAL, SURPASSES GOOD MEDICINE

1:14 STEP ONE: Make beef broth *Throw the meat in like the video

1:27 It’s healthy

1:31 STEP 2: Mix the Noodle dough 1:39 For every 1 kg of noodle flour, add 10gram of salt and 5 grams of lye/soda water

1:42 As the old saying goes, “Salt is the bones, lye/soda water are the nerves”

1:50 Add water little at a time, DON’T POUR TOO MUCH!

2:01 Mix it until it barely clumps together Skim off the fat, this is a clear soup after all! LA MIAN CAN STRENGTHEN THE BODY! Making noodles is good exercise, like a dancing child!

2:29 WHEN YOU’RE READY GIVE ME A CHANCE to dance

2:31 BOIL THE BEEF ON HIGH UNTIL ROLLING BOIL, then TURN HEAT TO SIMMER AND COOK FOR 40 MINUTES

2:35 After mixing the dough to a ball, let the ball REST FOR 5 MINUTES

2:55 Get some oil and start rubbing (phrasing, lol) Come over here and feel it up (phrasing, lol)

2:57 *scrolling text Alternate with your left and right, you can exercise your upper body (phrasing, lol. Look, he’s trying to seduce you)

3:08 STEP 3: Drop the noodles (I am not kidding, the first character is also slang for male genitalia.)

3:39 Dropping the noodles is the key

3:42 When the noodles twist and rotate, make sure you go both clockwise and counterclockwise. The thinner the dough, the weaker it becomes. Also, don’t forcefully pull the noodles, feel the elasticity of the noodles and let the noodles stretch itself out.

4:05 Oh, my big stomach is in the way.

4:15 rub some more oil

4:26 Let’s flavor the soup salt, msg, pepper

4:45 1. Pull with the strength of both arms. 2. pull with uniform energy

4:55 Flatten

5:04 Pull, pull, then dust with flour

5:09 Again, don’t fight against the noodle and feel, or it will break

5:30 BOIL WATER, THEN THROW IN NOODLES. DON”T IMMEDIATELY STIRE THE NOODLES! LET SIT for 5 MINUTES BEFORE TOUCHING NOODLES

6:50 Add your toppings and you’re done!

6:58 LOSING IS SUCCESS’ MOTHER!

7:05 Let’s review!

1. Bring the meat to a boil and then simmer for 40 minutes

2. Mixing dough: 1 kg flour, 10 grams salt, 5 grams lye/soda water

3. Pulling noodles: Pull firmly and evenly, but don’t rush!


**Editor's note:  I didn't translate every detail, just the basic gist and funny stuff.  Feel free to leave comments for comments, concerns, and future requests.

I'm Going to Slow Down on Blogging for a While

Yes, I know, it's sad, but I have to start studying for a very important language test for an awesome chance to work at a very prestigious organization.  I won't name names yet, but it's for a place I'm willing to sacrifice almost anything to get.

But this will also be an excellent opportunity to update everyone on my learning progress, so I'm going to update you on my studying progress about once a week or less.  This week, I'm going to look up the most common words used in academia and start translating!

Record of The Yueyang Tower 岳陽樓記

作者，　范仲淹

By　Fan　Zhongyan

Translated by Yoyo

1046 AD, Northern Song Dynasty

慶曆四年春，

In the spring of 1044

滕子京謫守巴陵郡。

Tong Zijing of Ba Ling was banished as governor.

越明年，政通人和，

Passing into the next year, governance was successful and people were peaceful.

百廢具興，乃重修岳陽樓，

100 things that were cast aside are now reintroduced, thereupon the Yueyang Tower was retrofitted.

增其舊制，刻唐賢今人詩賦於其上，

And more added to the establishment.  Carvings of the poetry of Tang worthies are at the top of this place.

屬予作文以記之。

It is entrusted with essays in order to commemorate it.

予觀夫巴陵勝狀，

Ba Ling has a fine and exquisite appearance in my opinion.

在洞庭一湖。銜遠山，吞長江，浩浩湯湯(音：商) ，橫無際涯，

At Dong Tang Lake, distant mountains swallow the Yangze, magnificent and mighty, it is vast with no boundary.

朝暉夕陰，氣象萬千。

Dawn is radiant and dusk is gloomy, atmosphere and scenery has 10000, 1000 aspects.

此則岳陽樓之大觀也，前人之述備矣。

This place is Yueyang Tower's great spectacle, people of the past narrate how they were possessed.

然則北通巫峽，南極瀟湘；

This place also connects north to Wu Xia.  To the extreme south there is the Xiao and Xiang River.

遷客騷人，多會於此。覽物之情，得無異乎？

Banished travelers and poets all meet there to perceive the scenery.  How would they feel differently?

若夫霪雨霏霏，連月不開﹔

As for the incessant rain falling fast, for continuous months they do not open,

陰風怒號，濁浪排空﹔

Dark wind wails incessantly, muddy waves soar,

日星隱曜，山嶽潛形；

The sun and stars are hidden, Shan Qiu a hidden form;

商旅不行，檣傾楫摧﹔

Business and travel cannot traverse,

薄暮冥冥，虎嘯猿啼﹔

The mast topples and the oar breaks, the tiger growls and the gibbon cries.

登斯樓也，則有去國懷鄉，

When one climbs the tower, they are away from the capital and long for home country.

憂讒畏譏，滿目蕭然，感極而悲者矣！

There is anxiety for slander and fear of mockery at court.  One's eyes are full of desolation.  One's emotions are full of sadness.

至若春和景明，波瀾不驚﹔

As for spring's peaceful and bright scenery, waves are undisturbed

上下天光，一碧萬頃﹔

up and down the sky glows,  all jade green for 10000 mu.

沙鷗翔集，錦鱗游泳﹔

Sand gulls flock together, beautiful fish swim;

岸芷汀蘭，鬱鬱青青；

Angelica by the river, rich and luxuriant;

而或長煙一空，皓月千里﹔

Pervasive mist fills the sky, bright moon thousands of li away;

浮光躍金，靜影沉璧；漁歌互答，此樂何極！

Floating golden light dances, deep beneath the water the jade disk, brother fisherman call each other, this is the fullest extent of joy!

登斯樓也，則有心曠神怡，

When one climbs the tower, the heart opens and the spirit rejoices,

寵辱皆忘，把酒臨風，其喜洋洋者矣！

The emperor's favor forgotten, grasping wine and facing the wind, there is vast joy among us!

嗟夫！予嘗求古仁人之心，

Ahh!  I always search for benevolent heart of the ancients,

或異二者之為，何哉？

How would there be a difference in people's emotions?

不以物喜，不以己悲；

They're not happy for this, or sad for this;

居廟堂之高，則憂其民﹔

The neighboring shrine's height, there is anxiety for the people;

處江湖之遠，則憂其君；

Situated rivers and lakes are distant, there is anxiety over the land;

是進亦憂，退亦憂，然則何時而樂耶？

There is anxiety at court, leaving the court, how is there time to be happy?

其必曰：「先天下之憂而憂，後天下之樂而樂」

This must be said: "Before all under heaven, I will be anxious if there is anxiety.  After all under heaven is happy, then I will be happy."

歟！噫！微斯人，吾誰與歸。

Aye, if not this person, who will I turn to?

時六年九月十五日。

The time is 6 years, 9 months, and 15 days.

(Source)

It still exists after 1800 years!!!!

