大學(xué)英語教材西方文化讀本翻譯整理

Unit1根據(jù)傳說,伏羲生于中國西部,出生之前在其母腹中孕育了12年。伏羲教會了人類打獵、捕魚、馴養(yǎng)野獸、飼養(yǎng)家禽。伏羲制定了人類的嫁娶制度,教會人們劈柴取火和烹煮食物;他還通過龜背上的裂紋創(chuàng)立了八卦,這些八卦成為數(shù)學(xué)、醫(yī)學(xué)、占卜學(xué)和風(fēng)水的基礎(chǔ)。此外,伏羲還創(chuàng)造了中華民族的圖騰龍,被認(rèn)為是中國歷史上第一個真正的統(tǒng)治者。FuxiwasborninthewestpartofChinaand,accordingtolegend,hewascarriedinhismother’swombfortwelveyearsbeforebirth.Hetaughtpeoplehowtohunt,fish,domesticateanimalsandtendtheirflocks.Heinstitutedmarriageandtaughtpeoplehowtodevisetoolstosplitwood,kindlefireandcookfood.HedevisedtheTrigrams,whichevolvedfrommarkingsontortoiseshells.Thesetrigramsservedasthebasisformathematics,medicine,divinationandgeomancy.Furthermore,hecreatedtheChinesedragonasthetotemofthenationandwasconsideredasthefirstrealruler.Unit2儒家的創(chuàng)始人是孔子(公元前551—479,他提出了一套道德規(guī)范,基于五種美德:仁、義、禮、智、信。其中“仁”被認(rèn)為是他的哲學(xué)理念的基石,代表著忠誠、孝道(filialpiety、寬容和善良。他還提倡人與人之間和諧相處、按照行為規(guī)范標(biāo)準(zhǔn)建立生活社區(qū)。他的追隨者之一孟子(公元前372-289不斷地向統(tǒng)治者們游說,試圖說服他們修身養(yǎng)德,為人典范,以仁政贏得人民的尊重。Confucius(551—479BCwasthefounderofConfucianism.Headvocatedasetofmoralcodeonbasisoffivemerits:benevolence,righteousness,propriety,wisdomandtrustworthiness.Amongthem,benevolencewasconsideredasthecornerstoneofhisphilosophy,whichstandsforfaithfulness,filialpiety,toleranceandkindness.Healsorequestedpeopletokeepingoodharmonywitheachotherandestablishacommunityruledbystandardmannersandbehavior.Oneofhisfollowers,Mencius(372-289BC,repeatedlytriedtoconvincerulersthattherulershouldcultivatemoralperfectioninordertosetagoodexampletothepeopleandtherulerwhogovernedbenevolentlywouldearntherespectofthepeople.Unit3“送別”是唐詩里常見的主題。通過贈詩給一個即將離別的友人,詩人常常表達(dá)自己的悲傷之情。送別詩里常用的意象(image有音樂、酒和柳枝。音樂是送別儀式必不可少的部分。音樂通常由琵琶等古典樂器演奏,旋律優(yōu)美而悲傷。在這種場合,喝酒也是必要的。也許這是因?yàn)榫颇軌蜃屓说玫桨参?忘卻生活中的煩惱以及與友人離別的愁緒。送別的另一個風(fēng)俗便是為友人送上柳枝。因?yàn)椤傲焙汀傲簟蓖?。通過這種方式,詩人就表達(dá)了讓友人永遠(yuǎn)留下來的愿望?！甈arting’wasacommonthemeinTangpoetry.Bywritingapoemtoafriendwhowasleaving,thepoetusuallyshowedhissorrowandsadness.Imagesfrequentlyusedinapartingpoemincludedmusic,liquorandawillowtwig.Musicwasanimportantsectionofthepartingceremony.Themusic,whichwasoftenmelodiousandsorrowful,wasplayedbytraditionalinstrumentssuchas‘Pipa’.Drinkingliquorwasalsoanecessarypartontheseoccasions.Perhapsitwasbecauseliquorcouldconsolepeopleandhelpthemforgettroublesinlifeandthesadnessofpartingfromafriend.Anothercustomwasgivingawillowtwigtotheleavingfriend,since‘willow’inChinesehasthesamepronunciationofthatof‘stay’.Inthisway,thepoemexpressedhiswishthathisfriendstaywithhimforever.《紅樓夢》(DreamoftheRedChamber是中國文學(xué)“四大名著”之一。它寫于18世紀(jì)中葉,并被認(rèn)為是中國文學(xué)中的杰作(masterpiece以及中國小說史上的頂峰。許多學(xué)者都致力于該作品的研究,而這個研究領(lǐng)域也被稱作“紅學(xué)”(Redology。