Critical Overview of Chinese Literature 2023

Translation Exercises

Song Poems: Su Shi's Fu

赤　壁　賦 蘇　軾 【說明】蘇軾被貶在黄州（今湖北黄岡市）任團練副使期間，曾兩次到黄州城外的赤鼻磯（一名赤壁）遊覽，寫了兩篇“赤壁賦”，這裏選的是前一篇。他還寫了一首詞《念奴嬌·赤壁懷古》。在賦和詞中，蘇軾都是把赤鼻磯當作三國時周瑜大破曹軍的赤壁（在今湖北蒲圻市西北長江南岸）來寫的。本文表現了蘇軾的豁達樂觀的精神，同時也反映了他對現實不滿的心情。文中雖然也用了一些對句和韻語，但並不顯得鋪排。運筆自然，文辭優美，是唐宋時期文賦中一篇優秀的代表作。

壬戌之秋，七月既望，蘇子與客泛舟，遊於赤壁之下①

。清風徐來，水波不興，舉酒屬客，誦明月之詩，歌窈窕之章②
。少焉，月出於東山之上，徘徊於斗牛之間③
。白露橫江，水光接天④
。縱一葦之所如，凌萬頃之茫然⑤
。浩浩乎如馮虚御風，而不知其所止⑥
，飄飄乎如遺世獨立，羽化而登仙⑦
。

注　　釋 ①　壬戌：指宋神宗元豐五年（公元1082年）。　七月既望：這裏指七月十七日。既：副詞，在……過去之後，已經。望：陰曆小月的十五日，大月的十六日。　蘇子：蘇軾自稱。　泛舟：乘船。 ②　屬（zhǔ）：屬望，這裏是敬酒的意思。　明月之詩：可能指《詩經·陳風·月出》。　窈窕之章：可能指《月出》篇的第一章。其中有“舒窈糾兮”一句。“窈糾”念yǎojiǎo，與“窈窕”音近。 ③　少焉：不多時，過了一會兒。　斗牛：指斗宿、牛宿。 ④　白露：指白茫茫的水氣。 ⑤　縱：任，聽憑。　一葦：指小船。《詩經·衞風·河廣》：“誰謂河廣，一葦杭之。”“杭”是渡的意思。“一葦”比喻船很小，像一片葦葉。　如：往。　凌：越過。　萬頃：形容水面的廣大。　茫然：指寬闊得看不到邊際的江面。這裏形容詞用作名詞。 ⑥　馮（píng）虚：憑空。馮：通“憑”。　御風：駕風。《莊子·逍遥遊》：“夫列子御風而行，泠然（輕妙的樣子）善也。” ⑦　遺世：脱離人世。遺：棄。　羽化：像長出羽翼一樣地變化，指成仙。《抱朴子·對俗》：“古之得仙者，或身生羽翼，變化飛行。”　登仙：指飛升仙境。

【押韻】間：删韵；天、然、仙：先韻。删先合韻。

於是飲酒樂甚，扣舷而歌之①

。歌曰：“桂櫂兮蘭槳，擊空明兮泝流光②
；渺渺兮予懷，望美人兮天一方③
。”客有吹洞簫者，倚歌而和之④
。其聲嗚嗚然，如怨如慕，如泣如訴；餘音嫋嫋，不絕如縷⑤
，舞幽壑之潛蛟，泣孤舟之嫠婦⑥
。

注　　釋 ①　舷（xián）：船邊。 ②　桂櫂（zhào）蘭槳（jiāng）：桂樹做的櫂，木蘭做的槳。櫂：槳一類的摇船器具。屈原《九歌·湘君》：“桂櫂兮蘭枻（yì，船舷）。”　擊：指用槳劃破。　空明：倒映在江水中的月亮。　泝：同“溯”，逆流而上。　流光：隨着水波浮動着的月光。 ③　渺渺兮予懷：我心裏想得很遠。渺渺：遥遠的樣子。　美人：指作者所思慕的人。《楚辭·九章》有《思美人》篇。王逸《楚辭章句》：“此章言己思念其君，不能自達。” ④　洞簫：本指排簫無底的，後代指稱單管直吹的簫。　倚歌：按着歌聲。 ⑤　嫋嫋（niǎoniǎo）：聲音悠揚不絕的樣子。　縷：細絲綫。 ⑥　舞：用作使動，使……舞起來。下句“泣”字也是用作使動。　幽壑：深谷，指深淵。　嫠（lí）婦：寡婦。

【押韻】槳：宋時有陽韻、養韻兩讀（據《集韻》）；光、方：陽韻。慕、訴：遇韻。　縷：麌韻；婦：有韻，已轉入麌韻。上去合韻。

蘇子愀然，正襟危坐①

，而問客曰：“何爲其然也②
？”

