Xu Yuanchong, one of the top translators in the century, died! He returned to his hometown Jiangxi four years ago

Top translators in China

Professor, School of Journalism and communication, Peking University

Mr. Xu Yuanchong died in Beijing on the morning of June 17,

He was 100 years old.

Xu Yuanchong, born in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province in 1921, is known as a "translation maniac". He graduated from the Department of foreign languages of Southwest Associated University in his early years and was admitted to the Institute of foreign literature of Tsinghua University in 1944. He has been a professor of Peking University since 1983. Xu Yuanchong has been engaged in literary translation for more than 60 years. His translation works cover Chinese, English, French and other languages. His translation focuses on the English translation of ancient Chinese poetry, forming the method and theory of rhyme style poetry translation. He is known as "the only one who translates poetry into English and French". He has published 60 books in Chinese, English and French at home and abroad, including the book of songs, songs of Chu, selected poems of Li Bai, the romance of the west chamber, red and black, Madame Bovary, recalling the past and so on.

In 2010, Xu Yuanchong won the "lifelong achievement award of Chinese translation culture". On August 2, 2014, Xu Yuanchong won the "Aurora Borealis" outstanding literary translation award, one of the highest awards in the international translation field. He is the first Asian translator to win this award.

In 2017,

Xu Yuanchong and his wife returned home together

In 2017, Xu Yuanchong returned to his alma mater Nanchang No.2 Middle School and took a picture with his wife in front of his bronze statue

Shuyuan street, Dusi front, Shitou street,

At that time, Xu still remembers clearly

Every street I lived in Nanchang,

Every house number

I've been away from home for decades,

Mr. Xu can still speak fluent old Nanchang dialect

Xu Yuanchong inscribed "everything starts from hometown"

Xu Yuanchong said in an interview that he loves BaiHuaZhou most of all places in Nanchang. I vaguely remember that there are three small islands on the East Lake, including Jiuqu bridge, suwengdi and BaiHuaZhou Pavilion. The water is shining and the lotus is all over the lake. Many of Xu Yuanchong's classmates live near BaiHuaZhou. They often invite friends to visit the lake and spend many beautiful days there.

When talking about Nanchang food in memory, Xu Yuanchong replied with a smile: "I like it, you may not guess - oil cake! At that time, I couldn't eat it. Three students ate one of them

Recalling the days of studying in Nanchang No.2 Middle School, Xu Yuanchong said: "when I was studying in No.2 Middle School, I was not the best student, just a very ordinary student." He began to learn English in the fourth grade of primary school, but he didn't do well. He even failed in the first grade of senior high school. The turning point for Xu Yuanchong to learn English well happened when his teacher asked him to recite 30 English essays, including Shakespeare's comedies and Lincoln's speeches, which made him gradually realize that language has its own advantages.

Xu Yuanchong said affectionately that the reason why he was able to embark on the road of translation and achieved fruitful results was inseparable from the guidance and instruction of the teachers in No.2 Middle School.

Xu Yuanchong's life is legendary

I have no interest in English since childhood

But it is inextricably linked with translation

1921

Xu Yuanchong was born in a scholarly family in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province

He has shown great talent for history and poetry since childhood

But I have no interest in English

later

A man's success completely changed him

This man is Xu Yuanchong's cousin

Xiong Shiyi, an outstanding bilingual writer in China

The 1930s and 1940s

Xiong Shiyi's translation of Chinese Classics

It's all the rage in England

His success greatly inspired young Xu Yuanchong

From then on, a big dream became clear in his heart

Translator Xu Yuanchong: it is not my personal ideal to turn the beauty of a country into the beauty of the world. It should be the common ideal of the whole world.

In 1937, the Anti Japanese war broke out

The gunfire in Lugouqiao completely disrupted Xu Yuanchong's peaceful life

At the age of 16, he came to Yunnan to avoid the war

The next year, he was admitted to the university with the excellent result of seventh place

Department of foreign languages, southwest United University

Here, he has a formal bond with the translator

Meet Yang Zhenning in English class

The English translation of Lin Huiyin's poems caused a sensation

The Southwest Associated University was born in the flames of war

Although it is a temporary University

But there are so many masters and talents in the school

It ushered in the first batch of undergraduate freshmen

There is Xu Yuanchong, a young man from Jiangxi Province

Freshman English class

Students from different departments are mixed into groups

All teachers teach in groups

Xu Yuanchong transcribed his freshman lesson list in English on the front page of his diary

Xu Yuanchong and physicist Yang Zhenning

I know you in English class

Their common interest in classical literature and English

Make them good friends

Yang Zhenning (left) Xu Yuanchong (right)

Xu Yuanchong was born with a loud voice

Years later

Yang Zhenning still clearly remembers the nickname "Xu Dagang"

Looking back on that year, Yang Zhenning jokingly said:

"Xu Yuanchong is different. He is very active.

The beautiful girl of Southwest Associated University at that time,

He's chased them all

then

Xu Yuanchong expressed his love for a girl in his class

Take Lin Huiyin's poem don't throw it away

Carefully translated into English