一个大人物的心灵世界(节选)
文/唐浩明
【1】十几年前,随着《曾国藩全集》和以曾国藩为主人公的文学作品的出版,一个一度曾经改变历史走向的人物,仿佛一件稀有文物被发掘出土似的,立时引起国人的广泛兴趣:官场士林、商界军营乃至市井百姓,一时间都以谈论曾氏为博雅为时髦。此风亦波及海外华人世界,华文媒体也争相介绍这位早已被遗忘的曾文正公。
【2】中国近代史上叱咤风云的人物岂止千百,为何此人能得到众多领域和层次的关注:似乎只要是中国人,谁都可以从他身上说点什么!看来,这就不仅仅是出于个人经历的传奇性,而是此人身上有着民族和文化的负载。
【3】当今的时代,是一个全球经济一体化的时代,西方文化仗着经济实力的强大,正在向全世界各个角落风卷残云般扑来,大有排斥、压倒一切文化的势头。曾经创造过五千年灿烂文明的中国文化,在如此形势下如何立足,它究竟还有没有存在的必要,中华民族还需要它的哺育吗?它还有发展的可能吗?这些原本不是问题的问题,如今似乎已成了有识之士的困惑。
【4】曾氏被公认为中国近代最后一个集传统文化于一身的典型人物,人们对他的关注和兴趣,正好给我们以启示:处在变革时期而浮躁不安的中国人,依然渴求来自本族文化的滋润,尤其企盼从这种文化所培育出的成功人士身上获取某些启迪。这启迪,因同源同种同血脉的缘故,而显得更亲切,更实用,也更有效。
【5】此事给我们这批从事中国文化工作的人以振奋,它使我们增加了信心,看到了未来的前途。
【6】然而,中国文化既博大精深,又浩繁芜杂,在眼下信息爆炸竞争激烈的时代,机遇良多,一刻千金,人们再也没有往日田园般宁静的心境和经年累月足不出户闭门读书的悠闲。如何让忙于事功者领略中国文化的智慧呢?笔者认为,对于有志于此的人来说,不妨试用一法:在一段时间内将注意力集中到一个有代表性的人物身上,将他看透研深,再由此一人而去领悟全体。佛家说一叶一菩提,一花一世界,古人说一经通而百经通,说的都是这个意思。
【7】曾国藩便是中国文化的代表人之一,无论从哪个角度来看他,都有值得借鉴之处。比如说,作为一个个体生命,他以病弱之躯在短短的六十年里,做了如许多的事情,留下如许多的思考,他的超常精力从何而来?作为一个头领,他白手起家创建一支体制外的团队,在千难万险中将这支团队带到成功的彼岸,此中的本事究竟有哪些?作为一个父兄,一生给子弟写信数以千计,即便在军情险恶、随时都有生命危险之际,仍对子弟不忘殷殷关注、谆谆教诲。他的这种非同寻常的爱心源于何处?作为一个国家的高级官员,在举世昏昏不明津渡的时候,他能提出向西方学习徐图自强的构想,并在权力所及的范围内加以实施。他的这种识见从何产生?所有这些,都是值得今人仔细琢磨的课题。
(选自《唐浩明评点曾国藩家书》前言,唐浩明评点,岳麓书社,2002)
The Inner World of a Great Man (Excerpt)
By Tang Haoming
Trans. by Fu Baiyu (符白羽)
【1】A dozen years ago, the publication of The Complete Works of Zeng Guofan and literary works with Zeng as the protagonist immediately sparked a nationwide interest in a man who once changed the course of Chinese history, as if a rare cultural relic had been unearthed. Very soon, to say something about Zeng Guofan began to be viewed as cultured as well as fashionable among officials, scholars, businesspeople, soldiers, and even ordinary folks. The enthusiasm was also embraced by Chinese people living abroad, with overseas Chinese media competing to introduce Zeng Guofan, who had long since passed into oblivion, though given a posthumous title “Wenzheng” (literally meaning “literary uprightness”, the highest honor ever conferred on a late civil official).