客曰：“‘月明星稀，烏鵲南飛’，此非曹孟德之詩乎③

？西望夏口，東望武昌，山川相繆，鬱乎蒼蒼④
，此非孟德之困於周郎者乎⑤
？方其破荆州，下江陵，順流而東也⑥
，舳艫千里，旌旗蔽空，釃酒臨江，横槊賦詩，固一世之雄也⑦
，而今安在哉！況吾與子漁樵於江渚之上，侣魚鰕而友麋鹿⑧
，駕一葉之扁舟，舉匏樽以相屬⑨
。寄蜉蝣於天地，渺滄海之一粟⑩
。哀吾生之須臾，羨長江之無窮。挾飛仙以遨遊，抱明月而長終⑪
。知不可乎驟得，託遺響於悲風⑫
。”

注　　釋 ①　愀（qiǎo）然：神色不愉快的樣子。　正襟：整一整衣襟。　危坐：端坐，嚴肅地坐着。 ②　其：指代簫聲。 ③　月明星稀，烏鵲南飛：這兩句詩見於曹操的《短歌行》。 ④　夏口：卽今漢口。　武昌：舊縣名，卽今湖北鄂州市。　繆（liǎo）：通“繚”，繚繞，纏繞。　鬱乎蒼蒼：指樹木茂密，一片蒼翠。鬱乎：茂密的樣子。 ⑤　周郎：指周瑜。 ⑥　方其……也：當他……的時候。其：指代曹操。　荆州：今湖北、湖南一帶。三國時州治在今湖北襄樊市。 ⑦　舳艫（zhúlú）：指首尾銜接的船隻。舳：船尾。艫：船頭。　釃（shī）：濾酒，這裏是斟酒的意思。　槊（shuò）：一種長矛，長一丈八尺，馬上所用。　固：本來是。 ⑧　渚：沙州。　侣、友：都是名詞用作意動。　麋（mí）：鹿的一種。 ⑨　扁（piān）舟：小船。　匏（páo）樽：用匏做的酒器。匏：葫蘆的一種。 ⑩　寄蜉蝣於天地：像蜉蝣一樣寄託在天地之間。意思是說人生短暫。蜉蝣：小蟲名。夏秋之交生在水邊，只能活幾個小時。　渺：小。　滄海：大海。“滄”通“蒼”。因大海水深呈青蒼色，故稱“滄海”。 ⑪　挾（xié）：挾持，指希望作伴。　長終：永遠存在。 ⑫　遺響：餘音，指簫聲。　悲風：淒涼的風，指秋風。

【押韻】稀、飛：微韻；詩：支韻。支微合韻。　昌、蒼、郎：陽韻。東、空、雄：東韻。　鹿：屋韻；屬、粟：沃韻。屋沃合韻。窮、終、風：東韻。

蘇子曰：“客亦知夫水與月乎？逝者如斯，而未嘗往也①

；盈虚者如彼，而卒莫消長也②
。蓋將自其變者而觀之，則天地曾不能以一瞬③
；自其不變者而觀之，則物與我皆無盡也④
，而又何羨乎？且夫天地之間⑤
，物各有主，苟非吾之所有，雖一毫而莫取。惟江上之清風，與山間之明月，耳得之而爲聲，目遇之而成色，取之無禁，用之不竭。是造物者之無盡藏也，而吾與子之所共適⑥
。”

客喜而笑，洗盞更酌。肴核既盡，杯盤狼藉⑦

。相與枕藉乎舟中，不知東方之既白⑧
。

注　　釋 ①　逝者如斯：《論語·子罕》“子在川上曰：‘逝者如斯夫，不舍晝夜！’”　斯：指江水。　未嘗往：指没有流走。意思是江水雖然在不停地流去，但始終還是一江的水。 ②　盈虚：指圓缺。　彼：指月亮。　卒莫消長：指月亮終於没有消失或增長。意思是月亮雖然有圓有缺，但月亮還是那個月亮。 ③　天地曾（céng）不能以一瞬：指天地間的萬物連一眨眼的工夫也呆不住。意思是萬物時刻在變化着。曾：副詞，用在否定詞前，加强否定語氣。瞬：眨眼。 ④　無盡：没有完，指不會消滅。 ⑤　且夫：連詞，況且。 ⑥　造物者：指天，自然界。古代以爲萬物是天所生成的，故稱天爲造物。無盡藏（zàng）：無盡的寶藏。原是佛教用語。　適：指享受。 ⑦　肴（yáo）核：菜肴和果品。核：指有核的水果或干果。《詩經·小雅·賓之初筵》：“籩豆有楚，殽核維旅。”（籩、豆：都是盛食品的器皿。　有楚：整齊的樣子。　殽：通“肴”。　旅：陳列。）　狼藉（jí）：雜亂不堪的樣子。 ⑧　枕（舊讀zhèn）藉（jiè）：交錯地睡在一起。枕：枕着。藉：墊着。　既白：已經顯出白色，指天亮了。