Love in a Fallen City 傾城之戀 Part 7

http://www.rain8.com/article/class10/1512.htm

by Eileen Chang 張愛玲

Translated by Yoyo  幽柚

Part 6

流蘇突然叫了一聲，掩住自己的眼睛，跌跌衝衝往樓上爬，往樓上爬……上了樓，到了她自己的屋子裡，她開了燈，撲在穿衣鏡上，端詳她自己。還好， 她還不怎麼老。她那一類的嬌小的身軀是最不顯老的一種，永遠是纖瘦的腰，孩子似的萌芽的乳。她的臉，從前是白得像瓷，現在由瓷變為玉——半透明的輕青的 玉。下頜起初是圓的，近年來漸漸尖了，越顯得那小小的臉，小得可愛。臉龐原是相當的窄，可是眉心很寬。一雙嬌滴滴，滴滴嬌的清水眼。陽台上，四爺又拉起胡 琴來了。依著那抑揚頓挫的調子，流蘇不由得偏著頭，微微飛了個眼風，做了個手勢。她對著鏡子這一表演，那胡琴聽上去便不是胡琴，而是笙簫琴瑟奏著幽沉的廟 堂舞曲。她向左走了幾步，又向右走了幾步，她走一步路都彷彿是合著失了傳的古代音樂的節拍。她忽然笑了——陰陰的，不懷好意的一笑，那音樂便戛然而止。外 面的胡琴繼續拉下去，可是胡琴訴說的是一些遼遠的忠孝節義的故事，不與她相干了。

Suddenly Liu Su shouted, covering her own eyes, rushing and tumbling down the stairs, down the stairs... up the stairs, to her own room.  She opened the lights, threw herself onto the dressing mirrors and closely looked at herself.  Not bad, she wasn't too old.  Her dainty body type mostly hides old age, a forever slim waist, child-like sprouting breasts.  Her face, in the past was white like marble, now marble turned to jade-- half clear young jade.  The beginning of her lower jaw was round, over the past few years it slowly sharpened, making her little face more prominent, small, and cute.  Here face was wide as it was small, but the space between her eyebrows were wide.  I pair of sweet, delicate, and clear eyeballs.  On the balcony, 4th Brother was playing the huqin.  With the rise and fall of the melody, Liu Su couldn't help but tilt her head, with a slight glance fluttering by, gestured with her hands.  She faced a mirror and started to perform.  That huqin wasn't listened to as a huqin, but a flute and qinse played with the deep hidden temple dance. She shuffled to the left, then shuffled to the right.  Each of her steps was like writing an ancient musical beat lost in translation.  She suddenly laughed, softly, a laugh of malicious intent, suddenly the music stopped.  The huqin outside continued to play, but the huqin was telling a distant story about didactic morals that no longer had anything to do with her.

這時候，四爺一個人躲在那裡拉胡琴，卻是因為他自己知道樓下的家庭會議中沒有他置喙的餘地。徐太太走了之後，白公館裡少不得將她的建議加以研究 和分析。徐太太打算替寶絡做媒說給一個姓范的，那人最近和徐先生在礦務上有相當密切的聯絡，徐太太對於他的家世一向就很熟悉，認為絕對可靠。那范柳原的父 親是一個著名的華僑，有不少的產業分佈在錫蘭馬來亞等處。范柳原今年三十三歲，父母雙亡。白家眾人質問徐太太，何以這樣的一個標準夫婿到現在還是獨身的， 徐太太告訴他們，范柳原從英國回來的時候，無數的太太們急扯白臉的把女兒送上門來，硬要□〔左"提手"右"亞"〕給他，勾心鬥角，各顯神通，大大熱鬧過一 番。這一捧卻把他捧壞了。從此他把女人看成他腳底下的泥。由於幼年時代的特殊環境，他的脾氣本來就有點怪僻。他父母的結合是非正式的。他父親有一次出洋考 察，在倫敦結識了一個華僑交際花，兩人秘密地結了婚。原籍的太太也有點風聞。因為懼怕太太的報復，那二夫人始終不敢回國。范柳原就是在英國長大的。他父親 故世以後，雖然大太太只有兩個女兒，范柳原要在法律上確定他的身份，卻有種種棘手之處。他孤身流落在英倫，很吃過一些苦，然後方才獲得了繼承權。至今范家 的族人還對他抱著仇視的態度，因此他總是住在上海的時候多，輕易不回廣州老宅裡去。他年紀輕輕的時候受了些刺激，漸漸的就往放浪的一條路上走，嫖賭吃著， 樣樣都來，獨獨無意於家庭幸福。

At the moment, 4th Brother was by himself stroking the huqin, actually because he knew that the family meeting downstairs had no extra room for his voice.  After Madam Xu left, the Baigong place couldn't avoid investigating and analyzing her opinion.  Madam Xu calculated being a go-between for Bao Luo and someone named Mr. Fan.  Recently that person and Mr. Xu had family relations at the mining company.  Madam Xu regarded their family very quickly with familiarity, believing absolutely they were reliable.  That Fan Liuyuan's father is a famous overseas Chinese person, having industry distributed throughout the Sri Lanka Malaysia region.  Fan Liuyuan is 33 this year, mother and father are deceased.  Everyone in the Bai family interrogated madam Xu, why this proper husband until now is still a bachelor.  Madam Xu told them during the time Fan Liuyuan returned from England, countless mothers jostled and forced their daughters to his door, determined (With the "raise" of the left hand, and a "sigh" with the right) to give away their daughters to him.  Locked in constant strife, all showing their magic touch, a period of big hubbub and excitement, all flattering him to death.  From then on he saw women as mud under his feet.  Due to the unusual circumstances of his childhood he had an eccentric temperament.  His parent's ties were unofficial.  His father once went abroad to investigate.  In London for the first time he meet an overseas Chinese social flower, and the two secretly married.  The birthplace of the mother was also hearsay.  Because she was afraid of the first wife's wrath, the second wife didn't dare return home, so Liu Fanyuan grew up in England.  After his father passed away, although the first wife only had two daughters, Liu Fanyuan  originally wanted to go to court to prove his identity, which became a thorny problem.  He alone stayed in London, and overcame some odds.  Afterwards suddenly he received his rights to inheritance.  To this day the Fan clan still have a grudge  towards him.  As a result the time he stayed long periods of time in Shanghai, easily knowing he could not go to his old hometown in Guangzhou.  When he was young he suffered some provocation, and gradually walked an unrestrained path, chasing women, gambling and eating.  He did everything, alone without thinking of his family's happiness.

白四奶奶就說："這樣的人，想必是喜歡存心挑剔。我們七妹是庶出的，只怕人家看不上眼。放著這麼一門好親戚，怪可惜了兒 的！"

4th wife Mrs. Bai said, "This kind of person enjoy being deliberately picky.  Our 7th Sister is common, I'm just afraid people will look down on her.  Letting go of such good family, no wonder the son is pitiable!"

三爺道："他自己也是庶出。"

3rd Brother said, "He himself is a commoner."

四奶奶道："可是人家多厲害呀，就憑我們七丫頭那股子傻勁兒，還指望拿得住他？倒是我那個大女孩子機靈些，別瞧她，人 小心不小，真識大體！"

4th Wife said, "But he's amazing!  But him with our dumb 7th Sister, think we can hold onto him?  If only my oldest daughter were more clever, don't even bother with her.  If other people aren't careful, they should know better!"

三奶奶道："那似乎年紀差得太多了。"

3rd Wife said, "Apparently the age difference is too big."

四奶奶道："喲！你不知道，越是那種人，越是喜歡年紀輕的。我那個大的若是不成，還有二的 呢。"

4th Wife, "Hey, don't you know?  With people more that way, they like them young!  If the biggest won't work, I still have a second!"

三奶奶笑道："你那個二的比姓范的小二十歲。"

3rd Wife laughed, "The second is younger than Mr. fan by 20 years."