人們通常認(rèn)為該小說反映了作者曹雪芹自己的經(jīng)歷以及他家族的興衰。該書的優(yōu)秀之處不僅在于它的情節(jié)和人物塑造(characterization,同時也在于它對當(dāng)時社會生活結(jié)構(gòu)的精確、細(xì)節(jié)的描寫。幾個世紀(jì)以來,小說中的許多詞句已經(jīng)融入了中國人的日常語言。由此可見該書經(jīng)久不衰的魅力。ADreamofRedMansionsisoneofthe‘FourGreatClassicalNovels’ofChineseliterature.Itwaswritteninthemiddleofthe18thcenturyandconsideredasamasterpieceofChineseliteratureaswellasthepeakofChinesefiction.Manyscholarsaredevotedtothestudyofthisnovelandthefieldofstudyisknownas‘Redology’.ThenovelisusuallythoughttobereflectingtheexperienceoftheauthorCaoXueqinandtheriseanddeclineofhisownfamily.Itisremarkablefornotonlyitsplotandcharacterization,butalsoitspreciseanddetailedobservationofthelifeandsocialstructuresofthattime.Forcenturies,ahugenumberofwordsandexpressionsfromthenovelhavealreadybeenincorporatedintothedailylanguageofChinesepeople,whichdemonstratestheever-lastingcharmofthebook.Unit41中國古代教育在中國文化中起著舉足輕重的作用。中國古代教育最早可以追溯到周朝中后期諸子百家的教育思想。古代中國的教育給人們提供了一個平等的發(fā)展機(jī)會,即使出身貧寒的人也有可能步入仕途。春秋時期,偉大的教育家孔子打破“學(xué)在官府”的陳規(guī)。私人學(xué)堂盛行。不同的學(xué)派通過學(xué)堂傳播他們的思想主張,出現(xiàn)了百家爭鳴的局面。1EducationplayedavitalroleinancientChineseculture.TheoriginofancientChineseeducationdatesbacktotheeducationalideasofthe“HundredSchoolsofThought”inthemiddleandlateZhouDynasty.Itprovidedpeopleequalchancefordevelopment.Individualsfromeventhehumblestbackgroundscouldrisetohigherlevel.IntheSpringandAutumnPeriod,Confucius,thegreateducator,broketheruleoflearningatthegovernmenthall.Privateschoolsprevailedandmanyscholarsofdifferentschoolsofthoughtspreadtheirteachinginthiswayandthisledtotheflourishingandcontendingofhundredsofschools.2孔子既是教育家又是哲學(xué)家。他的思想理論規(guī)范影響著人們的倫理、道德、生活等方方面面?？鬃铀枷氲奶卣髦皇撬謴?qiáng)調(diào)教育與學(xué)習(xí)。在思與學(xué)的關(guān)系上,他認(rèn)為學(xué)思并重。他認(rèn)為,“學(xué)而不思則罔,思而不學(xué)則殆?！睂鬃觼碚f,道德教育是最重要的。孔子的目的是培養(yǎng)舉止優(yōu)雅、言談得體、遇事周全的謙謙君子。2Confuciuswasaneducatoraswellasaphilosopher.Histhoughtsandtheorieshadimpactonpeopleinmanyaspectssuchasethics,moralprinciplesandrulesoflife.OneofthefeaturesofConfucius’thoughtsishisemphasisoneducationandlearning.Intherelationshipbetweenlearningandthinking,hebelieved.thatlearningandthinkingwereequallyimportant.Hebelievedthat,“Learningwithoutthoughtislaborlost;thoughtwithoutlearningisperilous.”Heconsideredmoraleducationthemostimportant.Confucius’sgoalwastocreategentlemenwhowouldcarrythemselveswithgrace,speakcorrectly,anddemonstrateintegrityinallthings.Unit5沈括是宋朝的著名官員、軍事將領(lǐng)。他的不朽名著《夢溪筆談》(DreamPoolEssays記載了包括地質(zhì)學(xué)、天文學(xué)、活字印刷(movabletypeprinting、植物學(xué)和動物學(xué)等各種學(xué)科。該書是中國歷史上最早使用“石油”這一名稱的著作,為自然科學(xué)做出了卓越貢獻(xiàn)。沈括與當(dāng)時的很多人不同,他以一種客觀而思辨的態(tài)度觀察自然現(xiàn)象。