Of SHUI HU CHUAN and Pearl S. Buck

[Isaac Ho, the Admin]

OF SHUI HU CHUAN AND PEARL S. BUCK

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By Isaac Ho, the Admin & Founder of this Forum

When I discuss about the late Ms. Pearl S. Buck, I am not only a fan of her novels (based on facts & history) about China in the

recent past, but I am very much delighted by her "classic" translation from Chinese to English of one of China's most famous

novel - Shui Hu Chuan or her rendering of the title to All Men Are Brothers (based on Confucius' famous saying - "Under

heaven, all men are brothers. How can one laments he is without one?...").

Actually, the title: Shui Hu Chuan is not  easily translatable nor easily understood even if rendered "accurately" into English.

Shui, generally means Water; whilst Hu  is either margin or border ; and the word Chuan is the equivalent of story or novel in

the English language.

Hence, Pearl S. Buck chooses to translate the Chinese title of this classic Chinese novel of Shui Hu Chuan as All Men are Brothers

since the novel itself comprises of one hundred and eight "outlaw" heroes which do a lot of good to oppose the forces of evil

(corrupted government officials) for the sake of the innocent and powerless common people of the Northern Sung Dynasty,

before it is eventually overthrown by the alien Mongol or Yuan Dynasty...which latterly is once again suffered demise at the

hands of the warrior-emperor named Chu Yuan Chang of the glorious Ming Dynasty...!

The Shui Hu Chuan, according to Pearl S. Buck was written towards the end of the thirteen century - the end of the Ming Dynasty.

This classic folk story was developed into its present form of some seventy chapters (some versions up to 120 chapters) by

the persistent and artistic story-tellers from year in and year out at the local tea taverns, where farmers spent a few pennies

drinking tea and cracking melon seeds to listen attentively to the delivery of the Shui Hu Chuan.

The story-tellers used their "prompt books" to relate the story of Shui Hu Chuan to the village folks and continue to expand the

story based on history and local facts of the heroes who used his well-trained martial arts (Kungfu) to help the people in trouble

and were bullied by tyrranical local officials who were law unto themselves.

There is a local saying in rural China: "The  mountain is high and the emperor is too far away to be effective...!"

Below is an excerpt of how Pearl S. Buck translated this classic Chinese novel, Shui Hu Chuan. 

Based on the 1933 version as translated by Pearl S. Buck...and in subsequent years, she was awarded to Nobel Prize in Literature.

"Introduction - This translation of one of China's most famous novels, "Shui Hu Chuan," does not pretend to be a scholar's efforts,

meticulous in explanation and documentation. Indeed, in translating this novel I have had no academic interest at all, and no

purpose beyond my delight in the original as an excellent tale excellently told. I have translated it as literally as possible, because

to me the style has been to make the translation as much like the Chinese as I could because I should like the readers who do not

know the language to have at least the illusion that they are reading an original work. I say effort , for although I do not pretend

to have succeeded, I have attempted to preserve the original meaning and style even to the point of leaving unenlivened those

parts which are less interesting in the Chinese also. For it is inevitable that so long a book should be uneven in quality..."

"The story of Shui Hu Chuan is set in the thirteenth century at a period in Chinese history when the Sung Dynasty was falling

into decadence and disorder under the reign of the Emperor Hung Chung. The plot is of a hundred and eight men, thirty-six of

whom are chief characters and seventy-two minor. These men are compelled for the various reasons of unjust officials, or an

oppressive government and evil conditions, to flee from society and take refuge on a great mountain set in a lake and surrounded

by a reedy marsh. The mountain is situated in Shantung province, a mountain so lofty as to "look into the mists," and the marsh

is threaded with winding, hidden waterways, admirable for ambush and attacks. Here these fugitives gather and organize them-

selves into a complex group having their own rigid laws not only of warfare but of conduct and courtesy. There is good authority

to believing that the tale is based on history, and that the thirty-six chief robbers (outlaws) were men who lived at the very end

of the north Sung Dynasty and who ravaged central China and defied the state soldiery.  Their reputation was very high among

the common people whom they never wantonly attacked and this fame spread far and wide and was told from generation to

generation. Bravery, and pity upon the poor and oppressed, and anger against the unfeeling rich men and against unjust rulers

are always expressed in the tales that are told of these men, were robbers and rebels against the state. To this day the region

around Liang Shan P'o is remembered, if not known, as a famous robbers' liar, and for centuries a strong state guard was

maintained there..."

"The story of the growth of Shui Hu Chuan  into its present form is an interesting one. Like many of the Chinese novels it is

developed rather than was written, and to this day its final author is unknown. It is said to be written by one Shi Nai-an, but

little is known of him except that it is said that he was a native of Huai-an in Kiangsu province, and became an official in

Ch'ien-t'ang in Chekiang province , after graduating as "chin shih" in the Yuan Dynasty..."