四奶奶悄悄扯了她一把，正顏厲色地道："三嫂，你別那麼糊塗！護著七丫頭，她是白家的什麼人？隔了一 層娘肚皮，就差遠了。嫁了過去，誰也別想在她身上得點什麼好處！我這都是為了大家好。"

4th Wife quietly tugged her, with a serious tone said, "3rd madam, don't be silly!  Protecting 7th girl, who is she in the Bai household?  Separated by another mother's belly, the difference is huge.  After marrying her off, no one's even going to bother thinking for her benefit!  I'm doing this for everyone's good!"

然而白老太太一心一意只怕親戚議論她虧待了沒娘的七小姐，決定照原 來計劃，由徐太太擇日請客，把寶絡介紹給范柳原。

Yet Mother Bai was single-minded fearing the family discussion was unfairly treating the motherless 7th sister, deciding to follow the original plan, going with Madam Xu's date to invite the guest, and introducing Bao Luo to Mr. Fan Liuyuan.

Love in a Fallen City 傾城之戀 Part 6

http://www.rain8.com/article/class10/1512.htm

by Eileen Chang 張愛玲

Translated by Yoyo  幽柚

Part 5

徐太太笑道："提起你妹妹，我還等他們的回話呢。"

Madam Xu laughed, "Bringing up your sister, I want to hear what they have to say."

流蘇道："七妹的事，有希望麼？"

Liu Su said, " 7th Sister's situation, is there hope?"

徐太太道："說得有幾分眉目了。剛才我有意的讓娘兒們自己商 議商議，我說我上去瞧瞧六小姐就來。現在可該下去了。你送我下去，成不成？"

"There's some general idea after talks.  I just thought about letting the ladies negotiate.  When I wanted to go listen 6th Sister came.  Right now I should go down.  Why don't you send me down, agree?"

流蘇只得扶著徐太太下樓，樓梯又舊，徐太太又胖，走得吱吱格格一片響。到了堂 屋裡，流蘇欲待開燈，

Liu Su felt obligated to help Madam Xu by the hand.  The stairs were old, and Madam Xu was plump, walking there was moaning and groaning.  When they reached the main room, Liu Su wanted open the lights.

徐太太道："不用了，看得見。他們就在東廂房裡。你跟我來，大家說說笑笑，事情也就過去了，不然，明兒吃飯的時候免不了要見面的，反 而僵得慌。"

"There's no need, I can see.  They are in the east room.  Come with me, everyone is laughie-talkie, the situations will pass over.  If not, tomorrow you have to see them all again, and you'll be stiff and panicky."

流蘇聽不得"吃飯"這兩個字，心裡一陣刺痛，硬著嗓子，強笑道："多謝嬸子——可是我這會子身子有點不舒服，實在不能夠見人，只怕失魂落魄 的，說話闖了禍，反而辜負了您待我的一片心。"

When Liu Su heard the words "eat," she felt a stab in her heart.  Her throat turned stiff.  With a strong laugh she said, "  Thank you auntie -- but this time my body doesn't feel too good, I honestly can't see people.  I'll be scared out of my wits, my words will bring disaster, instead I'll fail to live up to my place in your heart."

徐太太見流蘇一定不肯，也就罷了，自己推門進去。

Madam Xu saw Liu Su was unwilling, so she gave up.  She pushed the door and left.

門掩上了，堂屋裡暗著，門的上端的玻璃格子裡透進兩方黃色的燈光，落在青磚地上。朦朧中可以看見堂屋裡順著牆高高下下堆著一排書箱，紫檀匣子， 刻著綠泥款識。正中天然幾上，玻璃罩子裡，擱著琺瑯自鳴鐘，機括早壞了，停了多年。兩旁垂著朱紅對聯，閃著金色壽字團花，一朵花托住一個墨汁淋漓的大字。 在微光裡，一個個的字都像浮在半空中，離著紙老遠。流蘇覺得自己就是對聯上的一個字，虛飄飄的，不落實地。白公館有這麼一點像神仙的洞府：這裡悠悠忽忽過 了一天，世上已經過了一千年。可是這裡過了一千年，也同一天差不多，因為每天都是一樣的單調與無聊。流蘇交叉著胳膊，抱住她自己的頸項。七八年一眨眼就過 去了。你年輕麼？不要緊，過兩年就老了，這裡，青春是不希罕的。他們有的是青春——孩子一個個的被生出來，新的明亮的眼睛，新的紅嫩的嘴，新的智慧。一年 又一年的磨下來，眼睛鈍了，人鈍了，下一代又生出來了。這一代便被吸到朱紅灑金的輝煌的背景裡去，一點一點的淡金便是從前的人的怯怯的眼睛。

The door closed, the main hall was quiet, yellow lamplight from both sides  of the detail on the glass lattice of the door penetrated through, falling on the green brick floor.  Through the haze one could see the main call with it's high and low stacks of arranged book boxes, red sandalwood boxes, and carved green quotes.  In the middle almost naturally, in the shadow of the glass, stood an enamel bell chime, the mechanism was already broken, it was still for many years.  On it's two sides red couplets hung, the gold word for "longevity" was surrounded by flowers, each flower vase was saturated with big inky words.  In the glimmer, every single work was floating in mid-air, leaving the old paper behind.  Liu Su felt she herself was like a character on the couplet, floating, not falling on-site.  The Bai residence was little like an immortal's cave dwelling:  passing a fleeting drawn-out day, the moral world aged a 1000 years.  But if 1000 years passed here, each day would be roughly the same because each day is the same monotony and boredom.    Liu Su crossed her arms and held onto her neck.  With a blink of an eye 7, 8 years have passed.  You still young?  Don't worry, in two years you'll be old.  This place, youth is not rare.  Some are youths, children one by one are forced to be born, new bright eyes, new red supple lips, new intelligence.  Year after year it wears away, eyes turn dull, people turn drull, and the next generation is born.  This generation get sucked behind the vibrant red and shining gold splendor, bit by bit the fading gold is exactly the timid eyes of peoples past.

Love in a Fallen City 傾城之戀 Part 5

http://www.rain8.com/article/class10/1512.htm

by Eileen Chang 張愛玲

Translated by Yoyo  幽柚

Part 4

那人走到床前坐下了，一開口，卻是徐太太的聲音。徐太太勸道："六小姐，別傷心了，起來，起來，大熱的天……"

That person sat in front of the bed.  It was Madam Xu who opened her mouth.  She assured her, " 6th Sister, don't feel sad.  Come, some up, it's hot today...."

流蘇撐著床勉強站了起來，道：" 嬸子，我……我在這兒再也呆不下去了。早就知道人家多嫌著我，就只差明說。今兒當面鑼，對面鼓，發過話了，我可沒有臉再住下去了！"

Liu Su propped herself up from the bed and barely stood, saying, "Auntie, I..... I can't just sit in a daze here anymore.  I already knew people here resented me, I only said the truth.  Today one end gonged, the other end drummed.  After spilling words, I have no face living here!"

徐太太扯她在床沿上一 同坐下，悄悄地道："你也太老實了，不怪人家欺負你，你哥哥們把你的錢盤來盤去盤光了。就養活你一輩子也是應該的。"

Madam Xu pulled her to sit alongside her on the bed, she quietly responded, " You are too honest, no wonder people take advantage of you.  Your older brother and them took shuffled your money plate around leaving nothing.  They should provide for you for the rest of your live."

流蘇難得聽見這幾句公道話，且不問她是真心還是假意，先就從心上熱起來，淚如雨下，道："誰叫我自己糊塗呢！就為了這幾個錢，害得我要走也走不 開。"

Liu Su could hardly hear these truthful words, without paying attention to whether or not Madam Xu was acting, Liu Su's heart heated up, tears pouring like rain.  She said, "Who said I was confused! Just for the money, I can't leave if I wanted to."