他提出了用陽歷代替陰歷的主張,立春為歲首,大月31天,小月30天。ShenKuowasahighlyrenownedgovernmentofficialandmilitarygeneraloftheSongDynasty.ShenKuo’simmortalmasterpieceDreamPoolEssaysrecordsvariousfieldsofstudyincludinggeology,astronomy,movabletypeprinting,botanyandzoologyetc.Inthebook,theword“shiyou”(petroleumwasusedforthefirsttimeintheliteratureofChinesehistory,whichwashisremarkablecontributiontoscience.Unlikemostpeopleinhistime,ShenKuotookanobjectiveandspeculativeviewpointonnaturalphenomena.Headvocatedthatthesolarcalendarbeusedtoreplacethelunarcalendar,withthirty-oneorthirtydaysamonthand“l(fā)ichun”(“StartofSpring”accordingtolunisolarcalendarasthebeginningofayear.Unit6中國龍是吉祥的生靈,象征著力量、智慧、好運(yùn)和掌控風(fēng)和水的威力。TheChinesedragonisanauspiciouscreature,symbolizingstrength,wisdom,goodluckandpowerovertheelementsofwindandwater.因此,中國人自豪地稱自己是龍的傳人(descendants。Hence,Chinesepeopleproudlyclaimtheyarethedescendantsofthedragon.龍被尊崇為雨神(theGodofRain。在干旱或水災(zāi)發(fā)生時,人們會去當(dāng)?shù)氐凝埻鯊R(dragon-kingtemple燒香(burnincense祈求情況的好轉(zhuǎn)。ThedragonwasworshipedastheGodofRain,andintimesofdroughtorfloods,localswouldvisitadragon-kingtempleandburnincensetoprayformorefavorableconditions.龍對雨水和海浪的控制也和其在12生肖中的地位密切相關(guān)。Thedragon'spowertocontrolrainandwavesisalsocloselyrelatedtoitsrankinthe12zodiacanimals.關(guān)于這12種動物為確保能榜上有名所進(jìn)行的競賽有各種傳說,但順序是按動物最活躍的時間點(diǎn)確定的。Varioustalesdescribetheraceofthese12animalstosecuretheirplaceonthelist,butthesequenceisdeterminedbythetimeofadaywhentheanimalismostactive.龍對應(yīng)于7點(diǎn)至9點(diǎn),此時最有可能會霧氣蒙蒙,而龍卻能騰云駕霧。Thedragoncorrespondsto7amto9am,whenitismostlikelytobefoggy,allowingthedragontorideatopcloudsandmist.Unit7風(fēng)水,字面意即為“風(fēng)和水”,可追溯至中國戰(zhàn)國時期(公元前475-221。Fengshui,literally“windandwater”,datesfromChina’sWarringStatesPeriod(475-221BC.在古代,也被稱為堪輿。Inancienttimes,thepracticewasalsocalledkanyu.按傳統(tǒng),建造房屋、樓群、定居點(diǎn)和陵墓前都要先咨詢風(fēng)水大師。Traditionally,afengshuimasterwasconsultedbeforehouses,buildings,settlementsortombswereconstructed風(fēng)水一度是中國傳統(tǒng)文化中的重要組成部分,它依據(jù)諸如道家和《易經(jīng)》等中國古代哲學(xué)學(xué)說,強(qiáng)調(diào)了人與環(huán)境的和諧共存。BasedonancientChinesephilosophies,includingTaoismandYijing,fengshuiwasonceanimportantpartoftraditionalChinesecultureanditemphasizestheharmoniouscoexistenceofhumansandtheirenvironment.看風(fēng)水的做法從地理、建筑、倫理和預(yù)言等方面,提倡了道家的天、地、人合一的理念。Followingthedisciplinesofgeography,architecture,ethicsandprophecy,thepracticealsopromotestheTaoistprinciplethattheearth,skyandmankindarepartofasinglewhole.風(fēng)水被賦予神秘感。事實(shí)上,古時它是被廣泛應(yīng)用于東方建筑的一種古老藝術(shù)。Fengshuiisconsideredmysterious.Infact,itisanancientartwidelyusedtoorientbuildingsinancienttimes.中國的許多著名的文化名勝,包括北京的故宮,都是按照風(fēng)水原則設(shè)計(jì)的。