吳偉華
內(nèi)容摘要:《道德經(jīng)》中“有”“無”是出現(xiàn)最多的文字,是理解其核心概念“道”的關(guān)鍵。有無兩字不僅具有獨(dú)立意義,還與其他字詞構(gòu)成復(fù)合概念,如“無身”、“無為”等?!坝小薄盁o”這些語(yǔ)義群可以概括并貫通“道”在本體論、存在論、矛盾論、方法論四方面的含義,在翻譯時(shí)應(yīng)區(qū)別對(duì)待,不能一概而論。從各大譯家對(duì)“有”“無”的翻譯可以反觀其對(duì)道的理解,在此基礎(chǔ)上使譯文兼顧同一層面的一致性以及不同層面之間的差異性和互通性。
關(guān)鍵詞:《道德經(jīng)》;有;無;無為;英譯
Abstract: You (有) and Wu (無), the most frequently used characters in Tao Teh Ching, are the key to comprehending its core concept Tao. These two characters, apart from their respective meanings, can combine with other words to form some complex concepts, such as Wushen (body-free) and Wuwei (actionless action). These groups of meanings can summarize and interconnect the meanings of Tao from four aspects: ontology, existence, dialectics, and methodology, and accordingly should be translated discriminatively. An analysis of some renowned translators versions can provide a review of how they understand Tao. Based on their understandings, the authors versions are put forward in an effort to guarantee consistence within the same aspect and variance between different aspects.
Key words: Tao Teh Ching; You; Wu; actionless action; English translation
一、引言
《道德經(jīng)》是一部以道為最高概念和范疇,闡釋宇宙起源與本原、萬物運(yùn)作規(guī)律、修身治國(guó)原則的經(jīng)典。道是萬物之源,“道生一,一生二,二生三,三生萬物。”而“有”“無”是道的兩大屬性,“有無相生”,“此兩者,同出而異名”,道是有無的統(tǒng)一體(張岱年,《中國(guó)哲學(xué)大綱》140-141)。道的性質(zhì)和應(yīng)用均以有無來闡述,如“道之為物……其中有象”、“是謂無狀之狀,無物之象”,又如“有之以為利,無之以為用”等。有無不僅獨(dú)立表意,還與其他字詞組成復(fù)合概念,如老子的核心理念“無為”。有無兩字在經(jīng)中分別出現(xiàn)82次和99次,均多于“道”76次。因此,欲通曉大道之理,必先了解有無之意。同理,英譯此書時(shí),有無之譯更是首要解決的提綱挈領(lǐng)性的問題?!坝小焙汀盁o”常譯為Being和Nonbeing,“無為”則譯為inaction或doing nothing之類,是否合適值得深究。一則,西哲之Being是否與老子之“有”相通值得探討;二則,inaction這一“不作為”是否體現(xiàn)無為之“無”更需商榷。本文旨在以有無之意貫通大道之理,并通過分析若干英譯反觀譯家對(duì)道的理解,同時(shí)提出拙譯以體現(xiàn)筆者道之解與道之譯的連貫性和統(tǒng)一性。
二、道體之“有無”——本體論
道首先具有形而上的本體論一面,老子基于宇宙生成論開創(chuàng)中國(guó)古代哲學(xué)本體論。老子指出“天下有始,以為天下母”。此“始”即道,天地萬物的最高本原是道,道之為本體不僅在于創(chuàng)生萬物,還在于創(chuàng)生萬物之后內(nèi)化于萬物,成為“萬物之奧”,繼續(xù)作為萬物的內(nèi)在依據(jù)永恒存在著,故老子的道論是一種本體論(張岱年 98-100)。
道作為萬物本體,其生發(fā)萬物的機(jī)制通過有無這對(duì)范疇來體現(xiàn),即“天下萬物生于有,有生于無。”有無是老子本體論中對(duì)萬物終極本原的最高抽象和概括。翻譯有無可否套用西方哲語(yǔ),且看以下譯例:
例1? 天下萬物生于有,有生于無。
林語(yǔ)堂:The things of this world come from Being,And Being (comes) from Non-being.(151)
辜正坤:All things of the world are born from Existence (Being),And Being from Nothingness.(181)
許淵沖:All things in the world come into being with a form;the form comes from the formless.(55)
1. Being 和 Nonbeing
道之有最易讓人聯(lián)想起西方哲語(yǔ)Being。Being作為西哲本體論的最高概括,最先由巴門尼德提出。巴氏認(rèn)為宇宙唯一的實(shí)體是Being,Being不生不滅、不變不動(dòng)、不可分割(Kenny, Ancient Philosophy 18)。Being是萬物的統(tǒng)一概括,萬物即Being,Being即萬物。據(jù)此,道所言之萬物又怎能生于自身——Being?
