Chapter 15 Bo Yang Ba

When I finally finished writing the last word of Bo Yang’s edition and drew a period, I raised my head and stared at the horizontal tube lamp on the desk, which appeared blurry, and I couldn’t help being surprised even myself.More than 9 million words—a masterpiece of nearly 10 million words, from March 1983, when the first word was written, to November this year (1992), when it was completely translated. For ten years, my friends have called my study a "re-education through labor camp", and I am, of course, a typical "re-education through labor prison".Because, on average, every month I have to read at least 40,000 words of original classical Chinese (including punctuation and annotations), write a first draft of about 75,000 words, and submit a proof draft of about 150,000 words. As well as the necessary maps, appendices, and "Tongjian Square" ①.Ten years as one day, no Sunday, no holidays; no cloudy, no sunny.

① "Tongjian Square" is a written talk between Bo Yang and readers appended to each book when Taiwan Yuanliu Publishing House published "Bo Yang Edition·Zi Zhi Tong Jian". During the ten-year labor camp-style writing career, three other vernacular translations came out one after another, and entered the market as a complete book. I arrange them below in the order of their publication: 1,.The Normal University Edition "Tong Jian" was published by Taipei Cultural Book Company in October 1984. 2,.Mingyuan Edition "Tongjian" was published by Mingyuan Publishing House in Taipei in November 1984.

3.The reform version of "Tong Jian" was published by Beijing Reform Publishing House in October 1991. It has been more than 900 years since it was published in the eleventh century until today, and it has lived a peaceful life. However, in the past ten years, four vernacular versions from the same mother body have appeared. Although it is due to fierce commercial competition, it also shows that a This phenomenon: the lifespan of ancient books in classical Chinese has come to an end.In the past, intellectuals traditionally responded to difficult classical Chinese texts by adding annotations or introductions to the original text.Therefore, a long-standing ancient book in classical Chinese can be compiled into several books and become specialized knowledge just by annotating and guiding reading.The problem is that annotations or guides can only prolong Guwen’s breathing and the time Guwen spends in bed, but cannot save her from death.

From the fact that the four versions are popular at the same time, it can be understood that even with the best annotations and beautiful introductions, most intellectuals cannot continue to tolerate classical Chinese, and are eager to establish another direct channel for understanding.Just like falling in love with a beautiful girl, the male protagonist is no longer willing to pass the word through a stammering third party, but wants to talk directly by himself. Modern languages ​​can breathe new life into dead or dying ancient books.Although some people put forward various reasons to oppose the translation of ancient books into modern languages, in fact it is just a few people who want to monopolize the knowledge of ancient books forever and not allow her out of their hands. Nations and nations do harm.

Sima Guang once sighed and said: "After the completion, only Wang Shengzhi borrowed it once, and the others yawned and fell asleep before finishing a page." I was much luckier than Sima Guang. About 20,000 copies have been sold. Among the 20 million people in Taiwan, 57% have never read books and periodicals (I don’t know whether it should be scary or worrying), and among the rest of the reading group, every 280% One out of ten people owns one, which is an extremely high proportion.In mainland China, the number of the first edition of the first volume is as high as 168,000 copies.It is not a martial arts novel, nor is it a popular book, it is a serious official history.Readers include not only elementary school students, but also manual labor workers and housewives who are surrounded by rice noodles and children. This is a great achievement of modern Chinese.

Culture is an organism, and it is especially keenly reflected in language.Japanese ancient books are almost unknown to modern Japanese.Modern Britons regard Old English as an antique.Ancient Chinese classical books are already mummies. If we really love Chinese culture as some people say, we must remove the bandages wrapped around the mummy and give her life again. I don't think everyone can understand classical Chinese, even if he is a senior intellectual in literature and history, so translation has become an irresistible need.I predict that China in the 21st century will be a century of translation, including four major elements:

1,.Foreign language translation into Chinese. 2,.Chinese to foreign languages. 3.Classical Chinese translation into modern languages. 4.Re-translation of the translation. Fifteen years ago, when I was released from prison, I found that many languages ​​spoken before I was imprisoned were no longer understood.My daughter, who is studying in middle school, enthusiastically taught me the popular vocabulary at that time (in the 1980s). However, today, fifteen years later, few people understand it. The pace of progress and growth is so fast.I am confident that Bo Yang's version can replace Sima Guang's version, because I am loyal to the original and to the basic ideas of democracy and equality.But I optimistically estimate that the longest lifespan of the Bo Yang version will only last two hundred years. When the 23rd century comes, there will be re-translations of the language of the 23rd century. This is a healthy humanistic ecology. , Only in this way can valuable ancient books in classical Chinese be handed down forever by constantly removing the old and replacing them with new ones.

, Sima Guang originally wrote it for the emperors, hoping to strengthen their ruling skills, but in fact the emperors did not benefit from it, but the common people benefited from it. When we find that the programs on the political stage overlap with the actions of the characters , we can predict its next plot. However, lessons are not the main function of history. China's pragmatism culture always combines art and academic works with utilitarianism.In fact, the main function of history is to make us identify with the world from which we come, and to have a sense of belonging knowing where we came from.A soul without a sense of belonging cannot continue the cultural inheritance, but becomes a floating object in space.

There are too many records of misery and ugliness, but the "Bible" is Jewish, and there are as many misery and ugliness in it. There are water prisons and hanging trees in American history, and the Tower of London and Bastille Prison in European history. It doesn't affect them The descendants of China are proud of their country and nation, and so are the Chinese. We belong to our own culture, and we have a sacred mission for the future development. We want her to have no stains, only glory, and make tomorrow a brighter future. Significant. I was fortunate to be able to encounter a golden age that has never appeared in Chinese history.If the Bo Yang version has any contribution, please understand that this contribution comes from many friends who have shed tears, blood and sweat in the fight for democracy, openness and equal human rights in this land.May this era continue forever.