徐太太道："年紀輕輕的人，不怕沒有活路。"

"Young people shouldn't fear not having a path ahead."

流蘇道："有活路，我早走了！我又沒唸過兩句書，肩不能挑，手不能提，我能做什麼事？"

" If was a way out I'd leave!  I've never ready to words in a book, my shoulders never carried anything, my hands never lifted anything, what can I do?"

徐太太道："找 事，都是假的，還是找個人是真的。"

"Finding work is a lie, find the right people."

流蘇道："那怕不行。我這一輩子早完了。"

"That won't do, my life is already over."

徐太太道："這句話，只有有錢的人，不愁吃，不愁穿，才有資格說。沒錢的 人，要完也完不了哇！你就是剃了頭髮當姑子去，化個緣罷，也還是塵緣——離不了人！"

"That's what only rich people say.  They don't worry about food or clothes, they can say that.  Poor people, you ending it still won't end it!  If you shaved your head to be a nun, and end your karma, you'd still be dust-- you can't escape people!"

流蘇低頭不語。徐太太道："你這件事，早兩年託了我，又要好些。"

Liu Su was silent as she lowered her head.  Madam Xu said, "This situation, if you came to me two years ago would have made things easier."

流 蘇微微一笑道："可不是，我已經二十八了。"

Liu Su laughed, "Exactly, I'm already 28 years old."

徐太太道："放著你這樣好的人才，二十八也不算什麼。我替你留心著。說著我又要怪你了，離了婚七八年了，你早 點兒拿定了主意，遠走高飛，少受多少氣！"

Madam Xu said, "Trying a person of your talent, being 28 isn't too bad.  I'll help you worry. Talking about me would be blaming yourself, I divorced for 7, 8 years already.  If you decided earlier, you would have long gone and had much less problems!"

流蘇道："嬸子你又不是不知道，像我們這樣的家庭，哪兒肯放我們出去交際？倚仗著家裡人罷，別說他們根本不讚 成，就是贊成了，我底下還有兩個妹妹沒出閣，三哥四哥的幾個女孩子也漸漸地長大了，張羅她們還來不及呢，還顧得到我？"

Liu Su said, "Autie, you must know this as well.  How could families like ours let us socialize? Ending my reliance on family, others say family don't agree, but they already did.  I still have two little sisters who aren't married, 3rd and 4th Brother still have two girls about to become adults, I can barely attend to them, how can I care for myself?"

Part 6

Love in a Fallen City 傾城之戀 Part 4

http://www.rain8.com/article/class10/1512.htm

by Eileen Chang 張愛玲

Translated by Yoyo  幽柚

Part 3

正說著，門簾一動，白老太太道：「是誰？」四奶奶探頭進來道：「媽，徐太太還在樓下呢，等著跟您說七妹的婚事。」

At that moment the door moved, Mother Bai asked, "Who's there?"  4th Wife poked her head in and entered, " Mother, Madam Xu is still downstairs, waiting to talk with you about 7th Sister's wedding."

白老太太道：「我這就起來。你把燈捻 開。」

Mother Bai responded, "I'll just get up then.  Go open the lamps."

屋裡點上了燈，四奶奶扶著老太太坐起身來，伺候她穿衣下床。白老太太問道：「徐太太那邊找到了合適的人？」

With the room lit, 4th Wife helped Mother by the hand to stand and helped her change her clothes.  Mother Bai asked, " Where did Madam Xu find a suitable mate?"

四奶奶道：「聽她說得怪好的，就是年大 了幾歲。」

4th Wife answered, "I heard her say he was unusually good, its just he's a bit older."

白老太太咳了一聲道：「寶絡這孩子，今年也二十四了，真是我心上一個疙瘩。白替她操了心，還讓人家說我：她不是我親生的，我存心耽擱了她！」

Mother Bai sighed, " This child Bao Lao is 24 this year, indeed a sore spot in my heart.  Helped her worry for nothing, and let people gossip about me:  She's not my natural child, I deliberately delayed her!"

四 奶奶把老太太攙到外房去，老太太道：「你把我那兒的新茶葉拿出來，給徐太太泡一碗，綠洋鐵筒子裡的是大姑奶奶去年帶來的龍井，高罐兒裡的是碧螺春，別弄錯 了。」

4th Wife helped Mother Bai to the outer room.  Mother Bai said, "Go get those new tea leaves out and give Madam Xu a bowl.  The green canister has old auntie's (father's eldest sister) Long Jing tea, the high canister has Green Snail Spring tea, don't mix them up."

四奶奶一面答應著，一面叫喊道：「來人哪！開燈哪！」只聽見一陣腳步響，來了些粗手大腳的孩子們，幫著老媽子把老太太搬運下樓去了。

4th Wife answered, she shouted, "  Servants!  Light the lamps!"  With a sudden burst of footsteps, a few rough handed big footed children helped carry the old lady downstairs.

四奶奶一個人在外間屋裡翻箱倒櫃找尋老太太的私房茶葉，忽然笑道：「咦！七妹，你打哪兒鑽出來了，嚇我一跳！我說怎麼的，剛才你一晃就不見影 兒了！」

4th Wife went alone to the outer room, flipping over chests and draws to find the old woman's private stash of tea, suddenly she burst out laughing, " Ye!  7th Sister, you came out of nowhere and gave me a jump!  When I was talking you left in a flash!"

寶絡細聲道：「我在陽台上乘涼。」

Bao Lao quiet said, "  I was on the balcony cooling off."

四奶奶格格笑道：「害臊呢！我說，七妹，趕明兒你有了婆家，凡事可得小心一點，別由著性兒鬧。離婚豈是容易的 事？要離就離了，稀鬆平常！果真那麼容易，你四哥不成材，我幹嗎不離婚哪！我也有娘家呀，我不是沒處可投奔的，可是這年頭兒，我不能不給他們划算划算，我 是有點人心 ，就得顧著他們一點，不能靠定了人家，把人家拖窮了。我還有三分廉恥呢！」

4th Wife laughed with a cackle and said, "Shy aren't you?  I say, 7th Sister, one of these days you're going to have family in-laws, you must be more careful with everything, your 4th Brotheris useless, why shouldn't I just divorce?  I also have my own family, it's not like I can't seek shelter.   But throughout these years whether or not I let them weigh our the pros and cons, I was a little compassionate.  If I could look after them just a bit, and not rely on people, and pull people from poverty.  I still have my sense of honor!"

白流蘇在她母親床前淒淒涼涼跪著，聽見了這話，把手裡的繡花鞋幫子緊緊按在心口上，戳在鞋上的一枚針，紮了手也不覺得疼，小聲道：「這屋子可 住不得了！……住不得了！」

Liu Su was in front of her mother's bed desolately kneeling and heard these words.  She took the embroidered shoes on her hands and pressed it on her heart, the needles stuck on the shoe stabbed her hand, yet she felt no pain.  She quietly said, "I can't live in this house anymore!.....  Can't live here!"

她的聲音灰暗而輕飄，像斷斷續續的塵灰吊子。她彷彿做夢似的，滿頭滿臉都掛著塵灰吊子，迷迷糊糊向前一撲，自己以為是枕住了她 母親的膝蓋，嗚嗚咽咽哭了起來道：「媽，媽，你老人家給我做主！」

Her words were dark but clear, like murky dust hanging int he air.  It was as if she were dreaming, her full head and face hung with the dust, billowing forward. She thought she was resting her head on her mother's knees,   whimpering, "Ma, ma, you are the old person who made the decision!"

她母親呆著臉，笑嘻嘻的不做聲。她摟住她母親的腿，使勁搖撼著，哭道：「媽！媽！」

Her mother's face stared blankly, laughing without sound.  She clung onto her mother's leg, with all her strength crying, "Ma!  Ma!"

