Nov 17, 2014 01:18
9 yrs ago
Chinese term
莫之废者
Chinese to English
Art/Literary
History
Classical Chinese
自文章而言，则策论为有用，诗赋为无益。自政事言之，则策论、诗赋均为无用。虽知其无用，然自祖宗以来莫之废者，以为设科取士，不过如此而已
Su Dongpo protesting at the introduction of practical elements to the imperial examinations.
Here's what I have so far:
"So far as writing goes, discussions of policy have practical value, while poems and rhapsodies have none. In terms of governing, neither policy discussions nor poems and rhapsodies have any value. Despite knowing that there is no value in it, from the time of the the Honored Founder of our dynasty there have been those who want to use policy discussion as the basis for employing scholar-officials. They are wrecking the system, and that's all there is to it."
But that's just a guess.
Su Dongpo protesting at the introduction of practical elements to the imperial examinations.
Here's what I have so far:
"So far as writing goes, discussions of policy have practical value, while poems and rhapsodies have none. In terms of governing, neither policy discussions nor poems and rhapsodies have any value. Despite knowing that there is no value in it, from the time of the the Honored Founder of our dynasty there have been those who want to use policy discussion as the basis for employing scholar-officials. They are wrecking the system, and that's all there is to it."
But that's just a guess.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +1 | no one has ever discarded it. |
jyuan_us
|
| 5 | it hasn't been abolished |
jarv95888
|
Proposed translations
+1
15 mins
Selected
no one has ever discarded it.
no one has ever discarded it.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2014-11-17 04:29:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The whole idea is, although it has never been abandoned, its use has been limited to 科举考试ONLY。（its only use was 科举考试。不过如此而已=That's All
It has had no better use.
无“there is no better way”的意思。
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2014-11-17 04:29:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The whole idea is, although it has never been abandoned, its use has been limited to 科举考试ONLY。（its only use was 科举考试。不过如此而已=That's All
It has had no better use.
无“there is no better way”的意思。
Note from asker:
| So the second sentence would mean: Even though it's no use, no-one has ever thought of abandoning this practice, and we use it to hire officials, because there is no better way. Is that right? |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Aaron Gilkison (X)
43 mins
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
2 hrs
it hasn't been abolished
The "以“ in “以为设科取士” means "because."
Despite knowing that there is no value in it, the reason why it hasn't been abolished since the time of ancestors is that it has been established as a system to recruit talents. That's it and nothing else.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2014-11-17 04:21:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
In other words, the only reason for its existence is its purpose to recruit talents (or "hire officials" as you phrase it.)
Despite knowing that there is no value in it, the reason why it hasn't been abolished since the time of ancestors is that it has been established as a system to recruit talents. That's it and nothing else.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2014-11-17 04:21:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
In other words, the only reason for its existence is its purpose to recruit talents (or "hire officials" as you phrase it.)
Discussion
供参考：）