Lin Shu (ZiQinnan) is a famous translator who does not understand foreign languages in China.
This statement is by no means intended to be like a gimmick, completely realistic. Lin Shu listened to the dictations of ordinary foreign language readers, and immediately organized his own writing. After studying the book, Qian Zhongshu described his speed of translation as "really amazing" and "the next pen is like flying, and the text is not dotted"; even more people at the time described him as "the dictator has not finished his words, but the book has been written on paper, and can limit a thousand words for a while, without a word". Over the years, he translated more than 170 works (mainly novels) and published them alone. With the publication of these works, Lin Shu became a well-known translator. Although this batch of translated works was translated in such an unreliable way as people seem today, it had a great response at that time. Later generations even spoke highly of his exploits: "With Lin Translation, Chinese know that there are foreign novels." "It was he who opened up the world vision of literature in the Chinese literary world, so his exploits in new culture are like Columbus's discovery of the new world..." A group of later new literary masters almost all read his translated works and were affected: Lu Xun, Guo Moruo, Mao Dun, Zhou Zuoren, Zheng Zhenduo, Qian Zhongshu... What an incredible time.
This extraordinary achievement of that year, although it was brilliant for a while, today it is only the subject of researchers or the talk of the public. Due to the extraordinary times in which Lin Shu lived, in the records of literary history, he was a role that did not measure up to the new culture. At that time, Lin Shu, in the hasty face of a fierce and earth-shattering new cultural wave, involuntarily rose up and made difficulties to escort Gu Wen, and as a result, he was severely refuted by Li Dazhao, Qian Xuantong, Liu Bannong, Cai Yuanpei, Lu Xun, Chen Duxiu and others. The new culture finally made great progress, so that in the later writers' pens, Lin Shu only left a conservative and stubborn antagonist image.
Of course, we know that the living conditions of human beings are diverse and complex. The simple qualitative name "hat" is difficult to fully represent all levels of the person. Recently, I read a batch of family letters written by Lin Shu, and I saw a father who tried his best to tell his children all kinds of truths about life and learning. Some of the words, because of the number of times they are emphasized, make people feel a little "nagging", which can reveal the sincere concern of the elderly for the growth of their children. As a famous translator and a conservative of "ancient texts" in the era of the intersection of the old and the new, is there any reference for people today when he talks about people and the content of his compositions?
The family letter is for learning to be an official
In Lin Shujia's letters, there are many talks about people and compositions, sometimes talking separately, often mixing "diligent learning" with self-reliance in life. For the sake of narrative convenience, we try to make a slight distinction, but sometimes we can't avoid quoting them together. In 1911, Lin Shu was nearly sixty years old, and a child, Lin Lu, went out to study, and Lin Shu was concerned and often contacted by letter. One of the letters said that he would buy land in the area of Goose House (now part of Daxing, Beijing). But then he said, "In the end, Tian Is not enough, but he is of good character and studies." There are two, although there is no field, why worry? There are no two, that is, there is a field and a sale. In the society at that time, buying a field was a kind of life guarantee, and Lin Shu told the truth of going beyond, thinking that a person, with character and schooling, could survive. There are fields, poor management, and may also be "sold". Through this truth, I hope that children will read well without distraction.
In 1913, at the age of fourteen or fifteen, Lin Lu went to Qingdao to study. Far from the care of his parents, Lin Shu was extremely worried. In the letter, sometimes there is not much knowledge to talk about, but how to survive and treat others is very subtle and detailed: "People who have sex with each other must always be harmonious." The first is not to be greedy for cheap, that is, to be cheap yourself. It is necessary to know that the world suffers losses, food, money, and money, and it is not okay, but reputation must not suffer losses. The loss of reputation is to listen to others. "Don't be greedy, that is, be cheap yourself." This is probably also Lin Shu's way of dealing with the world. I see many people in life, always unclear at this point, the result is that the small advantages do not take much, but the "reputation" is greatly lost. For children, it is better to be reminded early.