恍惚 又是多年前，她還只十來歲的時候，看了戲出來，在傾盆大雨中和家裡人擠散了。她獨自站在人行道上，瞪著眼看人，人也瞪著眼看她，隔著雨淋淋的車窗，隔著一 層無形的玻璃罩——無數的陌生人。人人都關在他們自己的小世界裡，她撞破了頭也撞不進去。她似乎是魔住了。 忽然聽見背後有腳步聲，猜著是她母親來了，便竭 力定了一定神，不言語。她所祈求的母親與她真正的母親根本是兩個人。

Vaguely many years ago, she at the mere age of 10 was watching a show, in the pouring rain was squeezed away from her family.  Alone standing on the sidewalk, staring at people.  People were staring back, separated from the dripping rain inside car windows, separated by a formless layer of glass-- countless strangers.  Everyone is shut within their own little world, even breaking her head she can't get through.   It's as if she were possessed.  Suddenly she heard the sound of footsteps behind her, guessing it was her mother, with all her energy she knew her spirit, speechless.  The mother she prayed for and her real mother were two different people.

Part 5

Love in a Fallen City 傾城之戀 Part 3

http://www.rain8.com/article/class10/1512.htm

by Eileen Chang 張愛玲

Translated by Yoyo  幽柚

Part 2

流蘇氣得渾身亂顫，把一隻繡了一半的拖鞋面子抵住了下頜，下頜抖得彷彿要落下來。

Liu Su shook uncontrollably with anger, took a half-sewn sandal and pressed it hard on her cheek, her jaw trembled as if it were about to fall.

三爺又道：「想當初你哭哭啼啼回家來，鬧著要離婚，怪只怪我是個血性漢 子，眼見你給他打成那個樣子，心有不忍，一拍胸脯子站出來說：好！我白老三雖窮，我家裡短不了我妹子這一碗飯！我知道你們少年夫妻，誰沒有個脾氣？大不了 回娘家來住個三年五載的，兩下里也就回心轉意了。我若知道你們認真是一刀兩斷，我會幫著你辦離婚麼？拆散人家夫妻，這是絕子絕孫的事。我白老三是有兒子的 人，我還指望他們養老呢！」

3rd Brother said, "I remember at the time you were weeping when you came back home, venting that you wanted a divorce, blaming me for being man to the blood.  Seeing him I have a beating, my heart couldn't stop, I stood up beating my chest saying, ' Although I Bai the third am poor, my family isn't short of a bowl of food my my little sister!  I know you both are a young couple, who doesn't have tatrums?  When worst comes to worst coming back home living for 3, 5 years,  in two shakes you change your mind again.  If I knew you both were serious about cutting the cord, would I help you arrange a divorce?  Splitting up a husband and wife ends children and grandchildren.  I Bai the third is a person who has sons, hoping they would live long!"

流蘇氣到了極點，反倒放聲笑了起來道：「好，好，都是我的不是！你們窮了，是我把你們吃窮了。你們虧了本，是我帶累了你們。你 們死了兒子，也是我害了你們傷了陰騭！」

Liu Su was angry to the extreme, yet she laughed out loud and said, "Fine, fine, this is all my fault.  You're all poor because of me.  You all lost money because I was a burden.  Your son is dead because I harmed your good intentions!"

四奶奶一把揪住了她兒子的衣領，把他的頭去撞流蘇，叫道：「赤口白舌的咒起孩子來了！就憑你這句話，我兒子死了， 我就得找你！」

4th wife grabbed her son by the collar and threw her son's head towards Liu Su shouting, "Your red lips and white tongue cursing the children!  If my sons dies for what you said, I'll come after you!"

流蘇連忙一閃身躲過了，抓住四爺道：「四哥你瞧，你瞧——你——你倒是評評理看！」

Liu Su with a quick dodge grabbed 4th Brother and said, " Look 4th brother, look---you----you judge for yourself!"

四爺道：「你別急呀，有話好說，我們從長計議。三哥這都 是為你打算——」流蘇賭氣摔開了手，一徑進裡屋去了。

4th Brother said, "Calm down, speak slowly, let's slow down and think.  3rd Brother is all your fault---"  Liu Su resentfully threw down her arms, and went straight into the inner room.

裡屋沒點燈，影影綽綽的只看見珠羅紗帳子裡，她母親躺在紅木大床上，緩緩揮動白團扇。流蘇走到床跟前，雙膝一軟，就跪了下來，伏在床沿上，哽 咽道：「媽。」白老太太耳朵還好，外間屋裡說的話，她全聽見了。她咳嗽了一聲，伸手在枕邊摸索到了小痰罐子，吐了一口痰，方才說道：

The inner room had no lights, shadowy and charred she stared into the pearl collection and muslin canopy.  Her mother was laying down on the big wooden bed, brandishing her big circular fan.  Liu Su walked to the front of the bed, with her pair of weakening knees she knelt down, leaned along the bed half choked said, "Mom."  Mother Bai's ears were still good, she heard everything in the outer rooms.  She lightly coughed, reached beside her pillow with her hands searching for her spit bucket, spat her phlegm and said,

「你四嫂就是這麼碎嘴 子！你可不能跟她一樣的見識。你知道，各人有各人的難處。你四嫂天生的要強性兒，一向管著家，偏生你四哥不爭氣，狂嫖濫賭的，玩出一身病來不算，不該挪用 了公帳上的錢，害得你四嫂面上無光，只好讓你三嫂當家，心裡嚥不下這口氣，著實不舒坦。你三嫂精神又不濟，支持這份家，可不容易！種種地方，你得體諒他們 一點。」

"Your 4th wife always lashes her tongue like so.  Your life experience can't compare to her's.  You should know, everyone has their problems.  4th wife naturally wants a strong boy to run the family.  Your 4th Brother can't live up to his standards, crazy gambling and too many whores, let's forget him playing 'til he's sick, he shouldn't embezzle public money, scaring the color off 4th wife's face, forcing 3rd Wife to manage the house.  3rd wife can't swallow this, truly discomforting.  3rd Wife's attitude isn't that great either.  Supporting this family is not easy!  At all kinds of places, just show a bit of understanding."

流蘇聽她母親這話風，一味的避重就輕，自己覺得好沒意思，只得一言不發。白老太太翻身朝裡睡了，又道：「先兩年，東拼西湊的，賣一次田，還夠兩年 吃的。現在可不行了。我年紀大了，說聲走，一撒手就走了，可顧不得你們。天下沒有不散的筵席，你跟著我，總不是長久之計。倒是回去是正經。領個孩子過活， 熬個十幾年，總有你出頭之日。」

Liu Su hearing wind of her mother's words, tuning her  cheek to the major problems at hand made Liu Su feel ashamed.   She had no choice but not utter a single word.  Mother Bai turned her body inwards to sleep and said, "These past two years, chaos on top of chaos, selling the farm could feed us for two years.  Now it won't do.  I'm already old, if I say I'll go, one flip of my hand and I'll leave, I can't take care of you all anymore.  All good things must come to an end,  you leaving with me wasn't a plan I had for a long time.  Going back was actually the honorable thing to do.  Taking care of a child and living your days, enduring another 10 years there would have been a way out."

Part 4

Lucky Chinese New Year Phrases

My mom just called my overseas relatives and of course gave everyone some customary greetings.

To my uncle: "身體健康 （Good Health)"

Response, "Health?  My foot hurts like hell!"

That's right!  It's time to milk the older generation for money without guilt!

Here are some classic phrases I'm handing out for free:

恭喜發財

Happiness and Health

新年快樂

Happy New Year

財源廣進

Let money roll in!

大吉大利

Big fortune big luck!

年年有餘

Have extra each year!