ManyofChina’swell-knownculturalmonuments(或placesofhistoricinterestandscenicbeauty或scenicspotsandhistoricsites,includingtheForbiddenCityinBeijing,weredesignedusingfengshuiprinciples.風(fēng)水學(xué)對中國社會產(chǎn)生了深遠(yuǎn)的影響并為大眾所接受。FengshuihasaprofoundeffectonChinesesocietyandiswidelyembracedbythepublic.Unit81首都北京是中華人民共和國政治、文化和行政管理的中心,是一個新舊交融、魅力無限的大都市(metropolis。北京作為人類居住地的歷史已超過了3000多年。作為世界上少數(shù)未傍主要河道而建的內(nèi)陸首都之一,北京將自己長期顯赫的歷史歸功于戰(zhàn)略性的地理位置。北京位于北緯39o56',東經(jīng)116o20',雄踞于華北平原(theNorthChinaPlain的最北部;西北部是山西省和內(nèi)蒙古大草原(heInnerMongolianSteppe,東向是渤海(theBohaiSea。1Beijing,asthecapitalcity,isthepolitical,culturalandadministrativecenterofthePeople’sRepublicofChina,aswellasafascinatingmetropolisthatmixestheoldandnew.Beijingasasettlementhasahistoryofmorethan3,000years.Itisoneofthefewinlandcapitalsintheworldthatisnotbuiltbesideamajorriver,whichowesitslongprominencetoitsstrategicgeographicalposition.Beijingissituatedat39o56'NorthLatitudeand116o20'EastLongitude,majesticallyreposingonthenorthmostpartoftheNorthChinaPlain;tothenorthwestlieShanxiProvinceandtheInnerMongolianSteppe,andtowardstheeastistheBohaiSea.2胡同即狹窄的街道或巷子,在中國北方的城市很常見,其中又以北京的胡同最為著名。在北京,很多街區(qū)是這樣形成的:四合院(Chinesequadrangle彼此相連形成胡同,進(jìn)而胡同彼此相連形成街區(qū)。胡同是北京文化要素的代表。由于北京悠久的歷史和六朝古都的地位,幾乎每個胡同都有其軼事趣聞(anecdotes,一些胡同甚至還與歷史事件緊密相關(guān)。與紫禁城、頤和園和天壇所代表的宮廷生活和精英文化(eliteculture相比,胡同反應(yīng)了北京的平民文化。2Hutongsareatypeofnarrowstreetsoralleys,commonlyassociatedwithnorthernChinesecities,mostprominentlyBeijing.InBeijing,manyneighborhoodswereformedbyjoiningoneChinesequadrangle(siheyuantoanothertoformahutong,andthenjoiningonehutongtoanother.HutongsrepresentanimportantculturalelementofthecityofBeijing.ThankstoBeijing’slonghistoryandstatusascapitalforsixdynasties,almosteveryhutonghasitsanecdotes,andsomeareevenassociatedwithhistoricevents.IncontrasttothecourtlifeandeliteculturerepresentedbytheForbiddenCity,theSummerPalace,andtheTempleofHeaven,thehutongsreflectthecultureofgrassrootsBeijingers.8書法作品跟舞蹈藝術(shù)一樣可以展現(xiàn)肢體和動作的美感。相互之間能吸收靈感。張旭,唐代草書(cursive-scriptcalligraphy大家,以韻律獨(dú)特和風(fēng)格豪放而著稱。傳說,他觀舞蹈名家公孫一舞而悟,書法大有長進(jìn)。舞者通過獨(dú)特的節(jié)奏和利落的動作展示了諸如活潑、喜悅、悲傷、憤怒、渴望、需求、勇氣和靈感等多種魅力和和情感。張旭草書、李白詩歌和裴旻劍舞被當(dāng)朝皇帝譽(yù)為三絕。Calligraphicworkscandemonstratethebeautyofboththebodyandmovement,liketheartofdance.Theycanabsorbinspirationfromeachother.ZhangXu,acursive-scriptcalligraphymasteroftheTangDynasty,wasfamousfordistinctiverhythmsandawildstyle.LegendsaysthathemadeswiftprogressinhiscalligraphyafterhegotinspirationfromadanceperformedbythefamousdancerGongsun.Throughdistinctiverhythmsandneatmovements,thedancerdemonstratesvariouskindsofcharmsandemotionssuchasvividness,joy,sadness,anger,aspiration,demand,boldnessandinspiration.Thecursive-scriptcalligraphicworksbyZhangXu,thepoemsbyLiBaiandthesworddancebyPeiMinwerepraisedasthethreewondersbytheemperoroftheirtime.Unit9重視教育和尊敬師長是中國悠久的傳統(tǒng)美德。