● 陈晴山 Chen Qing-shan  陈敏华 Michael Tan
 译／陈敏良 陈敏华Trans. by Peter Chen, Michael Tan

序言

　　这是我们父亲陈晴山写的3首古诗的第二部分，他的专栏《荔子
情》将在11月中告一个段落。诗创作于1959年6月。父亲用古文和白
话文大量创作了各类有关哲学与文学的文章、带有社会讯息及对人性
有精确观察的现代短篇小说和剧本。但他最喜欢古诗。《巳亥买书自
寿词》是唯一有他亲笔白话意译的古诗。他为什么要写白话意译，附
在古诗后面的分行意译有所解释。


诗的背景及欣赏

　　父亲的诸多诗词里，这一首《巳亥买书自寿词》是我们最喜爱的
，这是一首古体诗，一共有十九行，写于1959年6月。诗的结构，我
们是外行，不敢胡乱作评，但此诗的背景和内容一些感情的反映，我
们当年在他身边，是很清楚的，故倒可在此略为述说，以便读者能更
加体会、欣赏诗里所隐藏的巧妙含意。

　　作者写这首诗的时候，心里充满了两种快乐的情感，一是看到了
大儿子对父母的孝心，另一是买得了一本新书的兴奋。诗中所云的“
大儿子”即敏良，当年还是靠了政府的一笔微小的奖学金，留学澳洲
，生活清苦，处处节省。但在父亲生日，特地从自己的伙食费中省出
了五镑澳币，自海外邮寄给父亲，要给父亲买些滋补品吃用。在父亲
的眼中，所看到的当然不是这区区五镑澳币，而是儿子的一片孝心！
父亲心里一方面感动、一方面是快乐的。在华人的思想里，做父母的
，辛辛苦苦养育儿女，所希望的就是儿女的“孝心”。现在父亲果然
看到了儿子的孝顺，才用兴奋的心情，写了这首诗。“大儿就外傅，
寄书从万里、殷勤劝加餐、节以奉甘旨……”作者好像很骄傲地向朋
友们说：“看啊！我的儿子这作为，多么使我高兴啊！”

　　诗的下半，则述及作者对书的热爱。父亲爱书，我们是很清楚的
，每次买了新书，就爱不释手，曾作有诗云：“买书如新娶、一夜几
摩挲、坐对颜如玉、浑忘鬓已皤。”他把买书的兴奋，喻作洞房新娶
，实在有趣，也充分地表现他对书本的热爱。

　　诗中他又把书当作美食品，细细地去咀嚼，曰“含英复咀华（语
出韩愈），置诸腹笥里（语出后汉书）”，又云高楼大厦、富贵荣华
，他都不希罕，只要能够做到“腹便五经笥”就满足了，可见他对书
的感情，是多么浓厚啊。

　　除外，在此不能不提的是作者的用典之妙，诗中每个典故和背景
实在巧合，例如“甘旨——出自任¤”、“脍炙、羊枣——出自礼记
”、“膏火资——出自吾学录”，都是一些和孝道有关的典故，正和
大儿子的行动，一致无异。

　　另外还有一处，写得实在可爱有趣，作者曰：“煮字可疗饥”，
这一句本来是“煮字不疗饥”语出黄庚的诗，但作者却把这“不疗饥
”改作“可疗饥”，这当然只有书迷才能体会的经验吧，幽默极了。

　　这首诗，整体包含着字浅意深、人情味重、用喻天巧、幽默可亲
，也是父亲诗词的一贯作风。


Opening Remarks

　This is the second of 3 classical poems by our father Chen
Qing-shan which will bring the column Lizi Qing to a close 
in mid November. The poem was composed in June 1959. 
Father wrote profusely in both modern and classical Chinese 
and in different forms ranging from essays on philosophy and
literature, modern short stories and plays with a social 
message and shrewd observations on human nature. But it is 
classical poems that he loved best. ''Buying Books to 
Celebrate My Birthday, Si-hai Year'' is the only one among 
his poems for which he actually wrote a paraphrase. The 
reason why he took the trouble to write a paraphrase is 
explained in the Paraphrase which follows the poem.


Background and Appreciation

　Among the many literary works by father, this poem 
''Buying Books to Celebrate My Birthday, Si-hai Year'' is 
the one we love best. Written in June 1959, it is a poem in
classical Chinese and form with a total of 19 lines. As we
are not literary experts, we would not have the temerity to 
pass any comment on the organisation and structure of the 
poem. However, we feel at least qualified to reflect on 
the background, the content and feelings surrounding the 
composition of the poem, so as to give readers a better 
appreciation and enjoyment of its nuances and beauty. After
all we were with our father the poet at that time and the 
events are still fresh in our mind.

