莫之废者

English translation: no one has ever discarded it.

01:18 Nov 17, 2014

Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - History / Classical Chinese

Chinese term or phrase: 莫之废者

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.

Phil Hand KudoZ activity Questions: 15 (1 open) (1 without valid answers) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 495 China
Local time: 21:20

English translation:no one has ever discarded it.

Explanation:
no one has ever discarded it.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2014-11-17 04:29:02 GMT)
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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。

Selected response from:

jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 09:20

Grading comment

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

it hasn't been abolished

jarv95888

4 +1

no one has ever discarded it.

jyuan_us

Discussion entries: 7

Answers

2 hrs confidence:

it hasn't been abolished

Explanation:
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.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2014-11-17 04:21:20 GMT)
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In other words, the only reason for its existence is its purpose to recruit talents (or "hire officials" as you phrase it.)

jarv95888
Local time: 09:20
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Chinese,

English
PRO pts in category: 8

15 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

no one has ever discarded it.

jyuan_us
United States
Local time: 09:20
Native speaker of:

Chinese
PRO pts in category: 8

Notes to answerer

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?

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莫之废者

English translation: no one has ever discarded it.

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莫之废者

English translation: no one has ever discarded it.

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