步步高升

Climb higher with each step!

事事如意

Have things go as you wish!

心想事成

Let what your heart desire come true!

萬事如意

Let 10000 things be as you wish!

一元復始

Let's start anew!

金玉滿堂

Gold and jade fill a hall!

竹報平安

Bamboo fortune says good year!

龍鳳呈祥

The dragon and pheonix show fortune! (For couples)

The fun ones to think about:

鴻圖大展

The wild goose painting is really big!

(The word 鴻 is a pun for grand, 宏。  圖 is a pun for 途，meaning future.  So it's suppose to mean "May your plans for the future spread wide."  Usually for business people.)

早生貴子

Hurry up and give birth to a son!

(A tad sexist.)

For the numberphile:

一路發財

One road of flourishing wealth

雙星報喜

Two stars signal happiness

三洋開泰

3 suns start peace.
(3 suns references spring)

四季平安

4 seasons of peace

五福臨門

5 fortunes enter the door.

六六大順

6 6 great ease

(6 6 is a pun for 流流，or flow.   So it means, "Flow with great ease."  Great for relatives who have chronic digestion problems. )

七子八婿

7 sons and 8 wives

(For the polygamists of the family.)

八仙過海

8 saints cross the ocean

(Legend has it that there were 8 daoist immortals.  Each represent a group in humanity.  Together they use their magic items to cross the Bitter Sea.  It means that those you know will all pull together and succeed.)

九九重陽

The double 9th sun

(It means to live longest to the end.  Stories goes there's this family that encounters a daoist.  Daoist tells the family to carry as much chrysanthemums and chrysanthemum flowers up a hill and stay up there for one night.  The family has a lovely drinking party.  When they go back home, all their livestock is dead.  In the Daoist tradition this day is the day with the most Yang energy.  So it goes downhill after this day.)

十全十美

10 complete 10 beautiful

And a partridge in a pair tree!

To all the snake lovers:

金蛇狂舞

Gold snake dance crazy!

筆走龍蛇

Brush flows like the dragon and snake.

蛇足飽滿

Snake feet are stuffed!

魅力如蛇

Charming like a snake

絕不蛇本

Never be in debt!

(Snake is being used as a pun for debt.)

金蛇出洞

The gold snake leaves the hole

金蛇郎君

The gold snake husband?  playboy?  whoremaker?

蛇形刁手

Hand like a snake!

(Name of a Bruce Lee movie)

把幹媽的蛇出這幹媽的飛機！

Get these mother fucking snakes of this mother fucking plane!

(飛機 is also a euphemism for penis.  So this can also mean, "Get these mother fucking snakes off the mother fucking penis."  I wonder of Samuel L. Jackson knew?)

Happy Chinese New Year!

Love in a Fallen City 傾城之戀 Part 2

http://www.rain8.com/article/class10/1512.htm

by Eileen Chang 張愛玲

Translated by Yoyo  幽柚

Part 1

他們同時看了六小姐一眼。白流蘇坐在屋子的一角，慢條斯理繡著一隻拖鞋，方才三爺四爺一遞一聲說話，彷彿是沒有她發言的餘地。

Together they looked at 6th sister for a glance.   Bai Liusu sat at a corner of the room, slowly and methodically embroidering sandals.   Just then 3rd brother gradually raises his the sound of his voice, as if she has no extra room to speak.

這時她便淡淡地道：「離過婚了，又去做他的寡婦，讓人家笑掉了牙齒！」

At this moment she said indifferently ,

" Already divorced. and still be his widow.  I'll let people laugh 'til their teeth fall out!"

她若無其事地繼續做她的鞋子，可是手指頭上直冒冷汗，針澀了，再也拔不過去。

As if nothing happened she continue to work on her shoes, yet at a her fingertips kept emitting cold sweat.  The needle turns rough, and she can't push it through.

三爺道：「六妹，話不是這麼說。他當初有許多對不起你的地方，我們全知道。現在人已經死了，難道你還記在心裡？他丟下的那兩個姨奶奶，自然是 守不住的。你這會子堂堂正正地回去替他戴孝主喪，誰敢笑你？你雖然沒生下一男半女，他的侄子多著呢.隨你挑一個，過繼過來。傢俬雖然不剩什麼了，他家是個 大族，就是撥你看守祠堂，也餓不死你母子。」

3rd Brother said, "6th Sister, I didn't mean it that way.  At the time he had many unforgivable points, we all know that.  Now the person is already dead, could it be you remembered it in your heart?  He abandoned 2 greats aunts, obviously unable to hold onto.  This time why don't you gracefully go back and be there for his funeral rites?  Who would laugh at you?  Although you did not give birth to a boy or half a girl, he still has many nieces and nephews.  Go ahead and pick one, this will still move on.  Jia Se obviously doesn't have much remaining, his family is a big clan, it's looking after their ancestral shrine without you,and your mother isn't going to starve to death."

白流蘇冷笑道：「三哥替我想得真周到！就可惜晚了一步，婚已經離了這麼七八年了。依你說，當初那些法律手續都 是糊鬼不成？我們可不能拿著法律鬧著玩哪！」

Bai Liusu coldly laughed, "3rd Brother so considerate helping me think!  Pity being late one step, the marriage has already past 7, 8 years.  Following what you say, at the time weren't those legal procedures were an incomplete mess? Let's not play around with the law now!"

三爺道：「你別動不動就拿法律來唬人！法律呀，今天改，明天改，我這天理人情，三綱五常，可是改不了的！你生 是他家的人死是他家的鬼，樹高千丈，葉落歸根——」

3rd Brother said, "You without needing to used the law to scare people.  Oh law, today changes, tomorrow changes.  Today I'm concerned with human matters.  The 3 principles and 5 virtues, these cannot be changed!  Your life is with their family, your death is their family's ghost.  A tree a thousand chi high, the leaf falls back to its roots..."

流蘇站起身來道：「你這話，七八年前為什麼不說？」

Liu Su stood up and said, "Why didn't you say this 7, 8 years ago?"
三爺道：「我只怕你多了心，只當我們不肯收容你。」

3rd Brother said, "I was only afraid you were being considerate, that we wouldn't consent to sheltering you."

流蘇道：「哦？現在你就不怕我多心了？你把我的錢用光了，你不怕我多心了？」

Liu Su said, "Oh?  Now you're not afraid of me being considerate?  You used up all of my money, and you're not afraid I'm being too considerate?"

三爺直問到她臉上道：「我用了你的錢？我用了你幾個大錢？你住在我們家，吃我 們的，喝我們的，從前還罷了，添個人不過添雙筷子，現在你去打聽打聽看，米是什麼價錢？我不提錢，你倒提起錢來了！」

3rd Brother looked straight into her face and said, "I used your money?  How much of your big money did I use?  You live in our home, eat ours, drink ours.  Back then it was enough, adding a person was simply adding a pair of chopsticks.  Now go ask around, rice costs how much?  I didn't bring up money, and you did!"

四奶奶站在三爺背後，笑了一聲道：「自己骨肉，照說不該提錢的話。提起錢來，這話可就長了！我早就跟我們老四說過——我說：老四，你去勸勸三爺，你們 做金子，做股票，不能用六奶奶的錢哪，沒的沾上了晦氣！她一嫁到婆家，丈夫就變成了敗家子。回到娘家來，眼見得娘家就要敗光了——天生的掃帚星！」

4th Wife stood behind 3rd Brother, laughed and said, "Your own flesh and bone, normally shouldn't speak about money.  Bringing up money makes this conversation a whole lot longer!  I already told 4th early on-- I said, ' 4th,  go persuade 3rd Brother, deal with gold, deal with the stock market, don't use 6th Wife's money, if not you'll moisten your bad luck!  Once she was married off, the husband became a spendthrift.  Coming back to the married woman's home, one look at the home and you lose everything-- nature's comet!"

