Lu Xun

Translated by Yang Hsien-yi and Gladys Yang

[1] When I was young I, too, had many dreams.Most of them came to be forgotten, but I see nothing in this to regret.For although recalling the past may make you happy, it may sometimes also make you lonely, and there is no point in clinging in spirit to lonely bygone days.However, my trouble is that I cannot forget completely, and these stories have resulted from what I have been unable to erase from my memory.

[2] For more than four years I used to go, almost daily, to a pawnbroker’s and to a medicine shop.I cannot remember how old I was then; but the counter in the medicine shop was the same height as I, and that in the pawnbroker’s twice my height.I used to hand clothes and trinkets up to the counter twice my height, take the money proffered with contempt, then go to the counter the same height as I to buy medicine for my father who had long been ill.On my return home I had other things to keep me busy, for since the physician who made out the prescriptions was very well-known, he used unusual drugs: aloe root dug up in winter, sugar-cane that had been three years exposed to frost, twin crickets, and ardisia...all of which were difficult to procure.But my father’s illness went from bad to worse until he died.

[3] I believe those who sink from prosperity to poverty will probably come, in the process, to understand what the world is really like.I wanted to go to the K school in N perhaps because I was in search of a change of scene and faces.There was nothing for my mother to do but to raise eight dollars for my travelling expenses, and say I might do as I pleased.That she cried was only natural, for at that time the proper thing was to study the classics and take the official examinations.Anyone who studied “foreign subjects” was looked down upon as a fellow good for nothing, who, out of desperation, was forced to sell his soul to foreign devils.

[4] Besides, she was sorry to part with me.But in spite of that, I went to N and entered the K school; and it was there that I heard for the first time the names of such subjects as natural science, arithmetic, geography, history, drawing and physical training.They had no physiology course, but we saw woodblock editions of such works as A New Course on the Human Body and Essays on Chemistry and Hygiene.Recalling the talk and prescriptions of physicians I had known and comparing them with what I now knew, I came to the conclusion those physicians must be either unwitting or deliberate charlatans; and I began to sympathize with the invalids and families who suffered at their hands.From translated histories I also learned that the Japanese Reformation had originated, to a great extent, with the introduction of Western medical science to Japan.

[5] These inklings took me to a provincial medical college in Japan.I dreamed a beautiful dream that on my return to China I would cure patients like my father, who had been wrongly treated, while if war broke out I would serve as an army doctor, at the same time strengthening my countrymen’s faith in reformation.

[6] I do not know what advanced methods are now used to reach microbiology, but at that time lantern slides were used to show the microbes; and if the lecture ended early, the instructor might show slides of natural scenery or news to fill up the time.This was during the Russo-Japanese War, so there were many war films, and I had to join in the clapping and cheering in the lecture hall along with the other students.It was a long time since I had seen any compatriots, but one day I saw a film showing some Chinese, one of whom was bound, while many others stood around him.They were all strong fellows but appeared completely apathetic.According to the commentary, the one with his hands bound was a spy working for the Russians, who was to have his head cut off by the Japanese military as a warning to others, while the Chinese beside him had come to enjoy the spectacle.

[7] Before the term was over I had left for Tokyo, because after this film I felt that medical science was not so important after all.The people of a weak and backward country, however strong and healthy they may be, can only serve to be made examples of, or to witness such futile spectacles; and it doesn’t really matter how many of them die of illness.The most important thing, therefore, was to change their spirit, and since at that time I felt that literature was the best means to this end, I determined to promote a literary movement.There were many Chinese students in Tokyo studying law, political science, physics and chemistry, even police work and engineering, but not one studying literature or art.However, even in this uncongenial atmosphere I was fortunate enough to find some kindred spirits.We gathered the few others we needed, and after discussion our first step, of course, was to publish a magazine, the title of which denoted that this was a new birth.As we were then rather classically inclined, we called it Xin Sheng (New Life).

[8] When the time for publication drew near, some of our contributors dropped out, and then our funds were withdrawn, until finally there were only three of us left, and we were penniless.Since we had started our magazine at an unlucky hour, there was naturally no one to whom we could complain when we failed; but later even we three were destined to part, and our discussions of a dream future had to cease.So ended this abortive New Life.