　When this poem was composed, the poet was filled with two 
kinds of joys: first his elder son's demonstration of filial
piety towards the parents and secondly the joy of buying 
books. The elder son mentioned in the poem refers to 
Min-liang (Peter) who was then studying in Australia on a 
scholarship which was not exactly generous. His living 
expenses were dependent on the scholarship and any extra 
money he needed had to be eked out from there. But on 
father's birthday, he managed to send a gift of 5 Australian
Pounds from Australia for father to buy something he likes 
to eat. The significance of the gift is not the 5 
Australian Pounds. Father saw in the gift a concrete 
expression of filial piety and reverence for the parents. 
He was therefore deeply moved and joyful. Among the 
Chinese, having children who show reverence and care for 
their parents is the greatest reward for all their hardship 
and sacrifice in bringing up the children. When he could 
see that his elder son is just such a son, he poured all his
joy into the composition of this poem: ''My eldest son 
studying abroad, Sends me a letter from afar. With loving 
thoughts he sends me a cheque, Being money saved from his 
scholarship''. The poet appears to be extremely proud by 
telling his friends, ''Look, this is what my son did. What 
happiness!''

　The second half of the poem describes the poet's love for 
books. We all know that father loved books. Every time he 
buys a new book, he could not stop turning the pages. He 
wrote in a poem: ''A new book is like the joy of one's 
wedding night; Tender caresses all night long. Exchanging 
glances with her jade-like beauty. Come dawn, then do I 
realise my silvery grey''. He compares the joy and 
excitement of buying books with that of a newly married 
couple on their wedding night. This is an interesting 
comparison and truly expresses his passionate love for 
books.

　 In the poem, he also compares books with some exotic or 
exquisite dish: '' I devour and savour every word, 
Digesting and storing all within.'' He also said that he had
no wish for a magnificent palace, nor to be filled with gold
and silver. He only wished to be filled with all the 
knowledge of the Five Classics《 五经》just like a book 
trunk would be. We can see how deeply and passionately 
he felt about books.

　Apart from this, one could not fail tomention the poet's
brilliant use of allusions. Every allusion fits the purpose
and circumstance like a glove. For example甘旨 gan zhi 
meaning ''sweet delicacies'', is now a personification 
of filial care of one's parents. Another allusion 脍炙羊枣
kuai zhi yang zao meaning ''shredded roast meat and sheep 
dates'', is a personification of delicacies and reverence
for one's parents. Another colourful and interesting 
expression is膏火资 gao huo zi (the term gao huo 
literally meaning '' animal fat for lighting'' but 
means a stipend for poor students during the Qing dynasty
and zi just means ''money''). These allusions pertain to
the virtue of filial piety and aptly describe the behaviour 
his elder son. 

　There is another lovely and interesting quality in the 
poem. The poet says, ''Words, like food (when cooked) can 
our hunger satiate.'' The origin of this allusion is ''Words
(when cooked) cannot our hunger satiate''. By just a twist, 
father transforms the word ''cannot'' into the word ''can''.
Only someone who is steeped in literary learning can 
perform a trick like this, and with a touch of humour.

　This poem is filled with meaningful messages, simple in 
language but profound in sentiments, full of human feelings 
and clever use of allusions and humour. All these qualities
are characteristic of father's literary compositions.

巳亥买书自寿词

⒈吾生欲忘年　I've never liked to recall my age, much less
  平居厌序齿　To compare our years when friends do meet.

⒉昨日闻妇言　Yet my wife reminds me yesterday
  六十逾半纪　That six and sixty I soon will be.

⒊妇言不足听　A woman's word is not worthy of heed…
  自寿聊尔尔　Perhaps there's no harm to celebrate.

⒋大儿就外傅　My eldest son, studying abroad
　寄书从万里　Sends me a letter from afar.

⒌殷勤劝加餐　On food I should indulge, he says.
　复媵券一纸　With loving thoughts he sends me a cheque,

⒍云是膏火资　Being money saved from his scholarship
　节以奉甘旨　For me to buy my favourite dish.

⒎脍炙与羊枣　Roast meat, delicious dates,
　而翁皆不喜　Neither of these I particularly crave.

⒏自愧无远谋　Ashamed I am with no official rank,
　肉食更可鄙　But eating meat dulls one's wit, they say.

⒐妇曰从所好　Do as you wish, so cry my wife,
　任君持入市　Off to town to buy whatever you like.

⒑所好虽云多　What I desire are many indeed,
　大欲在书史　But what I love most is books.