"It may be of interest to tell here of the method I used in translating. First I re-read the entire book carefully alone. Then Mr.

Lung (my teacher) read it aloud to me while I translated as accurately as I could, sentence by sentence. I found that by following

his reading I could translate more quickly but at the same time I kept my own copy of the original open beside me for constant

reference. After the translation was complete Mr. Lung  and I went over the entire book again comparing the translation word for

word with the original. As a still further precaution of accuracy I went over the work again with another Chinese friend..."

"Mr. Lung has shared my enthusiasm for the book, and he has confirmed me in my estimate of it as a picture of surpassing

faithfulness to the people it portrays... It is truly a picture of today, and it read by all classes of men with a perennial interest..."

Nanking - New York

June 26, 1933                                                                                                                                 Pearl S. Buck

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This famous Chinese classical novel Shui Hu Chuan  has been rendered into English in two volumes.

It is still available in print and one can even obtain it buying online at www.amazon. com

The version  which I used to write this article is based on the first 1933 version, published in United Kingdom by Methuen and

Co. Ltd, 36 Essex Street, Strand, London WC2 - published in two thick volumes, 1,279 pages.

I bought these two valuable volumes at the City Book Store, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur way back  in 1958 after they

were introduced to me by my beloved collague, Mr. Yap Poh Woh, an ardent reader of Chinese literature. And indeed, we

did shared the same interest. Later on, we managed to purchase other classical Chinese novel rendered in English -

namely: Hung Lou Meng or Dream of the Red Chamber; Chin Peng Mei or Golden Lotus; San Kuo Yen Yi or

The Romance of the Three Kingdoms; Liao Zhai or Stories from a Chinese Studio; Yeh Lin Wai Shi - The

Scholars; Pao Kung An - Collected Stories of Judge Di of the Tang Dynasty and last but not the least,

Ku Chin Chi Kuan - Stories Old and New.

Since I came to settle down in Canada, I had lost touch with former colleague and dear friend, Mr. Yap Poh Woh. He

used to live with his family along Jalan Loke Yew. If he were still alive (I hope so), this good friend of mine would be in

the 80 years old now. Wishing him all the best as it was him which was instrumental in introducing me the translated

series of my beloved ancestral homeland of CHINA. May God bless my Chinese brothers and sisters and keep the country

of China, strong and indomitable and pulsating with strength from year to year out...and able to defend and defeat all

its foes (Japland, United States, Vietnam and others) now and forever more. LONG LIVE CHINA AND THE CHINESE PEOPLE...!!!

 

[Isaac Ho, the Admin]

Attention: All visitors & guests of this Forum
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The late Pearl S. Buck, Nobel Laurate, has done a great job in "publicizing" China by her active participation,

keen observation and immense enthusiasm in writing about China and her innovative and frugal people.

Pearl S. Buck was born and grew up at a time in China, when China was still governed by the decadent and

corrupted Manchu or Ch'ing Dynasty (1644-1912) and she witnessed and sensed the country being fractionalized


and weak.

The country was turned into a "semi-colony" when the eight alien powers of the West including the despicable

Japland invaded China and tried to quell the Boxer Rebellion (1900). The Boxers could not stand the humiliation

of the occupying Western Powers including the despicable Japs which treated the Chinese people like animals...!

They even occupied Peking (Beijing), looted the Imperial Places and out of extreme jealousies, the French and

British armies ran amok under the instigation of Lord Elgin and summarily burned down the famous Yuan Ming

Yuan - the beautiful Imperial Gardens which was first started by Emperor Kang Hsi of the Manchus. After

plundering and looting the Imperial places and gardens, these hordes of foreign invaders (plus the robber

Japs) dedicated terms on the Manchu Empress-Dowager, Tzi Tzu in surrendering more lands, harbours and

levying of taxation. All these bullying methods were keenly observed by the growing and young Pearl S. Buck.

She settled down along the Yangtze River, China's longest river, and because of her talent and ability to

remember things, especially Chinese culture and history, she began to write articles and observations about

China and her people. She even wrote a small book about our national father of reform and revolution, Dr.

Sun Yat-Sen under the title of "The Man who changed China." I had read this book which told briefly the story

of China struggling into the modern era in the life and times of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. Apart from this book about

the political struggle in China, Pearl S. Buck also wrote the renown classic which endured to this day:

THE GOOD EARTH and its sequel: A House Divided and Sons. I have read all these books written by the able hands

of Pearl S. Book, which collectively were known as the Earth Trilogy - depicting in full details the rise of

the rich peasant Wang Lung and his faithful wife O-Lan, his sons thereafter and also his grandsons. All these

were based on the very keen observation of Pearl S. Buck at a time when China was ungoing a tremendous

turmoil.

