To be promised a life in a thriving and prosperous country (昌明隆盛之邦). A rock with a growth mindset.
红楼梦, Chapter 1
In the preface to 红楼梦 we have already been warned by the author/narrator that the origin of the story may seem absurd but that reflection will show that there is more to it than meets the eye. Let’s explore…
You must forgive this HSK-4 level learner for not going through every sentence of the book. We need to learn how to skip. Let’s start skipping forward through David Hawkes’ translation, summarising as we go. The original mission might have been a bit too ambitious. There’s nothing to stop us from adapting.
The target I’ve chosen to skip to is the following passage. I’ve chosen it because I’m curious about what lies behind these single-word translations.
‘Ha, I see you have magical properties! But nothing to recommend you. I shall have to cut a few words on you so that anyone seeing you will know at once that you are something special. After that I shall take you to a certain
brilliant
successful
poetical
cultivated
aristocratic
elegant
delectable
luxurious
opulent
locality on a little trip.’
What happens in between this passage and the first sentence of the preface, which we painstakingly went through previously, co-piloted by our LLM friend?
So, once upon a time, the goddess Nüwa was repairing the sky with melted rocks. She turned the melted rocks into 36501 building blocks. She left one of the rocks unused and it lay lonely on “Greensickness Peak.” Having been formed by a goddess, the rock had (maybe still has) special powers, including the ability to move and transform itself. It also had consciousness, and the ability to feel shame. It felt shame because it had not been used.
One day a monk and a Daoist priest (一僧一道) arrived in the area, chatting and laughing(说说笑笑) and engaged in discussion about otherworldly and worldly subjects. Listening to them speak about the human world, the stone began longing for it. So it spoke up, asking the two fellows to take it with them to the human world. The rock had what we would now call “a growth mindset.”
In the translation the stone shrinks itself to the size of a “fan-pendant” whereas in the original there is some detail about how the monk transforms the stone. This act of transformation is interesting in itself. The text at this point is full of inline comments by 脂砚斋 (Zhī Yànzhāi).1
And then, if I’m not mistaken, we get to the original version of the translated passage quoted at the beginning:
然后携你到那昌明隆盛之邦,【甲侧:伏长安大都。】诗礼簪缨之族,【甲 侧:伏荣国府。】花柳繁华地,【甲侧:伏大观园。】温柔富贵乡【甲侧:伏紫芸轩。 】去安身乐业。”【甲侧:何不再添一句“择个绝世情痴作主人”?甲眉:昔子房后谒 黄石公,惟见一石。
Before we go through the translation with our LLM friend, let’s visualise how the stone might be imagining its upcoming trip.
This seems an attractive place. If I were a conscious rock on Greensickness Peak I can imagine longing to join in. Maybe LLMs are a bit like rocks on Greensickness Peak?
Let’s return to the original text. The monk evokes the human world to which he will take the stone. Translation, pinyin, and commentary courtesy of Sam Altman and his band of merry coders.
Original: 然后携你到那昌明隆盛之邦,
Pinyin: Ránhòu xié nǐ dào nà chāng míng lóng shèng zhī bāng,
Translation: Then I will take you to that prosperous and flourishing nation,
Commentary: This line depicts a future journey to a prosperous place. "然后 (ránhòu)" means 'then', and "携你到 (xié nǐ dào)" translates as 'take you to'. The phrase "昌明隆盛之邦 (chāng míng lóng shèng zhī bāng)" is a classical, literary expression for a thriving and prosperous country.
Original: 【甲侧:伏长安大都。】
Pinyin: 【Jiǎ Cè: Fú Cháng'ān Dàdū.】
Translation: 【Aside: Referring to the great capital, Chang'an.】
Commentary: This aside (甲侧 Jiǎ Cè) provides a hint from the narrator or commentator, suggesting that the 'prosperous nation' refers to Chang'an, an ancient Chinese capital known for its cultural and historical significance.
Original: 诗礼簪缨之族,
Pinyin: Shī lǐ zān yīng zhī zú,
Translation: A family renowned for poetry and propriety,
Commentary: The phrase describes a family esteemed for its literary and cultural accomplishments. "诗 (shī)" means 'poetry', and "礼 (lǐ)" refers to 'rituals' or 'propriety'. "簪缨 (zān yīng)" were traditional hairpins and tassels worn by scholars, symbolizing their status.
Original: 【甲侧:伏荣国府。】
Pinyin: 【Jiǎ Cè: Fú Róngguó Fǔ.】
Translation: 【Aside: Alluding to the Rongguo Mansion.】
Commentary: The aside suggests that the "family renowned for poetry and propriety" refers to the Rongguo Mansion, a significant place in the novel, representing wealth and prestige.
Original: 花柳繁华地,
Pinyin: Huā liǔ fán huá dì,
Translation: A place of blooming flowers and willows, bustling and splendid,
Commentary: "花柳 (huā liǔ)" literally means 'flowers and willows', often used metaphorically to describe a place of beauty and vibrancy. "繁华 (fán huá)" means 'bustling' or 'splendid', indicating a lively and prosperous area.
Original: 【甲侧:伏大观园。】
Pinyin: 【Jiǎ Cè: Fú Dàguān Yuán.】
Translation: 【Aside: Hinting at the Grand View Garden.】
Commentary: This comment links the "place of blooming flowers and willows" to the Grand View Garden, a central location in the novel known for its luxury and beauty, reflecting the opulence and elegance of the upper classes.