【押韻】往、長：養韻。　瞬：震韻；盡：軫韻。上去合韻。主、取：麌韻。　月、竭：月韻；色：職韻；適：陌韻。月陌職合韻。（宋代入聲韻變化很大，這裏與平水韻不合，也與《詞林正韻》不合。）酌：藥韻；藉、白：陌韻。藥陌合韻。

SYLLABUS – A COURSE DESCRIPTION

I. General information 1. Course name: Critical Overview of Chinese Literature (Krytyczny przegląd literatury chińskiej) 2. Course code: 3. Course type (compulsory or optional): Compulsory 4. Study programme name: Sinology 5. Cycle of studies (1st or 2nd cycle of studies or full master’s programme): Second-cycle programme 6. Educational profile (general academic profile or practical profile): General academic profile 7. Year of studies (if relevant): 1st year (1st semester) 8. Type of classes and number of contact hours (e.g. lectures: 15 hours; practical classes: 30 hours): 30 hours of conversatory classes 9. Number of ECTS credits: 3 10. Name, surname, academic degree/title of the course lecturer/other teaching staff: Martin Woesler, Dr. 11. Language of classes: Chinese 12. Online learning – yes (partly – online / fully – online) / no: no (fully – presence) II. Detailed information 1. Course aim (aims):  The course aims to let students get an overview and understand certain characteristics of Chinese literature from 2,500 years ago until today by reading prominent examples and increasing reading ability in Chinese as a Foreign Language.  The selection of works aims at displaying the continuity and development over 2,500 years and showing the great variety of genres, styles and forms.  The course aims to let students understand research methods, compare literary works, learn the relevant terminology, understand challenges and topics of Chinese civilization, are able to trace back cultural roots of contemporary phenomena/beliefs, appreciate the work of experts in the field, critically evaluate their knowledge and update it. 2. Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (if relevant): Chinese level of at least B2 of the European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) 3. Course learning outcomes (EU) in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences and their reference to study programme learning outcomes (EK):

Course learning outcome symbol (EU) On successful completion of this course, a student will be able to: Reference to study programme learning outcomes (EK) XXX_01 have a wide knowledge of Chinese literature from classical to modern; K_W02, K_W05 XXX_02 know the theories and research methodology in the field of sinology in relation to literary studies; K_W03 XXX_03 know selected issues of comparative literature against the background of the ongoing processes of cultural exchange and globalization; K_W04 XXX_04 know the rich terminology in the field of sinology in the field of literary studies; K_W05 XXX_05 know and understand deeply the fundamental dilemmas and challenges of contemporary civilization related to the literature of East Asia/China; K_W08 XXX_06 formulate and test hypotheses related to simple research problems and tasks, as well as communicate their observations; K_U01 XXX_07 be ready to critically evaluate the acquired knowledge of Chinese literature and to constantly update it; K_K01 XXX_08 be ready to deeply appreciate the importance of specialist knowledge in solving cognitive problems related to multiculturalism and intercultural communication; K_K02 XXX_09 be ready to critically consult problems that he/she is unable to solve on his/her own with experts in relevant scientific fields and to actively cooperate with them in search of appropriate solutions K_K03 4. Learning content with reference to course learning outcomes (EU)

Course learning content: Course learning outcome symbol (EU) Song Poetry _01, _02, _04, _06, _09 Yuan Drama _01, __09 Ming Novels _01, _06, _09 Qing novels _01, _09 Late Qing literature _01, _03, _08, _09 Republican Literature _01, _02, _03, _04, _06, _07 Modern Literature _01, _02, _04, _05 Contemporary Literature _01, _04, _05, _07 Web Literature _01, _05 Science Fiction _01, _05, _08 5. Reading list (selections of the following texts will be provided as reader): Woesler Martin (ed.) 2023. Reader Chinese Literature – Selections, Bochum: European University Press [free e-book copies provided] ‒ Song Poems (ci): Su Dongpo: “Autumn day in Kui Prefecture” ‒ Yuan Drama (Zaju): Guan Hanqing: “The Injustice to Dou E” ‒ Ming novels (Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, Outlaws of the March, The Scholars) ‒ Qing novels (Cao Xueqin: Red Chamber Dreams) ‒ Late Qing dystopian literature (Liang Qichao: The Future of New China, Kang Youwei: Datong shu) ‒ Republican Literature (Lu Xun, Guo Moruo, Zhou Zuoren, Yu Dafu) ‒ Modern Literature (Underground poets, Wang Meng, Mo Yan) ‒ Contemporary Literature (Han Han, Zhang Wei, Xu Zechen, Han Shaogong) ‒ Web literature (excerpts live on http://qidian.com) ‒ Science Fiction (Liu Cixin: The Three Body Problem, The Wandering Earth) III. Additional information 1. Teaching and learning methods and activities to enable students to achieve the intended course learning outcomes (please indicate the appropriate methods and activities with a tick and/or suggest different methods).