[9] Only later did I feel the futility of it all; at that time I did not really understand anything.Later I felt if a man’s proposals met with approval, it should encourage him; if they met with opposition, it should make him fight back; but the real tragedy for him was to lift up his voice among the living and meet with no response, neither approval nor opposition, just as if he were left helpless in a boundless desert.So I began to feel lonely.

[10] And this feeling of loneliness grew day by day, coiling about my soul like a huge poisonous snake.Yet in spite of my unaccountable sadness, I felt no indignation; for this experience had made me reflect and see that I was definitely not the heroic type who could rally multitudes at his call.

[11] However, my loneliness had to be dispelled, for it was causing me agony.So I used various means to dull my senses, both by conforming to the spirit of the time and turning to the past.Later I experienced or witnessed even greater loneliness and sadness, which I do not like to recall, preferring that it should perish with me.Still my attempt to deaden my senses was not unsuccessful I had lost the enthusiasm and fervour of my youth.

[12] In S Hostel there were three rooms where it was said a woman had lived who hanged herself on the locust tree in the courtyard.Although the tree had grown so tall that its branches could no longer be reached, the rooms remained deserted.For some years I stayed here, copying ancient inscriptions.I had few visitors, there were no political problems or issues in those inscriptions, and my only desire was that my life should slip quietly away like this.On summer nights, when there were too many mosquitoes, I would sit under the locust tree, waving my fan and looking at the specks of sky through the thick leaves, while the caterpillars which came out in the evening would fall, icy-cold, on to my neck.

[13] The only visitor to come for an occasional talk was my old friend Chin Hsin-yi.He would put his big portfolio down on the broken table, take off his long gown, and sit facing me, looking as if his heart was still beating fast after braving the dogs.

[14] “What is the use of copying these?” he demanded inquisitively one night, after looking through the inscriptions I had copied.

[15] “No use at all.”

[16] “Then why copy them?”

[17] “For no particular reason.”

[18] “I think you might write something...”

[19] I understood.They were editing the magazine New Youth, but hitherto there seemed to have been no reaction, favourable or otherwise, and I guessed they must be feeling lonely.However I said:

[20] “Imagine an iron house without windows, absolutely indestructible, with many people fast asleep inside who will soon die of suffocation.But you know since they will die in their sleep, they will not feel the pain of death.Now if you cry aloud to wake a few of the lighter sleepers, making those unfortunate few suffer the agony of irrevocable death, do you think you are doing them a good turn?”

[21] “But if a few awake, you can’t say there is no hope of destroying the iron house.”

[22] True, in spite of my own conviction, I could not blot out hope, for hope lies in the future.I could not use my own evidence to refute his assertion that it might exist.So I agreed to write, and the result was my first story, A Madman’s Diary.From that time onwards, I could not stop writing, and would write some sort of short story from time to time at the request of friends, until I had more than a dozen of them.

[23] As for myself, I no longer feel any great urge to express myself; yet, perhaps because I have not entirely forgotten the grief of my past loneliness.I sometimes call out, to encourage those fighters who are galloping on in loneliness, so that they do not lose heart.Whether my cry is brave or sad, repellent or ridiculous, I do not care.However, since it is a call to arms, I must naturally obey my general’s orders.This is why I often resort to innuendoes, as when I made a wreath appear from nowhere at the son’s grave in Medicine, while in Tomorrow I did not say that Fourth Shan’s Wife had no dreams of her little boy.For our chiefs then were against pessimism.And I, for my part, did not want to infect with the loneliness I had found so bitter those young people who were still dreaming pleasant dreams, just as I had done when young.

[24] It is clear, then, that my short stories fall far short of being works of art; hence I count myself fortunate that they are still known as stories, and are even being compiled in one book.Although such good fortune makes me uneasy, I am nevertheless pleased to think they have readers in the world of men, for the time being at least.

[25] Since these short stories of mine are being reprinted in one collection, owing to the reasons given above, I have chosen the title Na Han (Call to Arms).