To study in school, an exam is required. In this regard, his father Lin Shu had an instruction: "It is almost the quarterly examination, and my hands are busy. When you first arrive at the academy, it is also inevitable. But don't be in a hurry, but ask for the finish of the roll, don't foul. The rest of the ranks are high and low, and they are long and careful to do it, and they have a perfect day. For a while, there is no need to have a heart of contention with people, and it is necessary to have a foothold in one's own home at all times. Everything has perseverance, and if there is perseverance, everything will be accomplished, and everything will not be accomplished. Another letter specifically said: "When taking the exam, do not take or borrow textbooks to proofread things... Rather be inferior, don't foul, cut! Another letter emphasizes even more: "It is better not to graduate, not to be entrained, and not to borrow manuscripts from others." Cover the person who does not graduate, the sick also, the non-sin also. If you entrain and borrow a manuscript, you will violate the rules of the court, that is, the criminal ear. "Even if you don't do well on the test, you can't cheat and "foul.". Lin Shu has been teaching for many years and knows the behavior of students, but he probably thinks that this is beyond morality, so he gives special instructions.
Another child served as a Zhi County, and Lin Shu also talked about the way of being an official in his family letter: "Er Er is a self-confident official, and when things happen, he comes out with a full spirit, which is impossible." "When a mortal is filled with fullness of breath, he acts with simplicity in the face of great things, and treats small things as if they were fashionable; he who neglects his heart and does not pay attention to the vengeance: this is also the smallest. There are those who are the gates of life and death, and they occasionally use their will, and as for those who have been wronged and implicated in bankruptcy, there are often those who are not careful. ”
The old Yamen had to try and judge the case, involving "life and death", so Lin Shu advised "not to be careless". "Therefore, if you want to be calm and prosperous, you should first be close to the affection." Close lovers, cave people's feelings also. Xu officials must not be sent to the eyes and ears of ..."Officials cannot listen to all the people below (Xu Officials). why? They "change black and white in a disorderly manner: what the inspector intends is not, that is, what is right and wrong; what the inspector intends, what is wrong is what is not." The following people often observe the color of speech, figure out the meaning of the superior, and reflect the matter according to the superior's preference, so they must investigate and study it well. Although Lin Shu is not an official, he can talk about the way and reason of being an official from the perspective of human feelings, and there is still a place where "bystanders are clear".
Experience for learning composition
Lin Shu is a generation of ancient Chinese people, and he has translated works with excellent writing, and of course he has a deep understanding of reading as a text. When the child was studying outside, he admonished: "The way of learning is not to be quick, nor to be dedicated to the name, but always to be realistic." "All things must not be greedy, but only learning together, not tired of the word 'greed'; everything does not have to be disputed, but learning together, it is necessary to 'fight' for the word." Learning must be worked hard and "contended," but it can only be "real" and cannot seek "speed."
Sometimes people read together and talk: "Mortals can respect themselves, and everything must be checked." How about the quarterly exam? When I first entered the hall, I did not dare to look forward to Ru Gaoli; I hoped that Ru could always work hard and have its own achievements. The saints have a constant, 'being a man has a constant degree, and reading without interruption' is also said. How to do it specifically, Lin Shu said: "Now I look forward to Ru, but I also want to get a 'diligent' word." If you can be diligent and self-mature, you will never fall behind. ”“...... Be careful in everything, with hygiene as the first priority, and diligence as the second. Diligent study is not 'one storm and ten cold' is said, and the later generations work hard, often start to be brave, and then slack off later, which is not considered 'diligence'. The 'diligent' person, who has the meaning of perseverance, often refuses to interrupt. Uninterrupted poop is always in the chest, and it is not left behind when taking the exam. This is the truth that everyone knows and says, but it is not easy to do, so Lin Shu "nagged" to emphasize.
