2017翻譯碩士：中華思想文化術語翻譯選讀——美刺

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美刺[měi cì]

贊美與諷刺批評。用于文學藝術領域，主要指用詩歌對統治者的品德、政令和作為進行贊美或諷刺批評。孔子最早指出“詩可以怨”，強調《詩經》具有抒發不滿情緒的功用，確定了詩歌創作的基本功能。漢代的詩學則迎合統治者的需要，突出詩歌歌功頌德的功能。漢代詩學作品《毛詩序》和鄭玄《詩譜序》將“美刺”確立為詩歌批評的基本原則之一，使之成為后世詩人和作家的自覺追求，是他們參與政治、干預社會生活的一種方式，從而構成中國文學的基本功用與重要特色。

Extolment and Satirical Criticism

This literary term is used in poetry to comment on a ruler’s moral character, policies, decrees, and performance, either in praise or criticism. Confucius was the first to point out that poetry could be used to vent resentment and thus established a basic function of poetry writing by emphasizing the role The Book of Songs played in voicing grievances. In the Han Dynasty, however, poetry tended to be used as a vehicle for extolling the accomplishments and virtues of rulers. In “Preface to Mao’s Version of The Book of Songs” and “Preface to On the Categories of The Book of Songs,” two influential writings on theory of poetry published during the Han Dynasty, extolment and satirical criticism was regarded as an underlying principle of poetic criticism. This principle was widely employed by poets and writers of later generations as a way of getting involved in politics and making their impact on the society. This constituted a fundamental function and an essential feature of Chinese literature.

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【引例】

論功頌德，所以將順其美;譏刺過失，所以匡救其惡。(鄭玄《詩譜序》)

漢儒言詩，不過美刺兩端。(程廷祚《青溪集·詩論十三·再論刺詩》)

Poems are composed to applaud the rulers to continue to do what is good by extolling their achievements and virtues, and to urge them to change the erroneous course by satirizing and criticizing their wrong doings. (Zheng Xuan: Preface to On the Categories of The Book of Songs)

To Confucian scholars in the Han Dynasty, poetry has two basic functions: extolment and satirical criticism. (Cheng Tingzuo: Qingxi Collection)