Additionally, Pearl S. Buck also wrote intensively during the Sino-Japanese Wars, as she observed and even

took part by appealing for help from her government in United States. The books at this period by Pearl S. Buck

about the despicable Jap invaders were: The Patriot, Peony and Dragon Seeds. She also wrote about the Manchu

Empress-Dowager, Tzi Tzu under the title of "The Imperial Woman," a novelization of unsurpassed historical

accuracy. So active and creative was the mind of Pearl S. Buck that she memorialized her thoughts into such

books about China:- THE PAVILION OF WOMEN, KINFOLK, THE MOTHER, THE FIRST WIFE AND OTHER STORIES, as well

THE EAST AND WEST WIND. Such books about life in China have endured to this day and are still in print if

one is really interested in indulging into the past days of China, our beloved ancestral homeland, so well

portrayed and so accurately and culturally depicted by Pearl S. Buck. Indeed, she has done a great service

in popularizing China to the world before and during the traumatic period of the Second World War, including

the Pacific War as started by the Chief Warlord - Hirohito the so-called Emperor of Imperial Japan along with

his bunch of blood-thirsty samurais, one of which Kushi, the grandfather of the present Pig called Shinzo Abe

which continues to deny his country's blood invasion and committing of genocide in China and killing of

millions of innocent and unarmed Chinese.

Pearl S. Buck in her novels about China has seen them all about the atrocities committed by the bastardly and

cowardly Japs (including the running dog called Shinzo Abe in later years) of the Land of Deadly Radioactive

Sun.

History and culture had shown that Pearl S. Buck had performed and excellent service in telling the truth

about the people and life in China.

I think all Chinese people must not forget this one person's service performed by Pearl S. Buck.

May Almighty God bless her soul which rests in eternal peace...!

Looking back, I first became familiar with Pearl S. Buck's first book that I came across: THE GOOD EARTH, which

I borrowed from the USIS (United States Information Service) Library at Loke Yew Building, Kuala Lumpur

in the year 1953. Subsequently, I also read other books by Pearl S. Buck in cheap pocket editions, acquiring

them at the Hoy Kee Book Store along Jalan Mountbatten in Kuala Lumpur also. I treasure and continue to

read all these books after emigrating to Canada. To me, these books about China by Pearl S. Buck has opened

my inner yearning about wanting to know more about China and to appreciate that our Chinese culture and

continuous Chinese history are the best in this world and nothing can surpass them....Cheers!

[Isaac Ho, the Admin]

In Shui Hu Chuan - Pearl S. Buck translated one of the most interesting chapters which I would like to share
with members, visitors and readers of my forum.

Chapter 22 of Shui Hu Chuan, subtile: Ch'ai Chin presses his guests to stay. Wu Sung kills the great tiger of
Ch'ing Yang Ridge.
Wu Sung, the Shaolin Temple trained martial artist bid farewell to his respected friend, The Opportune Rain,
Sung Ching (future leader of the 108 heroes of the Marshy Lake of Liang Shan P'o)and sauntered up the Ch'ing
Yang Ridge to go home so that he could meet with his brother Wu the First, the cake seller which he had not
seen for a long time. He presently came to the wine tavern on the Ch'ing Yang Ridge which advertised its
brand of famous wine. It was emblazoned prominently upon a white cloth banner which read: "If you who drinks three bowls of my wine, and you cannot go over the Ridge." Sung Ching then sat down and ordered the wine seller
to sell him a huge jar of wine and he subsequently drank more than eighteen bowls which bewildered the owner!
Then Sung Ching left the wine tavern despite the earnest plea of the wine seller to be careful as there was
a huge man-eating tiger upon the forested part of the Ridge; and that usually travellers would go in a group
of thirty or more folks as there would be safety in numbers. But Sung Ching, now quite drunk, ignored the wine
seller's warning and sauntered upon the ridge. As soon as he reached a huge rock with a table top, he began to
feel the effect of the wine and jumped up and laid down. Soon he heard a series of roars coming from below. He stood up and spied upon a huge, slanted eye, white-eye brow tiger creeping towards the rock where he laid
down. Sung Ching jumped down on the rock and confronted the man-eating tiger. Sung Ching stood on a fighting
posture and fought with the tiger which lunged towards him. They both fell on the ground and Sung Ching used
his knife to tear opened the tiger's stomach and rendered it dead. In the mean time, two tiger hunters witnessed the duel between Sung Ching and the man-eating tiger. Both of them hailed him as the hero of Ch'ing
Yang Ridge. They carried the dead tiger into the city and reported the matter to the magistrate. Pretty soon,
the town folks shouted with joy and thanked Sung Ching for killing the man-eater and hailed him with a grand
procession down the main street with the title of "Hero who kill the man-eating Tiger of Ch'ing Yang Ridge, Sung Chiang. Hereafter, Sung Ching reunited with his elder brother and the story developed further from there...!
Thanks to Pearl S. Buck's enthusiasm to translate China's famous novel: Shui Hu Chuan for those who are not
able to read the story in Chinese. Cheers...!!!