Original: 温柔富贵乡【甲侧:伏紫芸轩。】
Pinyin: Wēn róu fù guì xiāng【Jiǎ Cè: Fú Zǐ Yún Xuān.】
Translation: The gentle and wealthy land【Aside: Referring to the Ziyunxuan.】
Commentary: "温柔富贵乡 (wēn róu fù guì xiāng)" is a poetic way to describe a place of gentleness, wealth, and luxury. The aside “伏紫芸轩 (Fú Zǐ Yún Xuān)” indicates that this description refers to Ziyunxuan, a location within the Grand View Garden, known for its elegance and romantic associations.
Original: 去安身乐业。
Pinyin: Qù ān shēn lè yè.
Translation: To reside and enjoy your pursuits.
Commentary: The phrase "安身乐业 (ān shēn lè yè)" means to live peacefully and happily engage in one's pursuits or occupation. It concludes the passage with a vision of an ideal life, combining both tranquility and fulfillment.
Our literary co-pilot now analyses the set of one-line translations more directly.
David Hawkes' Translation:
brilliant
successful
poetical
cultivated
aristocratic
elegant
delectable
luxurious
opulent
Original Chinese Text:
昌明隆盛之邦 (chāng míng lóng shèng zhī bāng)
诗礼簪缨之族 (shī lǐ zān yīng zhī zú)
花柳繁华地 (huā liǔ fán huá dì)
温柔富贵乡 (wēn róu fù guì xiāng)
Direct Comparison:
"昌明隆盛之邦" encompasses both "brilliant" and "successful". "昌明 (chāng míng)" directly translates to "flourishing and bright" (brilliant), and "隆盛 (lóng shèng)" means "prosperous and thriving" (successful).
"诗礼簪缨之族" is a bit more complex:
"诗 (shī)" translates to "poetry", aligning with "poetical".
"礼 (lǐ)" refers to "rites" or "propriety", which could be interpreted as "cultivated".
"簪缨 (zān yīng)" refers to traditional hairpins and tassels worn by scholars, indicating an "aristocratic" status.
"花柳繁华地" can be dissected as:
"花柳 (huā liǔ)" literally means "flowers and willows", often symbolizing beauty and grace, thus aligning with "elegant".
"繁华 (fán huá)" means "bustling and splendid", which could be interpreted as "delectable" and "luxurious".
"温柔富贵乡" involves:
"温柔 (wēn róu)" literally means "gentle and tender", but in this context, it could metaphorically imply "luxurious" due to the connotations of comfort and gentleness.
"富贵 (fù guì)" directly translates to "wealth and nobility", closely aligning with "opulent".
Which of the translations are a direct match, which are interpretative?
Direct Match: The terms "brilliant" and "successful" are very close in meaning to "昌明" and "隆盛". Similarly, "poetical" directly relates to "诗", and "aristocratic" to "簪缨". These translations are quite literal, directly reflecting the original meanings.
Interpretation:
The word "cultivated", used for "礼", is a more interpretive choice. While "礼" does mean rites or propriety, "cultivated" in English conveys a broader sense of being refined or well-educated, which is an interpretive extension of the original meaning.
"Elegant", "delectable", and "luxurious" for "花柳繁华地" are more interpretative. "花柳" (flowers and willows) symbolizes beauty and grace but doesn't directly translate to "elegant". "繁华" means bustling or splendid, which is close to "delectable" and "luxurious" but these English words add layers of enjoyment and opulence that are more interpretive.
The translation of "温柔富贵乡" to "luxurious" and "opulent" is also interpretative. While "温柔" does carry connotations of comfort and gentleness, translating it as "luxurious" adds a layer of indulgence. "富贵" (wealth and nobility) aligns well with "opulent", yet "opulent" emphasizes lavishness and abundance.
I think the skip-reading approach is a success. We’re finding our stride. Where shall we skip to next?
In one comment during the transformation process, 脂砚斋 (Zhī Yànzhāi, see here for background) comments: “一日卖了三千假,三日卖不出一个真” (One can sell three thousand fakes in a day, but not a single truth in three days). ChatGPT 4.0 analyses the proverb and the wider meaning of some of the commentary as follows.
Context of the Proverb:
The proverb is introduced by 脂砚斋 in a critical commentary, highlighting a cynical view of society where falsehood is prevalent and truth is scarce.
This aligns with the broader themes of "红楼梦" which often explore the discrepancy between appearance and reality, the facade of societal values, and the elusive nature of truth.
Implications for the Story:
The proverb's placement in the narrative, following the transformation of the stone, underscores the illusory nature of the stone's value. Though it becomes a precious jade, its worth is artificial, a creation of magic, not of inherent value.
脂砚斋’s commentary serves as a meta-narrative, prompting readers to question the nature of value and truth not only within the story but in their own perceptions and societal norms.
Further Commentary by 脂砚斋:
The remarks about people believing in what they see ("世上人原自据看得见处为凭") and the critique of superficial value ("金玉其外,败絮其中") extend this theme. They suggest that society often fails to discern true value, being easily deceived by external appearances.
The suggestion to engrave numbers on the jade, making it seem unique and valuable, is a critical observation of how artificial enhancements can manipulate perception, further blurring the line between real and fake.