中國的第一部教育學(xué)專著《學(xué)記》(RecordofLearning提出了“教學(xué)為先”的思想。三千年前的周代,國家設(shè)立了不同規(guī)模不同層次的學(xué)校,由官員兼任教師。春秋時期,孔子開辦了私學(xué),并提出人無論貴賤都有受教育的權(quán)利。對教育的重視決定了教師的地位。中國民間有許多尊師的說法,如“一日為師,終生為父”?，F(xiàn)在,中國還把每年的9月10日定為“教師節(jié)”。Itisalong-standingtraditionalvirtuetovalueeducationandrespectteachersinChina.ThefirstmonographabouteducationinChina,theRecordofLearning,broughtuptheideaof“educationisthetoppriority”.Threethousandyearsago,intheZhouDynasty,thegovernmentsetupschoolsofdifferentscalesandlevelswithofficersasteachers.IntheSpringandAutumnPeriod,Confuciusevenranprivateschoolswithasloganthateveryone,richorpoor,hadtherighttoreceiveeducation.Respectforeducationdeterminesthestatusofteachers.Therearealotofsayingsthatshowrespecttowardsteachers,suchas“Ateacherforadayisafatherforalifetime”.Nowadays,SeptemberthetenthisdesignatedtobetheTeachers’DayinChina.孝順(Filialpiety是中國文化中一個重要的美德,指的是一個人對父母和祖先的尊重。歷史上儒家經(jīng)典作品《孝經(jīng)》(ClassicofXiaoorFilialPiety一直被認(rèn)為是該美德的權(quán)威(authoritative來源。該書介紹了如何利用孝順建立良好的社會。一般而言,孝順是指善待和照顧父母,尊敬父母、支持父母、對父母講禮貌。也指不僅在家對父母在外對他人都要從善,從而為父母帶來好名聲。雖然中國人一直擁有眾多不同宗教信仰,孝順卻幾乎是所有人共同的。Filialpiety,whichisabouttherespectforone’sparentsandancestors,isconsideredakeyvirtueinChineseculture.TheConfucianclassic,ClassicofXiaoorFilialPiety,hashistoricallybeentheauthoritativesourceonthisvirtue.Thebookisabouthowtosetupagoodsocietyusingthefilialpiety.Inmoregeneralterms,filialpietymeanstobegoodtoandtotakecareofone'sparents,toshowrespect,supportandcourtesytoone’sparents.Italsomeanstoengageingoodconductnotjusttowardsparentsbutalsooutsidethehomesoastobringagoodnametoone’sparents.AlthoughtheChinesehavehadadiversityofreligiousbeliefs,filialpietyhasbeencommontoalmostallofthem.Unit10敦煌莫高窟(DunhuangMogaoGrottoes,也稱千佛洞,位于甘肅省敦煌市附近的鳴沙山東路石崖上。它被認(rèn)為是世界上最大最古老的佛教藝術(shù)寶藏。莫高窟的修建始于366年,在唐代達(dá)到鼎盛,但到了元朝才竣工。現(xiàn)存492個窟和1045幅壁畫(mural,以及245座彩繪泥塑(claysculpture和5個唐宋時期的木質(zhì)建筑結(jié)構(gòu)。除此之外,莫高窟還存有大量的橫跨三國到北宋數(shù)個朝代的經(jīng)文(scripture、文獻(xiàn)和繪畫。敦煌莫高窟展示出各類藝術(shù)形式的精華,同時也體現(xiàn)了中西方的藝術(shù)融合。DunhuangMogaoGrottoes,alsoknownastheOne-Thousand-BuddhaGrottoes,arelocatedontheeastern,rockysideofMingshaMountain,nearthecityofDunhuang,GansuProvince.Theyareregardedastheworld'slargestandoldesttreasurehouseofBuddhistart.ConstructionoftheMogaoGrottoesbeganin366andreachedapeakintheTangDynasty,butitwasnotfinisheduntiltheYuanDynasty.Thereare492grottoesand1,045muralsinexistence.Italsofeatures245paintedclaysculptu