Voiceover · Fan Zeng

Author: Fan Zeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features:
Translator's Preface – Hao Nili
Reading this book has been an excellent learning experience for me. Beyond each captivating illustration, Professor Fan Zeng's comments have enlightened me to understand Chinese art while also allowing me to delve deeply into the spirit of an outstanding Chinese artist—Professor Fan Zeng. I am grateful for Professor Fan's book and his enthusiastic support for translation and annotation. From the extensive bibliography, you can see the rich knowledge contained in this book. Translation has expanded my understanding of Chinese poetry, literature, philosophy, history, mythology, folklore, and the religious beliefs, art, and calligraphy history of China. Through translation, I have encountered many Chinese literary works and ancient outstanding figures, areas about which I previously had little knowledge. Beyond the general challenges of translation between different languages, this book presents additional issues. Professor Fan Zeng's language is highly literary, with expressions rich in multiple meanings, rooted in classical Chinese literature, history, and philosophy. Some of these may require word-by-word understanding, but literal translation could potentially damage the implied connotations. When necessary, we will provide the original text and strive to interpret the meaning of Professor Fan's language. In most cases, if possible, we will cite existing English translations and note their sources. For Chinese annotations, or when no corresponding English translation is available or when we believe the translation does not align with Professor Fan's intent, we will translate and annotate ourselves. At the Department of Asian Studies at Tel Aviv University, my doctoral supervisor, Professor Ou Yongfu, and Dr. Zhang Ping have given me the greatest help and encouragement, and I cannot express my gratitude in words. Lastly, I would like to thank my friend Chava Banai for thoroughly reviewing the entire translation and offering revisions to the English text and addressing some ambiguities. The publication of this book should be a repayment to all who have helped me; any errors in the book are my responsibility.
Translator's Preface – Liu Bo
Without Nili's outstanding work, I could not have imagined completing this translation. For everything she has done, I am deeply grateful. Over the past eight years, Professor Fan Zeng's strict supervision, inspiration, and encouragement have guided me to explore and expand my understanding of classical and cultural studies. The impact he has had on me cannot be described in words; I can only offer a heartfelt appreciation. I would also like to thank Teacher An Yi from the School of Chinese Language and Literature at Nankai University for her profound classical poetry expertise and her patient assistance in verifying numerous footnotes. Professor Fan Zeng's literary language is deeply rooted in classical culture, making it challenging to translate. We often select the most appropriate expression from multiple translations simultaneously. Despite our best efforts, there are still many places where we may not fully capture Professor Fan's intent. Any omissions or errors in the book are due to my personal limitations, and I sincerely apologize and humbly request corrections from the knowledgeable. Compared to many of Professor Fan Zeng's brilliant works, this book may seem insignificant, but "a small bird has all its internal organs." It contains some of Professor Fan's most representative works, primarily his exceptional skill in "figurative painting," such as paintings of classical figures like Laozi, Zhong Kui, and Hui Zi, along with many charming small illustrations, totaling 50 pieces. Each piece is accompanied by over a thousand words of accompanying text, discussing painting theory, stories behind the paintings, history, literature, anecdotes, and art. It delves into the universe and human life, both from within and from without, observing things with the eyes of a poet and speaking of them with the tongue of a poet. The mind is vast, and the style is fresh. Wonderful texts and paintings are collected in one volume.