Chapter 2 Foreword

Foreword① Lou Shiyi ① This article was originally the "back of the book" of "Akutagawa Ryunosuke's Eleven Novels" (1980), Hunan People's Edition, with slight abridgement. From April to June 1976, I translated eleven short stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa. Everyone knows what year 1976 was and what day it was in April.The night was, as usual, especially dark and cold as day drew to a close.That’s when I was given special care by “aunty, old and weak”. It has been almost three years since I came home from a cadre school where I received “re-education”, which is almost the same as reform through labor. In these three years, I have studied for three years.Originally, when I returned to my dilapidated hometown, most of the books were lost, and I was already "empty". At last, the classic works of Marxism-Leninism were not touched, so I tried my best to read "Das Kapital". Unfortunately, I couldn't even take notes. I will copy excerpts, thinking that I have understood it, but actually I still don't understand it.A person who is used to pen and ink, just reads, does not use pen, as if he has not worked all day and goes to bed at night, he feels "vain", and he is a bit sorry for the "millet" of the people.There are a few friends who can't draw a clear line between me and sometimes come and go. Seeing that I am free, they all persuade me to write some memories, but I have a "hat" on my head and a "burden" on my back, and my family and grandchildren are all affected. There is no monument to stand, no regrets to confess, I just can't write a single word.Mr. Lu Xun said that if you can't create, then translate.Translation is also my old profession, but the foreign language books have long been empty, not because they were taken away as crimes of feudal capitalism, and even my own family members sold them to second-hand collectors to make pulp in paper mills. up.At the beginning, I managed to borrow a six-volume "Manyoshu" with annotations. I was so cruel that I wanted to understand this Japanese national treasure, a comprehensive collection of ancient poetry, but I spent more than half a year reading it. The book is four thousand and five There are more than a hundred poems, and only seventy or eighty poems have been translated with great difficulty. Not only should I retreat from difficulties, but I also don't have much interest.After all, I was a little familiar with modern literature. I borrowed a copy of "Akutagawa Ryunosuke Collection" from my friend Huang Yuan, and I was very interested in reading it, so I started to translate Akutagawa's short stories.

Akutagawa Ryunosuke (1892-1927), the short-lived "ghost" in modern Japanese literature, I have always liked a little bit, and the reunion of old friends is very kind.He is a writer full of talent, rich in learning, profound in thought, high in character, clear in writing, and quite skilled in artistic refinement.In his extremely short creative career, he left a very valuable property for Japanese literature, with more than 140 works, except for a few novellas, all of which are short stories.In the early and middle stages of his creation, he wrote many historical short stories. The novel themes and profound ideas are indeed unique in Japanese literature. With his royalties, the annual "Akutagawa Award" was established, and many new literary talents were sent out.

In 1914, he co-founded the literary journal "New Trends of Thought" with his friends, and published his first novel "Old Age". A disciple of Natsume Soseki, a great master of the generation, he was appreciated by Soseki and devoted himself to his creative career.In 1916, he published a short story in "New Trends of Thought", and Soseki said to him: "If you write ten more such works, you will become a distinctive writer not only in Japan, but also in the world literary world." In the next few years, his creative power was exceptionally strong, his artistic practice improved day by day, and he published three short story collections in a row: , "Tobacco and Demons", and "The Puppet Master", and became a master of the party.However, due to the progress of the times and the fierce social struggle, the dark side of doubt, hesitation and neuroticism in his thinking became more and more intense, and these were reflected in some of his later works.As a result of wandering thoughts, I finally bid farewell to this world at the age of thirty-five, in July 1927, at my own home, taking a large amount of sleeping pills, but the rescue failed.

In the discussions after his death, some people compared him to the politician and novelist Gauis Petronius Arbiter?-65 of the ancient Roman Empire. The fetal movement of the new era, but I feel that I can't keep up.So, he took the road of self-destruction. I have read some of this writer's works, but they are not comprehensive, nor have I done any in-depth research. However, some short stories on historical themes written by him in the early and mid-term have attracted me deeply.Just after the April 5th Movement in Tiananmen Square, I was living behind closed doors. As my daily lessons, or as a means of escaping reality and pain, I chose my favorite titles and rewrote Feng The woman, taking care of her old work, started to translate.A person who is used to pen and ink, has been forced to stop for a long time, and sees that the manuscript paper written by himself is gradually accumulating, and first of all, he has gained the joy of labor.Besides, Akutagawa not only enriched my daily life at that time, making me go to bed every night, feeling that the day was not wasted, but this job actually saved me once.It turned out that I did not participate in the April 5th Movement, but on April 1st, a young friend who often came to my house to chat told me how lively Tiananmen Square was, with wreaths covering the sky, white flowers stretching as far as the eye can see, and poems all over the walls. , and the big elegiac couplet flying in the sky.Impulsive after hearing this, I immediately picked up my crutches and went to the square once with this little friend.Among the solemn and solemn ranks of young people, they have been squeezed to the high platform of the Monument to the People's Heroes.I did go there once, but I didn't tell my family when I got home.In fact, I found out later that during the past few days, everyone in the family, including my wife and children around me, went to the square and copied poems and elegiac couplets.But the rumors became tighter, and someone was chasing people who had been to the square and the poems they copied privately.There are many people who are promoted to generals because of this.And I, a bad old man who lives behind closed doors, was honored to be visited by someone who asked me what I was doing at home?I hurriedly made tea and lighted cigarettes, received them warmly, and explained that I was doing some old things for entertainment.They saw that my desk was indeed full of a pile of thick reference books and a stack of written manuscript paper, so they seemed to pick it up casually, flipped through it, and praised me for being so hardworking at such an age, and I was praised , bid farewell and left.I continued to translate boldly and confidently.