【2】Of countless figures who wielded enormous influences in modern Chinese history, what is it that makes Zeng Guofan stand out to gain attention from a wide spectrum of people? It seems that something can always be said about him by any Chinese. It is attributable not only to his legendary experiences, but more importantly, to the fact that he was somewhat the embodiment of the characteristics of traditional Chinese nation and Chinese culture.
【3】In an era of global economic integration, Western culture, on the strength of economic power, is sweeping across every corner of the world, putting other cultures under threat of being overwhelmed and even superseded. Under such circumstances, how can Chinese culture, which has remained glorious for five thousand years, hold its ground? Can it justify its existence? Will the Chinese nation still need to rely on it for moral perfection? Is it possible for traditional Chinese culture to develop any further? People of vision are now struggling to find answers to these questions that never arose in the past.
【4】Zeng Guofan is generally acknowledged as the last representative of traditional culture in modern Chinese history. The revived interest in him shows that, somewhat restless though we are in a time of transformation, many Chinese are still longing for the nourishment of domestic culture. What we aspire for more than anything else is to be inspired by successful people bred in this culture. Sharing the Chinese ancestry with them, we feel a close affinity for their edifying examples which, in turn, work better on us.
【5】The general interest in Zeng Guofan is indeed a great encouragement for all of us who are dedicated to Chinese culture: we are thus more confident about a promising future.
【6】Nevertheless, Chinese culture is profoundly sophisticated. Besides, an era characterized by information explosion and keen competition renders even a minute too valuable to be wasted while offering ample opportunities. Gone are the days when people had an idyllically tranquil mood and the leisure to read in seclusion for months or even for years. Then, how can those who are occupied seeking quick results today truly appreciate the wisdom of Chinese culture? In my view, it is advisable for a willing mind to try the following approach: concentrate on a representative figure for a period of time, make a thorough study of him, and then apply the knowledge of him or her to understanding other historical figures. Buddhism has it: It is a wisdom to see a bodhi tree in a leaf and a world in a flower, just the way the ancient Chinese people advocated that the fundamental knowledge about the segment is always the key to understand the whole.
【7】As one of the representatives of Chinese culture, Zeng Guofan is a constant source of inspiration from different perspectives. For all his short lifespan of sixty years and frail health as an individual of flesh and blood, he accomplished so many achievements, and left behind a wealth of thinking. Where did his extraordinary energy come from? As a leader, he started from scratch to create a team independent of the royal court and led it to an ultimate success after tiding over all sorts of dire straits. What were the strategies he employed? As a father and an elder brother, he wrote more than a thousand letters to his children and younger brothers. Even in treacherous military situations with dark clouds of death hanging overhead, he never stopped showing his warm concern for his children and brothers and giving them earnest instructions. What were the motivations for his untiring devotion? When many of his contemporaries were living in a fog of ignorance, uncertain about where the future lay, as a high-ranking official, he proposed the idea to learn from the West with a view to building up the strength of the nation, and put his idea into practice within the best of his capacity. How did this foresight come into being? All these questions call for careful study on the part of today’s people.
(From the Preface to Tang Haoming’s Review of Zeng Guofan’s Family Letters, by Tang Haoming, Yuelu Publishing House, 2002)
译文一:his canonized name
译文二:his posthumous title
译文三:Wenzheng, a term used to highly summarize the life of a historical figure, and this title represents the fact that Zeng Guofan was highly respected and admired by the literati.
译文四:Wenzheng Gong is a posthumous title given to highly talented scholars.
【相关阅读】
翻译大赛|第十三届“中南大学—《英语世界》杯”翻译大赛获奖名单
翻译大赛|第十三届“中南大学—《英语世界》杯”翻译大赛英译汉组参考译文及点评
翻译大赛|第十三届“中南大学—《英语世界》杯”翻译大赛英译汉组一等奖译文
购买或咨询可直接联系客服
长按图中二维码
识别后下滑到底部可找到客服微信