世新中文 ‧ 中國文學名著英譯選讀教室

Thoughts upon Student Huang’s Borrowing of books

Yüan Mei (1716-1797)

The student, Huang Yün-hsiu, asked to borrow some books from me and I, the master of Sui Garden, gave them to him with the following admonition:

Now the written language is the foundation of classical learning, the source of kingly government. It is what the former generations relied on to transmit culture to later ages and what men of later times rely on to understand antiquity. Therefore it is said: “When the foundation is established, the Way grows;” and “When you know all under heaven that is extremely obscure, you cannot be confused.”

Noe I have arranged the small seal graphs together with ancient Chou graphs. I have broadly adopted from those who understand the small and the great, from those who are believable and have proof, and I preserve and explain their opinions.

In order to classify all kinds of things of and correct mistakes, and to state clearly to wise scholars the subtle meanings, I have divided the graphs into groups, so as not to confuse them with each other. The myriad things can be found here, and nothing has been omitted. If some meanings are not clear, then I explain with example.

I follow the interpretations in the text of the Changes preserved by Meng Hsi, the Documents by K’ung An-kuo, and the Odes by Mao Kung. As to texts on ritual, I have used that of the chou officials, and I took Tso’s commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals. I also used the Analects and the Classic of Filial Piety. In each case I used the ancient text. That with which I am not familiar I omitted.

Translated by K. L. Them