與有譯為Being對(duì)應(yīng),無常譯為Nonbeing,這有兩點(diǎn)值得探討。其一,從語(yǔ)言邏輯上講,既然“有生于無”,“無”的概念就要比“有”更根本,能否用一個(gè)衍生概念(non-)來闡述一個(gè)本源概念?在西哲中之所以有Nonbeing,是因?yàn)槠浔倔w論的根本是Being,而Nonbeing由其對(duì)立衍生。這與道之有無的關(guān)系恰好相反。其二,有無作為道的兩種屬性,是對(duì)本體終極性的最高抽象,故從哲學(xué)思辨而言,王蒙(《老子的幫助》130)指出Nonbeing實(shí)指“非有”,并非等于“無”,同理,“非無”亦非等同“有”。王蒙認(rèn)為這種終極抽象思辨與后來佛教一脈相承,如《宗鏡錄》就明確區(qū)分有、無、有無、非有、非無有等。據(jù)此,以Nonbeing譯“無”或有似是而非之嫌。
2. Existence 和 Nothingness
辜譯避開Being和Nonbeing的糾結(jié),用Existence譯“有”(Existence 的抽象性和本體性含義弱于Being,本文將其納入存在論范疇討論),Nothingness譯“無”。Nothingness(也有譯家用naught和void)即空無一物,似與“無”相通,實(shí)則有異。一,道體是“有物混成”,“道之為物,惟恍惟惚”。這均表明道并非空無,而是真實(shí)存在,是超越現(xiàn)象界的絕對(duì)實(shí)存之物。二,Nothingness強(qiáng)調(diào)的是現(xiàn)象界的“無物”狀態(tài),屬于存在論范疇,而道的屬性“無”具有本體論的意義。陳鼓應(yīng)(《老子今注今譯》78)認(rèn)為“無”并非絕對(duì)虛無,而是天地之始的狀態(tài),是孕育萬物之母,是蘊(yùn)涵著無限之“有”的一種潛藏力、可能性(Potentiality)。
3. form 和 formless
許譯避開“物生于物”(come from being)這種矛盾邏輯,另辟蹊徑,將“生于”釋譯為“生成”(come into being),并以實(shí)譯虛將有無具化為有形(form)和無形(formless),這顯然便于理解,但似與道的本體之意有別。一,有無是道不可分割的屬性,是道一而二、二而一的兩面性。若譯為form和formless則割裂了這種兩面性,將有形賦予萬物,無形賦予道。二,無形只是道具有的一種體征,況且道并非純粹無形,而是“無狀之狀”(a formless form),以“形狀”言道只是就道的特征而言,并非本體論范疇?!盁o”比“無形”具有更高的概括性,具有更形而上的本體抽象性。
道之有無是老子哲學(xué)的特有概念,在本體論層面是與陰陽(yáng)具有同一高度的哲學(xué)范疇。馮友蘭(A Short History of Chinese Philosophy 95)在其《中國(guó)哲學(xué)小史》英文版中第一次提及有無時(shí)就直接用Yu和Wu指代being和non-being。因此,如同yin和yang已被西方接受,有無也可用拼音加注譯出:
All things in the world come from You (what actualizes being),
And You from Wu (what potentializes being).
