Ancient Poetry and Aesthetic Sensibility After Colliding with English

Throughout the long history, differences in environment and culture have given rise to unique cultures in various countries. China, as an ancient civilization with a history of five thousand years, has seen its poetry culture, such as the "Book of Songs," Tang poetry, Song lyrics, and Yuan opera, transition from being exclusive to China to being disseminated abroad. Through translations into various languages, these poems have become more vibrant and lively. How can foreign friends experience the beauty of the poetic mood under the rare words and challenging pronunciations of ancient poetry? Let's explore ancient poetry colliding with English.

From prenatal education to compulsory education in reciting poetry, we can easily discover that ancient poets used concise language and rhythmic structure to maintain the compactness of the poem. Therefore, in the translation and dissemination of ancient Chinese poetry, translators must find the most resonant and fitting words among numerous foreign terms to achieve the cultural transmission effect. Otherwise, a poorly crafted translation will be ineffective or even tarnish the country's culture. Now, let's appreciate an ancient poem colliding with English.

纳兰性德 《菩萨蛮》

窗前桃蕊娇如倦，

东风泪洗胭脂面。

人在小红楼，

离情唱《石洲》。

夜来双燕宿，

灯背屏腰绿。

香尽雨阑珊，

薄衾寒不寒?

Buddhist Dancers

Nalanshinde

Delicate are the peach blossoms before the window,

Tears streaming down the rouge face in the easterly wind.

The person in the small red floor,

Chanting in the most bitter touch of parting sorrow.

The couple swallows lodging for the night,

Their silhouette becomes dimmed on the mid-screen.

The incense burns out in the rain drawing to a close,

And in the thin quilt, are you all right?

In this poem, we see the clever use of "are you all right?" instead of a direct translation of "cold" in the phrase "Are you cold or not?" at the end of the poem. In many cases, literal translations may not convey the translator's understanding of the poem effectively. Translators should not only base their work on the societal context but also on their understanding of the piece to resonate with readers. Under different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, we continuously strive to communicate and progress. From past isolation to present open engagement, translation serves as a bridge and a connector, widely valued across industries. Translation and literature are closely linked in today's open world in China. Gradually, translation has evolved with a purpose: to serve certain entities through reasonable adjustments without altering the overall concept. Ancient poetry represents pure literary exchange and mutual appreciation, reflecting the enduring essence of Chinese culture and the ever-increasing status of the Chinese nation. Perhaps what we leave for future generations is the endless beauty evoked by the collision of Chinese and English words.

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