Specific to composition, Lin Shu has a broader view. For example, in his letter to his son-in-law, he said: "For wengu is to be, but it is necessary to open up the heart and mind, and to judge the fate of the topic, in order to be sure." If you are thinking of death, and your mind is already in turmoil, then there is an atmosphere of peace? This is to say that although the composition itself is important, first of all, we must be open-minded and calmly face it, so that we can be sure to do a good job. If you are always sick of gain and loss, and your heart is confused first, even if you complete it, it is difficult to make a good article with "clean and harmonious atmosphere". There is a meaning of "kung fu outside the poem", but it is Lin Shu who expresses his own experience.
The weight of the energy distribution
When talking about the content of the book, there is also a point of interest. Although there are many translated works, Lin Shu does not understand foreign languages, but he does not take this as "gain". In his letter to the child, he repeatedly said that he should strive to learn foreign languages: "German and arithmetic are all in their efforts, and the national language stream (Liu) is only available." "German, arithmetic, and so on, with all your efforts, you always have to get an excellent grade." "When you go to the class as usual, always pay attention to foreign languages, take familiarity as the degree, may wish to read more, become more familiar with it, and do not be dazed when you start the exam."
In terms of the allocation of time, Lin Shu is interesting: "If you want to have a Chinese language class in the hall, you can pay attention to study it." I intend to rule the foreign language with 70% of the merit and the Chinese with 30% of the merit. The Chinese text is slightly smooth. However, today it is in foreign language, not in Chinese. This view is that Chinese is generally familiar and easy to learn. The following reality may be the reason why Lin Shu wants the child to use seventy percent of his strength in foreign languages: Ru Dan tried his best to work German, arithmetic and geometry, and the energy of the young man could be used to make a contribution, but if he was a little older, he would not be able to catch up. This should come from Lin Shu's personal feelings.
In addition to the school's German language, the child returned home, and Lin Shu also asked the English teacher to teach reading. "From the first to the fifth, read English all the time at night." "Invite Mr. Yangwen to class this evening, and dinner will be at home." Don't miss it. "English is the most important thing, we must first learn the language and writing, especially conversation." "Return early in the evening to learn English..." The following words can be seen as the purpose of Lin Shu's children to learn foreign languages: "Ru can inherit my ambitions and keep my words, when mian zhi foreign language, there will be a place to eat in the future." "Fang Jinshe Xixue, there is no place to eat... Although Lin Shu became famous for translating and also made a lot of money from translation, he urged his children to practice foreign languages, but mainly for their future livelihood, in order to find a better job, not to inherit his translation career. This is a place to play.
As a scholar of the old era, some of Lin Shu's concepts naturally have their limitations. For example, he has this view of sports: "... Gymnastics is only physically active, rarely active, and has been enough to make up for it, so why force it to do what it can't. Even: "Gymnastics section, German martial spirit." Jumping pole edge, Ru body is not healthy, it is better to laugh at people for its lack of courage, not to be reluctant. After learning is fruitful, jumping poles and other things are left behind, it is okay to be harmless, and the body is conservative. Lin Shu's view of sports represented the concept of many people at that time. Unfortunately, many parents and students still think so today. The content in Lin Shu's family's book is always "nagging", which appears in many places, which shows the mood of being a father. Of course, some other beneficial points, because of the length, can not be recorded. For example, I hope that my son-in-law will travel more to cultivate his heart; in the letter, he also said some of his own deeds, which actually implied lessons. Such a method should be more effective than direct preaching. Unfortunately, I don't know if the child will experience it or not. From today's point of view, Lin Shu has some preaching, which is old-fashioned or even stale, but these are the voices of his father a hundred years ago, and they are the cognition of the world by a person who has done something at that time. In it, we can feel the social and family scenes of the current era, and we can glimpse the inheritance of culture and the extension of history in today's day on the one hand, and at the same time, we can appreciate the pace of social development. This is probably the reason or value of the old man's "nagging" that we might as well hear today.
Original title: "Nagging" in Lin Shujia's Letter
Source: Beijing Evening News Yang Jianmin
Process Editor: L004