what 句式體現(xiàn)有無的抽象性。陳鼓應(yīng)(《老子今注今譯》78)指出“無”是指道的形而上性,是蘊(yùn)涵“有”的一種潛藏力,“有”是指形而上之道蘊(yùn)涵無限未顯現(xiàn)的生機(jī),最終落向形而下的世界而創(chuàng)生萬物。道創(chuàng)生萬物的過程就是其潛能由隱(無)到顯(有)的過程,故譯文用actualize和potentialize體現(xiàn)兩者屬性。
例2? 無,名天地之始;有,名萬物之母。
辜正坤:The word Nothingness may be used?to designate the beginning of Heaven and Earth;The word Existence (Being) may be used?to designate the mother of all things.(59)
許淵沖:In the beginning heaven and earth are nameless;when named, all things become known.(13)
該句出自第一章,開宗明義提出道的本體論思想,其有無之意與例1互文貫通?!疤煜氯f物生于有”,故“有”為“萬物之母”;“有生于無”,故“天地之始”始于“無”。有無“此兩者同出而異名”,是道的兩種屬性。辜正坤正是按此本體論思想譯出。
另,該句還有第二種讀法:“無名,天地之始;有名,萬物之母?!痹S淵沖據(jù)此譯出。許譯中nameless和named均指天地萬物,而非針對(duì)道而言。辜譯是從本體論出發(fā),而許譯則是以認(rèn)知論為視角。
本文從本體論出發(fā),贊同第一種讀法,認(rèn)為老子開篇即提綱挈領(lǐng)指出道是有無的統(tǒng)一體,有無是道的兩種屬性的別名,據(jù)此試譯如下:
Tao, by the name of Wu, is the origin of Heaven and Earth;Tao, by the name of You, is the mother of all things.?(Wu 和 You 注釋同例1,從略)
拙譯力圖點(diǎn)明道作為生發(fā)萬物的始源,體現(xiàn)其屬性有無與例 1 在本體論語(yǔ)意上的貫通,確保同一層面中同一概念的譯文的統(tǒng)一。
三、道器之有無——存在論
上文論述的是形而上的道體之有無,是從本體論范疇闡述道創(chuàng)生萬物的功能。道生萬物,“樸散則為器”。形而上之道向下落實(shí)衍生萬物則化為器,器生則有,器滅則無。此處有無是指器物的存在與否,是針對(duì)現(xiàn)象界的事物而言,有別于上文本體論中道體的有無。
例3? 埏埴以為器,當(dāng)其無,有器之用……故有之以為利,無之以為用。
許淵沖:When there is something, it is beneficial;When empty, it is useful.(23)
辜正坤:Hence the substance (Being) can provide a condition?Under which usefulness is found,But the Nothingness (space) is the usefulness itself.(87)
林語(yǔ)堂:Therefore by the existence of things we profit.And by the non-existence of things we are served.(43)
此句闡述實(shí)存之物有無的關(guān)系。埏埴(揉和陶土)只有中空、無物,才能成為器皿。此處,無指空無,是物體之無,實(shí)存之無。有則相反,指客觀物體的實(shí)際存在。這與例1和例2中本體論層面上的有無顯然不屬于同一范疇。
許譯將“有”具體化為there is something(有物),將“無”具體化為empty(空無),指車轂、器皿、房屋中空之意,不作抽象延伸,具體明了。
辜譯則一概以Being和Nothingness譯有無,以求全書譯文的一致性,此處補(bǔ)充其具體所指substance和space,虛實(shí)結(jié)合,釋譯互補(bǔ)。
林譯最能體現(xiàn)有無在本體論與存在論之間的區(qū)別。林語(yǔ)堂用Being和Non-being譯本體論之有無,而用existence和non-existence譯存在論之有無。陳鼓應(yīng)(《老子注譯及評(píng)介》225)亦贊同作此區(qū)別。
以上三譯從最具體的something和empty到次之的substance和space,再到最抽象的 existence和non-existence,體現(xiàn)譯者對(duì)有無的不同理解和翻譯角度,也體現(xiàn)老子有無觀的多重解讀性,筆者不妨補(bǔ)譯一例:
Thus it is existence that is of use,While it is nonexistence that puts it to use.