**Note:  Comet translates to "broom end star."  It's considered REALLY bad luck to see one.  It usually foreshadows calamity.**

三爺 道：「四奶奶這話有理。我們那時候，如果沒讓她入股子，決不至於弄得一敗塗地！」

3rd Brother said, "4th wife says it well.  If we at the time didn't let her save her lil butt, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

Part 3

Love in a Fallen City 傾城之戀 Part 1

by, Eileen Chang

Translated by Yoyo  幽柚

http://www.rain8.com/article/class10/1512.htm

上海為了「節省天光」，將所有的時鐘都撥快了一個小時，然而白公館裡說：「我們用的是老鐘。」他們的十點鐘是人家的十一點。他們唱歌唱走了板，跟不上生命的胡琴。

For "daylight savings" in Shanghai, all clocks must move an hour forward.  But the Baigong Place said, "Our clocks are old."  Their 10 o'clock is people's 11 o'clock.  They sing off tempo, unable to keep up with life's huqin.

胡琴咿咿呀呀拉著，在萬盞燈的夜晚，拉過來又拉過去，說不盡的蒼涼的故事——不問也罷！……胡琴上的故事是應當由光艷的伶人來扮演的，長長的兩片紅胭脂夾住瓊瑤鼻，唱了，笑了，袖子擋住了嘴……然而這裡只有白四爺單身坐在黑沉沉的破陽台上，拉住胡琴 .

The huqin EEEEeee's and YAAAaaaas,  in the numerous cup lamp night, pulling back and forth, telling this bleak unending story--- never mind, don't ask.  The story coming from the huqin out to come from the bright colorful actors that come to perform.  Between two long pieces of rouge sits a jasper nose, singing, laughing, sleeve covering a mouth, yet this place only has 4th Brother Bai alone sitting on a deep dark on a ruined balcony, playing the huqin.

正拉著，樓底下門鈴響了。這在白公館是件稀罕事。按照從前的規矩，晚上絕對不作興出去拜客。晚上來了客，或是平空裡接到一個電報，那除非是天字第一號的緊急大事，多半是死了人。

While playing, the door rings downstairs.  To the Baigong Place this was a rare event.  Following the rules from the front, at night time there is no flashy welcome.  When a guest arrives a night, or during the day if a telegram arrives, it only means it's a first class emergency.  Most of the time the death of someone.

四爺凝神聽著，果然三爺三奶奶四奶奶一路嚷上樓來，急切間不知他們說些什麼。陽台後面的堂屋裡，坐著六小姐，七小姐，八小姐，和三房四房的孩 子們，這時都有些皇皇然。四爺在陽台上，暗處看亮處，分外眼明，只見門一開，三爺穿著汗衫短褲，楂開兩腿站在門檻上，背過手去，啪啦啪啦撲打股際的蚊子.

4th  listed closely, as usual 3rd Brother and 3rd Wife made a ruckus going upstairs, impatiently not know what they're saying.  Behind the balcony in the main room, 6th, 7th, and 8th Sister.  And in the 3rd and 4th room were the children.  During this time everyone was restless.  4th Brother from the balcony was peering into the brightness from his secret perch, with bright eyes observing only a door opening with 3rd Brother wearing and undershirt and shorts, legs spread standing under the doorstep, arms swinging pitter-pattering slapping his share of mosquitoes.

遠遠的向四爺叫道：「老四你猜怎麼著？六妹離掉的那一位，說是得了肺炎，死了！」

From afar he faced 4th Brother and shouted, "4th, guess what?  6th sister left that person, said it was pneumonia, dead!"

四爺放下胡琴往房裡走，問道：「是誰來給的信？」

4th Brother put down his huqin, walking toward the room he asked, "Who gave the letter?"

三爺道：「徐太太。」

3rd Brother replied, "Madam Xu."

說 著，回頭用扇子去攆三奶奶道：「你別跟上來湊熱鬧呀！徐太太還在樓底下呢，她胖，怕爬樓。你還不去陪陪她！」

While saying this, he turned his head and shooed 3rd wife and said, "Don't come here to add trouble!  Madam Xu is still downstairs.  She's fat and fearful of climbing stairs!  Go keep her company!"

三奶奶去了，四爺若有所思道：「死的那個不是 徐太太的親戚麼？」

When 3rd Wife left, 4th Brother as if he had a thought in his mind asked, "Isn't the one who died a relative of Madam Xu?"

三爺道：「可不是。看這樣子，是他們家特為託了徐太太來遞信給我們的，當然是有用意的。」

3rd Brother said, "No it isn't.  From the looks of it, it's their family specifically entrusting Madam Xu to pass the news to us.  without doubt with some intention."

四爺道：「他們莫非是要六妹去奔喪？」

4th brother said, "Could it be they want 6th sister to hurry home for the funeral?"

三爺用 扇子柄刮了刮頭皮道：「照說呢，倒也是應該……」

3rd Brother used a folding fan handle to scratch his scalp, " Normally, this ought to be that way..."

Part 2

Crash Course China

Very generic, but good overview of Chinese history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylWORyToTo4

Preface to The Orchid Pavilion

The text that inspired me to major in Chinese.  Enough said.



(Copy of Wang Xizhi's The Orchid Pavilion.  The original doesn't exist because a dumb emperor buried it with him.  A famous example of running script.)

蘭亭集序

“Preface to The Orchid Pavilion"

王羲之

by, Wang Xizhi

Translated by Yoyo

永 和 九 年

The 9th year of Yonghe's reign (353 AD)

歲 在 癸 丑

50th year of the sexgenary cycle

暮 春 之 初

The beginning of the third month

會 于 會 稽 山 陰 之 蘭 亭

There was a gathering at Kuaiji Shanyin orchid pavilion

修 禊 事 也

to administer the events of the "Lustration Festival"

(This is an ancient ritual ceremony to rid bad luck)

 群 賢 畢 至

All in the group were virtuous

 少 長 咸 集

Young and old gathered

此 地 有 崇 山 峻 嶺

This place has high mountains, steep slopes

茂 林 修 竹

Luxuriant forest, tall bamboo

  又 有 清 流 激 湍

Also clear, rapid flowing streams

  映 帶 左 右

Elements of scenery are set off left and right

 引 以 為 流 觴 曲 水

Because of this water leads meandering wine cups.

 列 坐 其 次

They arrange themselves in proper order

 雖 無 絲 竹 管 絃 之 盛

Though there is no pipes and string in [this] spectacular event

 一 觴 一 詠

They drink wine and write poetry

 亦 足 以 暢 敘 幽 情

Fully expressing their innermost thoughts

是 日 也

Today

 天 朗 氣 情

The day is good with energy  and motion

 惠 風 和 暢

A gentle breeze is warm and comfortable

 仰 觀 宇 宙 之 大

We look up and face the vast cosmos

 俯 察 品 類 之 盛

We bow and examine all creation

所 以 游 目 騁 懷

Look as far as we can see and give free reign to our emotions

足 以 極 視 聽 之 娛

Sight and sound satisfied to the fullest extreme

信 可 樂 也

Indeed this is happiness

夫 人 之 相 與

Well now, people mingle with each other

俯 仰 一 世

In one instant, one lifetime passes

或 取 諸 懷 抱

Those who keep their [ambitions] in their hearts

晤 言 一 室 之 內

Have conversation face to face in a room

 或 因 寄 所 託

They entrust everything upon others

放 浪 形 骸 之 外

Outwardly they are unrestrained

雖 趣 舍 萬 殊

Though there are a myriad of things

靜 躁 不 同

Quiet and activity are the not the same

 當 其 欣 於 所 遇

When they encounter someone that makes them happy

 暫 得 於 己

That instant reaches me

快 然 自 足

Quickly they are self content

曾不 知 老 之 將 至

They simply did not know that they will encounter old age in the future

(Reference to bacon lover's Analects)

及 其 所 之 既 倦

When they are tired of the direction they are going

情 隨 事 遷

Thoughts and emotion change with circumstances

感 慨 係 之 矣

One's emotion follows suit

向 之 所 欣

The happy people of the past

俛 仰 之 間

An instant of time

已 為 陳 跡

All became old

猶 不 能 不 以 之 興 懷

And yet one cannot help but feel exhausted at heart

 況 修 短 隨 化

When one conforms to the length of their lifespan

 終 期 於 盡

The life of a person must come to an end

古 人 云

The ancients say

死 生 亦 大 矣

Life and death is grand

豈 不 痛 哉

How could it not hurt?