December 3, 1922, Peking

[1972]

Notes

1.Lu Xun (1881-1936): A fiction writer, essayist, and critic, Lu Xun was one of the leading Chinese writers of the 20th century.Writing during a time of great political, social, and literary change in China, he was associated with a new literary movement.In the West, Lu Xun is chiefly known for his stories, which have been translated into more than a dozen languages.He also produced sixteen volumes of essays, reminiscences, prose poetry, historical tales, some sixty classical-style poems, a dozen volumes of scholarly research, and numerous translations.

2.Yang Hsien-yi (1915-2009): He, once studied in Britain and got familiar with the British cultural and literature and had the interest in introducing Chinese culture to the English world. Gladys Yang (1919-1999): She was a British who was born in Beijing and was also very interested in Chinese culture.It was the interest of Chinese culture that brought them together.They are an excellent match in translating and their successful and satisfactory cooperation has produced fruitful products of translation, among which are The Scholars (《儒林外史》), A Dream of Red Mansions (《红楼梦》), and The Complete Works of Lu Xun (《鲁迅全集》), etc.

3.K school: The Kiangnan Naval Academy in Nanking.

4.S Hostel: Shaohsing.

5.New Youth: The most influential magazine in the cultural revolution of that time.

6.Chin Hsin-yi (1887-1939): Commonly known as Qian Xuantong (钱玄同), he was one of the May Fourth movement period cultural elites and raised the revolution of Chinese characters.

After You Read

Knowledge Focus

1.Answer the following questions according to the information of Text A.

1) What happened to Lu Xun’s family when he was quite young?

2) What was a proper thing to do in the late 19th century? How would the one studying“foreign subjects” be treated?

3) Why did Lu Xun decide to study medical science?

4) Why did Lu Xun give up medical science and determine to promote a literary movement?

5) What happened to Lu Xun’s magazine-publishing plan?

6) Why did Lu Xun feel very lonely for some time?

7) What incident helped Lu Xun regain his hope?

8) What did Lu Xun mean by the title Na Han (Call to Arms)?

2.Arrange the following events in chronological order and mark the events with numbers.

_____ I determined to promote a literary movement and later planned to publish a magazine.

_____ I went to N and entered the K school to study.

_____ I wrote my first story, A Madman’s Diary.

_____ I busied myself among the pawnbroker’s, the medicine shop and home, trying to help my father get recovery.

_____ I went to a provincial medical college in Japan to study medical science.

_____ I stayed in S Hostel, copying ancient inscriptions.

Language Focus

1.Share with your partner the answers to the following questions, paying attention to the italicized words.

1) What do you think of a person being very inquisitive?

2) What particular behavior of a person is repellent to you?

3) How do you like some newspapers that print innuendo?

4) What kind of helpmate will be the kindred spirit of you?

5) How do you refute the idea that “life is but a dream”?

6) What measures do you usually take to dispel depression?

7) What advice would you proffer a net-addict?

8) Why do you think some charlatans could still get their tricks done?

2.Complete the following sentences with the proper forms of the following expressions.

1) My neighbor _______________ by lending me his car.

2) The gas tank is running low.We will _______________ at the next little town.

3) She _______________ the night before the race, saying she had an injury.

4) I twist the pillow over my head to _______________ the horrible sounds.

5) I feel keenly that my ability _______________ my wishes.

6) She _______________ the hope that her son was still alive.

7) Does my casual dress _______________ your regulations?

8) Her explosive laughter _______________ good spirits.

9) I hope they don’t _______________ a lawsuit to accomplish their goals.

10) The troubles started when John lost his job last March and things have_______________ ever since.

3.Learn some prefixes and suffixes and transform the words according to the given meanings.

Note: All words are structured starting with a root, and some are accompanied by prefixes and suffixes.It is far easier to understand the meaning of a word once the word is broken down as to its root, prefix and suffix.

A.Some prefixes can be used in front of many words to produce an opposite meaning, such as a-, un-, in-, im-, ir-, dis-, etc.

B.Some suffixes can be added to many verbs to form nouns, such as -ment, -ity, -(a)(t) ion, -ness, etc.

C.Some suffixes can be added to many nouns to form adjectives, such as -y, -ic, -ful,-less, etc.

D.The ending -able can be added to many verbs to form adjectives.