⒒换得一囊归　Home I come with a bagful of books,
　其味无穷已　Their flavour is just superb.

⒓煮字可疗饥　Words, like food can our hunger satiate,
　况兹尽肥美　More sumptuous than any exotic dish.

⒔小儿欲分甘　Young son clamours to taste the fare,
　未敢便染指　But hesitates to dip his finger in.

⒕举案遗细君　I offer to share these with my wife.
　但亦一笑耳　With a faint smile, she declines.

⒖所好各不同　Everyone has his own delight.
　安能强妻子　How could I impose this on my wife.

⒗含笑复咀华　I'll devour and savour every word,
　置诸腹笥里　Digesting and storing all within.

⒘适性以养生　Lead your life in accord with your own 
              incline;
　此中有玄理　This philosophy embodies a mystic truth.

⒙富贵非所期　Gold and silver are not my wish,
　帝乡难向迩　A celestial abode is beyond my reach.

⒚愿以书为城　Surround me with a wall of books;
　吾将老于是　In my old age, content I thus shall be.

Paraphrase
By Chen Qing-shan

　On the occasion of my birthday this year, I composed a 
classical poem ''Buying Books to Celebrate My Birthday''. 
It has a total of 19 lines. As it is written in the 
classical form, all my children would not be able to 
understand it. Hence my wife insisted that I paraphrase it 
for them. Actually it is not that easy to do, but under 
the circumstances, I have no alternative but to paraphrase 
its meaning line by line as follow:

　1. I really wish to forget my age. It is especially 
annoying that whenever friends meet, they invariably discuss
one another's age and try to sort out who is older and who 
is younger.

　2. Yesterday my wife again raised the subject with me and 
said that I will be 66 years old this year. Her intention 
is to plan a birthday celebration for me.

　3. One should take no heed of a woman's word which is not 
always reliable. I really cannot believe that I am that 
old. However, there is no harm in a birthday celebration 
involving only immediate family members and have a meal 
together.

　4. Coincidentally, my elder son who is studying abroad 
sent me a letter from afar. Naturally, it was also in 
connection with the same subject.

　5. Apart from the usual words of felicitations for my 
birthday, the letter also included a remittance draft.

　6. He has managed to save a portion of his scholarship 
money to send me this small remittance. His intention is 
for me to buy some of my favourite food to celebrate my 
birthday.

　7. These are naturally his very kind thoughts. I recall 
that Confucius had a disciple by the name of Zengcan who 
treated his father with the utmost filial love and respect. 
He frequently bought dates and shredded roast meat for his 
father, because these were his father's favourite food. 
However as I have no particular craving for either of these,
why waste money on such delicacies?

　8. I normally like meat, but there is a Chinese saying, 
''The meat eaters, they are the stupid ones''. The original
intention of this saying is to mock those bureaucrat 
officials who only knew how to indulge in eating meat (but 
are otherwise quite useless). I have never been a 
bureaucrat official and therefore deserve no such ridicule 
and hence have no intention to indulge in meat.

　9. What shall I do? My wife then said, ''Since the money 
is meant for you, you might as well just go into town and 
buy whatever you fancy.''

　10. I like many things: smoking, going to the movies, 
listening to singing. It is not just one thing, but my 
favourite is still reading. It is books then that I will 
use the remittance to buy.

　11. Indeed, after cashing the remittance, the cash was 
exchanged for a big bag of purchases. Naturally, it is a 
bagful of books; but my enjoyment of these are not any less,
and in fact even greater than the best of delicacies.

　12. The ancients used to describe the occupation of those 
who make a living by writing as ''cooking words''. Indeed 
writing is like cooking by using words as the ingredients; 
when it is done, it can satiate our hunger, i.e., our 
craving for food. We can thus expect even more from books, 
because every word has been prepared and transformed -- put
another way ''cooked'' -- by some ancient writer, making it 
that much more delicious and a sumptuous meal.

　13. My second son watching by the side naturally wanted to
partake in all these; but he has not learned to enjoy things
like classical literary works, which are probably 
indigestible for him . In the end, he could only stand by 
to watch.

　14. I too wished to share these delicious fare -- my new 
books -- with my wife; she could at least have some variety
and a change of taste. But she politely declined the 
invitation with a smile.

　15. I can hardly blame her. Everyone has a different 
taste and preference. We should not impose our own 
preference even on someone as close as our own wife. And so
I let it be.