I clearly know that these gentlemen and wives cannot grow a rabbit's tail, but one must be patient, and the other is to live a long life, and one day they will suffer until that time.But the purpose of translation is not to prepare for the day of publication in the future.In order to "have fun alone, it is better to have fun with others", I also asked someone to engrave a stamp called "Seal of Ersan Bookstore".That is to use two pieces of carbon paper, copy three pieces of manuscript paper, bind them into a book, and invite two or three family members, as well as two or three friends who do not draw a line with me and still keep in touch with me, to be my readers , It can also be regarded as "having fun with everyone".This "Akutagawa Ryunosuke's Eleven Novels" is one of the publications of this "Two Three Books".However, when it got out, it was read again and again, and it became so popular that I didn't even have a copy on hand.

First of all, Mr. Lu Xun had already translated it (1923 "Translations of Modern Japanese Novels"). When I re-translated, I learned a lot from Mr. Lu Xun's translation.Mr. has also translated Akutagawa, and may be the first to introduce Akutagawa.Later, he said that he wanted to introduce some of Akutagawa's later works, but he couldn't achieve it due to frequent battles.I remember that there was a book called "Akutagawa Ryunosuke Collection" published by Kaiming Bookstore before liberation, but I can't remember the content for a while. Secondly, here is an article "The Death of a Fengjiao", the original work is a pseudo-ancient book, and it is all written in classical Chinese. I will imitate it and imitate Lin Qinnan's style of writing.Lin Qinnan didn't know foreign languages, so he relied on oral interpretation to write his written descriptions. However, his translations seemed to be re-created, expressive and expressive, and his words were smooth, with his own characteristics. I can’t buy his translated books anymore, but many of us who are elderly have loved reading since we were young. I’m the lady of the maidservant here, and I want young readers to have a taste of the strange flavor, so that they won’t be deceived by the reactionary and retro style. If you don't think so, take me to Lin Pai.

Suzhan Mingzun is a rebellious son of the god Amaterasu in mythology, and he is the male life of Hashisuza in the "Koshiki" translated by Zhou Qiming.What happened to him in his old age is not mentioned in the language of God, and it is probably the author's artistic creation.A rebellious son who disobeyed his father and brother since he was a child will also be resisted by his own children when he grows old.As long as the author does not let the ancients speak modern language, or write the heroes of the ancient peasant uprising as today's Marxists, historical novels certainly allow the author the right to express his artistic imagination.For example, "A Picture of Autumn Mountains" is written about real people in Chinese art gardens, but readers can judge for themselves whether the content is true or not, without the translator's explanation. Both "Reckless Congzhong" and "Repaying Gratitude" are about robbers. The former tells a twists and turns of a rape and murder incident in the form of the parties' confessions and testimonies in court, with concise and fascinating techniques.The latter writes that a prodigal son is willing to die on his own behalf in order to repay the kindness of the righteous thief and the drama thief for saving his family, which is also extremely touching.

The arrogance and extravagance of the slave owners and the tragic fate of the slaves are written with bloody and tragic pen and ink, which makes people feel thrilling. In "Ah Fu's Chastity", in order to save the life of a cat, Ah Fu is ready to sacrifice his virginity.However, the poor noble princess in "Princess of the Six Palaces" can only be a parasitic grass, and finally falls into the ending of the dead body. "Playing Samadhi" is about the life of Takizawa Makoto, the author of the famous Japanese book "The Legend of the Eight Dogs" in his later years at the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It vividly reflects the image of civil society at that time, which is acceptable to the elderly today. To get some education, just like Ma Qin's little grandson warned his grandfather, as an old man, one must work hard; two, don't get angry all the time;The average age of modern people is increasing day by day, and there are many old people. These three points can be used as the motto of the old people.

The last article describes the quarrel between Tolstoy and Turgenev, which is proved by the memories of Tolstoy's eldest son, which is an interesting true story. This brief introduction of mine may not be read by those who have read the whole book, but some readers like to read the preface and postscript first, and then read the main text. Maybe readers read it first, so it is not a superfluous introduction.As for different opinions, it is up to the readers to understand, so there is no need to talk too much.What I really want to say here is that the article is wrong about the process of translating this book, and take the opportunity to show credit for Lin Biao's "Gang of Four".For the modernization of the country, stability and unity are the most important. Some grievances and grievances should be forgotten, but those ten years of catastrophe must be remembered forever, and we will never let it happen again!