每 覽 昔 人 興 感 之 由

Everytmie I glance at the people of the past for th reason to have roused another

若 合 一 契

It fits together like a tally.

(A tally is an object used to confirm the identity of the other.  Usually, a tally is split into two pieces that fit together.  So if a guard needed to enter a fort, one solider would fit the tally to another to confirm each other's identity. See bottom.)

未 嘗 不 臨 文 嗟 悼

I sadly sigh because I cannot experience looking over this piece of writing

 不 能 喻 之 於 懷

Unable to understand it in my heart

 固 知 一 死 生 為 虛 誕

And so I consider life and death preposterous

齊 彭 殤 為 妄 作

To put life and death on par is preposterous

後 之 視 今

When later generations look now

 亦 猶 今 之 視 昔

It's also like the people now looking into the past

悲 夫

There is sadness

 故 列 敘 時 人

For this reason when I lay out and express people today

 錄 其 所 述

Record what they said

 雖 世 殊 事 異

Though the age is different and events unusual

 所 以 興 懷

What's confined in the heart

其 致 一 也

Their delight is the same

後 之 覽 者

Those of the future who look

 亦 將 有 感 於 斯 文

Will feel these words.

 (tally)

Paradoxical "Paradox"

The formal way to say paradox in Mandarin is "矛盾"。　　It literally translates to "spear shield".

For instance, instead of saying "Serving breakfast for dinner is paradoxical, "Serving breakfast for dinner is spear shield."  (If you serve breakfast food at dinner, it's still dinner!)

Sometimes words in Chinese are too antiquated.

Here's one of the earliest uses of  矛盾：

《韓非子》

Han Feizi

Translated by YoYo

楚人有鬻矛與盾者

Of the State of Chu there one who sold spears and one who sold shields

譽之曰：「吾盾之堅，物莫能陷也。」

[One] boastfully said, "My shield is tough, nothing can penetrate it."

又譽其矛曰：「吾矛之利，於物無不陷也。」

Another boastfully said, "My spear is sharp, there is nothing it can't penetrate."

或 曰："以子之矛陷子之盾，何如？」

Someone said, "With his spear and his shield, what would happen?"

其人弗能應也。

They were unable to answer.

夫不可陷之盾與無不陷之矛,

An impenetrable shield and a spear that can pierce anything,

不可同世而立。

cannot be on earth at the same time.

Mark a Boat to Search a Sword

刻舟求劍

Mark a Boat to Search a Sword

《吕氏春秋. 察今》

Lushi Qunqiu- Cha Jing

Translated by Yoyo

楚人有涉江者，

Of the Chu people there was one who was crossing a river.

其劍自舟中墜於水，

The sword sank into the water from the boat.

遽契其舟曰：

He quickly marked  the boat and said:

「是吾劍之所從墜也。」

This is were my sword sank.

舟止，從其所契者入水求之。

The boat stopped, and from here the one who marked the boat entered the water.

舟已行矣，而劍不行，

The boat moved, but the sword did not.

求劍若此，不亦惑乎？

To retrieve the sword like so, is it also not baffling?

Lala Land

It's the Wednesday hump, and many of you at one point in time today imagined yourself far away.

I imagined myself inside an oak-laqured little room, with my bookcase and calligraphy set.  Large doors face south as I watch my tea farm as sunlight melts away the morning fog.  As my tea leaves awaken the smell of sweet leaves reassure me that this year would be a good harvest.  I slowly drink my morning tea.  This is a good day....

But it's night time after a day of work.  My feet smell like bad blue cheese.  That's right, I need a drink.

Tao Qian 陶潛, famous for his utopia in "The Origin of the Peach Blossom," wrote a lesser known piece on drinking and writing with his friends at home.  Alcohol will be a recurring theme as a blog on with all sorts of drunks (ie emo drunks, sad drunks, blissful drunks, transcendent drunks).

飲酒二十首 序

Drinking 12 Verses:  Preface

陶潛

Tao Qian

余閒居寡歡

My quite house has few pleasures

兼比夜已長

Furthermore the night is getting longer

偶有名酒

If by chance I have rice wine

無夕不飲

There is not an evening where I do not drink

顧影獨盡

I look at my shadow finishing it myself

忽焉復醉

My solitude suddenly ends again

既醉之後

After being drunk

輒題數句自娯

Soon after I write a few phrases to amuse myself

紙墨遂多

There is much to write

辭無詮次

I leave it without order
聊命故人書之

For the time being I beseech my friend to write a letter.

以爲歡笑爾

so that I simply chuckle.

Pulling on Sprouts to Help them Grow

As I stare blankly into the screen, wondering what I could blog with the least effort for something passable, I stumble upon this quaint little parable about not rushing things by Mencius.

Mencius believed that goodness is innate within human nature and that one must cultivate one's goodness to be good.  The individual must have the will to cultivate goodness, just like my lazy behind trying to write a good blog post.

One cannot rapidly change one's nature, but one can certainly quickly translate his parable!

 



揠苗助長

孟子 Mencius (around 4th century BC)

宋人有閔其苗

Of the Song people there was one who worried his sprouts

之不長而揠之者，

would not grow, so he pulled them.

芒芒然歸，

uncertain heading home

謂其人曰：

He said to another person.

“今日病矣，予助苗長矣！”

Today they are sick, I will help them grow!

其子趨而往視之，

This person was in a rush and looked at it,

苗則槁矣。

The sprouts all withered.

Silly Rabbit

As I wait for the number of views on my blog to grow, I can’t help but think of a popular idiom “Waiting by a stump for a rabbit”.  It means you can’t do nothing to wait for opportunity to suddenly appear.  I’m learning that blogging isn’t just about posting your own views, but engaging in other fellow bloggers and commenting on their work as well.

On a side note I was watching Avenue Q last night in West Hollywood with my friends.  There’s a puppet Princeton who wants to find his purpose in life with his BA in English.  Penelope Trunk argues that the perfect career is like 守株待兔. Princeton should get career counseling from Penelope.

Anywho, enjoy this cute story from the Warring States period!



 

守株待兔

Waiting by a stump for a rabbit

韓非子

Han Feizi

宋人有耕田者

Of the Song people there was a farmer.

田中有株

In the middle of the there was a tree trunk.

兔走触株

The rabbit runs into the tree trunk.

折颈而死

It snaps its neck and dies.

因释其耒而守株

Thereupon he let go of his hoe and waited by the trunk,

冀复得兔

wishing to obtain another rabbit.

兔不可复得

Another rabbit does not come,

而身为宋国笑

and he himself is laughable of Song countrymen.

 

 

It sucks to be the farmer.

 

 

Notes on the text:
Often parables in Classical Chinese literature convinced the king to act in certain ways.  In this case I think Han Feizi is warning the king of not acting out some military maneuver.  More primary text on the issue would be helpful.