　16. Since no one else wishes to share these with me, I 
will enjoy them by myself, slowly chewing and savouring 
every bit of it, ingesting every nutrient into my stomach. 
The ancients say that when you read a great deal, your 
stomach will be filled with knowledge and your stomach 
becomes like a trunk filled with books which can be called 
fu-si (腹笥 literary meaning ''stomach trunk'' (which has 
become a metaphor for a book trunk). Naturally, it is my 
hope that such knowledge reposes in my fu-si forever, never 
to be lost.

　17. To nurture the life one leads, there is no rigid 
prescription for any particular nutrient. The important 
thing is to act according to one's own inclination and 
character and longevity will follow. I subscribe to this 
age old philosophy which had been discovered by the ancient 
philosophers.

　18. I have neither sought nor clamoured for riches and 
honours. It is also beyond me to try to emulate the 
immortals. As the poet Tao Yuanming wrote: ''Riches and 
honour are not my wish, Nor a celestial abode my desire.'' 
I too subscribe to this philosophy.

　19. I should therefore like to buy even more books with 
which to surround myself, like a castle wall; and therein 
shall I abide in my retirement to live out my old age.

Recorded by Qing-shan, 23 June 1959.


古诗分行意译
陈晴山

　　今年生日，写了一首买书自寿的古诗，共19行，因为是古诗，我
的几个子女，都不会阅读。妻定要我译作语体散文，给他们看；其实
语译也不是容易的。没有办法，只得分行意译如下：

　　1. 我很想把自己的年龄忘记了，最讨厌的是平时朋友聚会，总
要谈到各人的年龄，分别谁大谁小。

　　2. 昨天妻又对我提起这个问题，说我今年是66岁了，她的意思
：是打算替我庆祝生日。

　　3. 女人的话向来不大靠得住，我真不相信自己有这么大的年纪
。不过自家庆祝生日，吃了一餐，倒也无妨。

　　4. 恰巧我的大儿子在外国留学，刚从遥远的地方寄来一封信，
自然也是和这问题有关的。

　　5. 那信中写的是一般庆祝生日的好话。还附有一张汇票。

　　6. 他的意思是说，自己平时把读书的用费节省了一部分，汇这
一笔小款，要给我买些好吃的东西，庆祝这一天的生日。

　　7. 这当然是好意，我记得从前孔子的学生，有一位名叫曾参的
，对他的父亲很孝敬，时常买一种小枣子（羊枣）和烧肉（脍炙）给
父亲吃。因为这些东西，是他老人家喜欢吃的。可是，我并没有喜欢
吃这两种东西，又何必破费呢？

　　8. 肉类本来我是喜欢的。但是，我们中国向来有一句话说“肉
食者鄙？”本来这句话是讥笑那些无能的官吏，只会吃肉而已。我没
有做官，犯不着挨骂，因此我也不想。

　　9. 那怎么办呢？妻说：“反正这钱是给你的，自己拿到街上去
，看看你自己喜欢的就买吧。”

　　10. 我自己喜欢的？这可多了：抽香烟、看电影、听唱歌……不
止一样，不过最喜欢的，还是读书，那就拿去买书吧。

　　11. 果然，凭着那一张汇票，兑了现款，就换得一大包东西回来
。自然，那些都是书籍；不过，其味无穷，胜于山珍海错。

　　12. 古人把写作谋生的职业，叫做“煮字”，原来把文字当米煮
起来，一样可以充饥。何况这些书籍，每个字都是经古代作家煮过的
，当然有更好的滋味，尽可大吃一餐。

　　13. 我那第二的孩子在旁看见了，自然也想要；可是他对于这些
古典文学，还不会欣赏。大概因为吃不消，终于没有动手。

　　14. 我也想把这些美好的东西——书籍，分一点给妻换一换口味
，可是她也只笑了一笑，并不曾尝过一口。

　　15. 这是难怪的，人们的胃口，各自不同。至亲如妻子，也不应
勉强太过，只得由她。

　　16. 他们既然都不要了，我只好个人独享，慢慢的咀嚼，把ABC
各种维他命都吞到肚子里去，古人说，读得书多，满腹诗书，肚子成
了一个书箱，可以叫做“腹笥”。自然我也希望这些永远藏在我的“
腹笥”里，不会失掉。

　　17. 养生不一定是要吃什么滋补的东西的。只要随着个人性情所
好，自然可以长命，这是古代哲学家发明的道理，我很相信。

　　18. 我向来没有希望大富大贵，要学神仙，也是做不到的。正如
陶渊明先生说的，“富贵非吾愿，帝乡不可期”，我也有此意。

　　19. 那么，最好还是能够买得更多的书籍，围着像一座城堡。我
就要一辈子在这一座城里退休养老了。

　　1959年6月23日 晴山志