Teaching and learning methods and activities X Lecture with a multimedia presentation X Interactive lecture Problem – based lecture Discussions X Text-based work X Case study work Problem-based learning X Educational simulation/game Task – solving learning (eg. calculation, artistic, practical tasks) Experiential work Laboratory work Scientific inquiry method Workshop method Project work Demonstration and observation Sound and/or video demonstration Creative methods (eg. brainstorming, SWOT analysis, decision tree method, snowball technique, concept maps) Group work X Other (please specify) – Live Digital Surveys, Creative Writing, Creative Performance/Role Play, Uploading of results to Website, review of fellow students, comparison of film adaption with original X … 2. Assessment methods to test if learning outcomes have been achieved (please indicate with a tick the appropriate methods for each LO and/or suggest different methods)

Assessment methods Course learning outcome symbol _01 _02 _03 _04 _05 _06 _07 _08 _09 Written exam X X X X X X X X X Oral exam Open book exam Written test Oral test Multiple choice test X X X X X X X X X Project Essay X X X X X X X X X Report Individual presentation X X X X X X X X X Practical exam (performance observation) Portfolio Other (please specify) - … 3. Student workload and ECTS credits

Activity types Mean number of hours spent on each activity type Contact hours with the teacher as specified in the study programme 30 Independent study* Preparation for classes 10 Reading for classes 20 Essay / report / presentation / demonstration preparation, etc. 15 Test preparation 10 Other (please specify) – Review of fellow students’ work 5 … Total hours 90 Total ECTS credits for the course 3

• please indicate the appropriate activity types and/or suggest different activities

4. Assessment criteria in accordance with AMU in Poznan’s grading system: Very good (bdb; 5,0): great ability to recognize a given Chinese text regarding its time and genre; ability to look up unknown Chinese characters in dictionaries to understand different sorts of literary texts; very good knowledge of issues related to Chinese literature (in both historical and contemporary terms), overview on the development of Chinese literature against the background of historical events and social changes, very good knowledge of the important role of literature in the development of Chinese civilization; familiarity with research terms and tools in the field of Chinese literature;

Good plus (+db; 4,5): 0): ability to recognize a given Chinese text regarding its time and genre; knowledge how to look up unknown Chinese characters in dictionaries to understand different sorts of literary texts; good knowledge of issues related to Chinese literature (in both historical and contemporary terms), orientate oneself within the development of Chinese literature against the background of historical events and social changes, good knowledge of the important role of literature in the development of Chinese civilization; knowledge of research terms and tools in the field of Chinese literature;

Good (db; 4,0): ability to guess time and genre of a given Chinese text; ability to find out how to look up unknown Chinese characters in dictionaries to understand different sorts of literary texts; knowledge of issues related to Chinese literature (in both historical and contemporary terms); ability to locate a given text within the development of Chinese literature against the background of historical events and social changes, knowledge of the important role of literature in the development of Chinese civilization; selective experience with research terms and tools in the field of Chinese literature;

Satisfactory plus (+dst; 3,5): ability to contextualize a given Chinese text either in time or in the genre; ability to find the majority of unknown Chinese characters in dictionaries to better understand different sorts of literary texts; knowledge of selected issues related to Chinese literature (in both historical and contemporary terms); ability to relate a given text to the development of Chinese literature against the background of historical events and social changes, knowledge of the place of literature in Chinese culture; familiarity with some research terms and tools in the field of Chinese literature;

Satisfactory (dst; 3,0): ability to relate to a given Chinese text either in time or in the genre; ability to look up single unknown Chinese characters in dictionaries to better understand different sorts of literary texts; knowledge of elements of Chinese literature (in both historical and contemporary terms); ability to ascribe a given text to Chinese literature against the background of historical events and social changes, knowledge of Chinese literature as being part of Chinese culture; knowledge of elements of research in the field of Chinese literature;

Unsatisfactory (ndst; 2,0): minimum ability to relate to a given Chinese text either in time or in the genre; minimum ability to look up single unknown Chinese characters in dictionaries to better understand different sorts of literary texts; minimum knowledge of elements of Chinese literature (in both historical and contemporary terms); minimum ability to ascribe a given text to Chinese literature against the background of historical events and social changes, minimum knowledge of Chinese literature as being part of Chinese culture; minimum knowledge of elements of research in the field of Chinese literature.