1) incapable of being revoked: ________ (adj.) (revoke)

2) the condition of being deprived of oxygen: ________ (n.) (suffocate)

3) unfavorable to life or growth: ________ (adj.) (congenial)

4) not to be accounted for or explained: ________ (adj.) (account)

5) not easily destroyed: ________ (adj.) (destroy)

6) not having enough money to pay for necessities: ________ (adj.) (penny)

4.Grammar: Degree of Comparison (II).

a.Translate the following sayings into Chinese.

1) Better late than never.

2) Actions speak louder than words.

3) Honesty is the best policy.

4) More haste, less speed.

5) A good plan today is better than a perfect plan tomorrow.

6) Failure is never quite so frightening as regret.

7) Better an open enemy than a false friend.

8) Blood is thicker than water.

9) Every man is his worst enemy.

10) Wisdom in the mind is better than money in the hand.

11) Two heads are better than one.

12) Good company on the road is the shortest cut.

b.Fill in each blank with the proper word.

1) But my father’s illness went from bad to ________ (worse/worst) until he died.

2) — Are you feeling ________ (any/quite) better?

— Yes, I’m fine now.

3) The number of registered participants in this year’s marathon was half ________ (those/ that) of last year’s.

4) — Do you regret paying five hundred dollars for the painting?— No, I would gladly have paid twice________ (so/as) much for it.

5) ________ (Of/Among) all visible lights, red light has the longest and violet the shortest wavelength.

6) It is better to die on one’s feet than ________ (living/to live) on one’s knees.

7) Smoking is so harmful to personal health that it kills seven ________ (more times/ times more) people each year than automobile accidents.

8) There is no reason they should limit how much vitamin you take, ________ (any/no) more than they can limit how much water you drink.

9) The chief reason for the population growth isn’t so much a rise in birth rates________ (as/or) a fall in death rates as a result of improvements in medical care.

10) He has written some very good poems, but he is ________ (better/more) known for his short stories.

Comprehensive Work

1.Refer to Text A and the following passage as well, and discuss the motives for writing.

Why I Write? (An excerpt)

George Orwell

Putting aside the need to earn a living, I think there are four great motives for writing, at any rate for writing prose.

They exist in different degrees in every writer, and in any one writer the proportions will vary from time to time, according to the atmosphere in which he is living.They are:

(1) Sheer egoism.Desire to seem clever, to be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on grown-ups who snubbed you in childhood, etc.It is humbug to pretend that this is not a motive, and a strong one...

(2) Aesthetic enthusiasm.Perception of beauty in the external world, or, on the other hand, in words and their right arrangement.Pleasure in the impact of one sound on another, in the firmness of good prose or the rhythm of a good story.Desire to share an experience which one feels is valuable and ought not to be missed...

(3) Historical impulse.Desire to see things, as they are, to find out true facts and store them up for the use of posterity.

(4) Political purpose — using the word “political” in the widest possible sense.Desire to push the world in a certain direction, to alter other people’s idea of the kind of society that they should strive after.Once again, no book is genuinely free from political bias.The opinion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political attitude.

It can be seen how these various impulses must war against one another, and how they must fluctuate from person to person and from time to time.

2.Translate the short excerpt into English by yourself.

这时候，我的脑里忽然闪出一幅神异的图画来：深蓝的天空中挂着一轮金黄的圆月，下面是海边的沙地，都种着一望无际的碧绿的西瓜，其间有一个十一二岁的少年，项带银圈，手捏一柄钢叉，向一匹猹尽力的刺去，那猹却将身一扭，反从他的**逃走了。

—《故乡》

3.Use the proper form of the words from the chart to fill in the blanks, and then compare your version with the version by the Yangs’.

At this point a strange picture suddenly _____ into my mind: a golden moon _____ in a deep blue sky and beneath it the seashore, planted as far as the eye could see with jade-green watermelons, while in their midst a boy of eleven or twelve, wearing a silver necklet and _____ a steel pitchfork in his hand, was_____ with all his might at a zha which _____ the blow and _____ between his legs.

3.Write an essay on the following topic.

What Makes a Successful Writer?

You are to write in three parts.In the first part state your opinion.In the second part, support your view with one or two reasons.In the last part, bring what you have written to a natural conclusion or summary.

Read More