筆者認(rèn)為“以為利”是指“有”提供一種可供利用的可能性,而“以為用”則表示這種可能性必須通過“無”來實(shí)現(xiàn)。這與有無在本體論中actualize和potentialize的關(guān)系是相通的,也體現(xiàn)了本文強(qiáng)調(diào)的觀點(diǎn):不同層面的有無之意雖有差異,但其譯文可以互通互釋。
現(xiàn)象界的有無這對(duì)概念是否非此即彼,絕對(duì)對(duì)立?老子認(rèn)為:
例4? 故有無相生,難易相成,長(zhǎng)短相形……
辜正坤:Therefore Existence and Nothingness beget each other.(61)
許淵沖:For “to be” and “not to be” co-exist.(14)
韋利:For truly Being and Not-being grow out of one another.(5)
理雅各:So it is that existence and non-existence give birth the one to (the idea of) the other. (7)
該句“有無相生”與例1“天下萬物生于有,有生于無”有所區(qū)別。從該句語(yǔ)境判斷,美丑、善惡、難易、長(zhǎng)短等均為現(xiàn)象界中可感可知的主觀概念,屬于形而下范疇,是人類有了分別心后對(duì)道化生之器的價(jià)值判斷(張其成,《全解道德經(jīng)》43)。因此“有無相生”并非形而上本體論范疇的有生無、無生有之意,而是有無兩種現(xiàn)象相互以對(duì)方的存在而存在。如例3,器皿之“有”正是因其中空“無”物,而皿中“無”物實(shí)則皿中“有”了空間。
以上4譯中,許譯的to be和not to be引用得很精彩,能立即引起西方讀者的聯(lián)想,但均表示以現(xiàn)存之狀態(tài)推及未存之狀態(tài)。若按傳統(tǒng)being作“有”、“存在”解,“to be”則為“將有”、“將存在”,“not to be”則為“將沒有”、“將不存在”,均是基于現(xiàn)在對(duì)未來的推測(cè)。這與原文有無表示現(xiàn)存事物的存在與否似有出入。
在例3中,筆者已贊同使用existence和nonexistence翻譯現(xiàn)象界實(shí)存物之有無。此外,從存在意義而言,筆者建議或可另創(chuàng)兩詞There-being和Non-there-being(從存現(xiàn)句there be句式而來),以區(qū)別并對(duì)應(yīng)于本體論有無的傳統(tǒng)譯詞Being和Nonbeing。
此句另一關(guān)鍵點(diǎn)是“生”。除許譯外,其余三譯均將其譯為生成之意,即beget、grow、birth,而根據(jù)上文分析,此“生”并非本體論中生發(fā)、化生之意,實(shí)指存在論中生存、共存之意。據(jù)此,筆者贊同許譯所用co-exist一詞。綜上試譯一例:
There-being and Non-there-being inter-depend to exist.
There-being即Existence,Non-there-being即Non-existence。一物現(xiàn)“有”亦包含其將“無”的潛在性,一物尚“無”亦包含其將“有”的可能性,這就是有無共存,有無相生。
上文以有無兩字之意為綱,從本體論言,有無是道作為宇宙本體的屬性,體現(xiàn)其生發(fā)萬物的具體能力和潛在可能;從存在論言,有無是道散為器的屬性,體現(xiàn)萬物存在與否這一現(xiàn)象的兩種狀態(tài)。
四、道質(zhì)之有無——矛盾論
道為何物?老子在闡述道的性質(zhì)和特征時(shí)也是極用有無兩字,并在描述中展現(xiàn)其樸素的矛盾辯證思想。下文從道的外在之狀與內(nèi)在之德進(jìn)行論述。
4.1? 道之狀
道作為宇宙本原,乃“有物混成,先天地生。寂兮寥兮,獨(dú)立而不改,周行而不殆,可以為天地母”?!暗乐疄槲?,惟恍惟惚”,“其中有象”、“其中有物”、“其中有精”。老子用“有”說明道是真實(shí)的存在體,同時(shí)又用“無”來闡明其有中之無的另一特性。道“是謂無狀之狀,無物之象,是謂惚恍”。道既“有物有象”,此句又言道為“無物之象”,老子正是以這種矛盾方式來說明道具有大而無狀、有象無形、有物無名的實(shí)而又虛、既有又無的質(zhì)地。
“道之為物”與萬物之為物是否同物同質(zhì)?通過以下譯文可反觀譯家如何理解此物。
例5? 有物混成,先天地生。
辜正坤:There is a thing integratedly formed?And born earlier than Heaven and Earth.(131)
林語(yǔ)堂:Before the Heaven and Earth existedThere was something nebulous.(95)
許淵沖:There was chaos before the existence of heaven and earth.(37)Bynner:Before creation a presence existed,Self-contained, complete, formless …(40)
此句之“有”表示存在,譯為there be或exist。道之物分別譯為a thing、something、chaos、presence,從實(shí)指到虛指,從具體到抽象。用thing(something)譯“物”是否妥當(dāng)?由于萬物通常譯為all things,而道又是all things之母,因此以thing譯道是否將道過于物化、器化?范應(yīng)元(《道德經(jīng)古本集注》517)指出“道本不可以物言,然不曰有物,則無以明道”。許淵沖和Bynner使用抽象的chaos和presence就是避免將道形而下為thing。chaos綜合了“有物”和“混成”兩意,而presence在西方哲學(xué)中常用于表示實(shí)存之物。
上例是從“有”言道之為物,下例則從“無”言道之無物。
例6? …復(fù)歸于無物,是謂無狀之狀,無物之象,是謂惚恍。
辜正坤:It is categorized as Nothingness,And is called the shape without shape as well as the image without substance.It is hence named as “huhuang” (vague and dimly visible).(95)
林語(yǔ)堂:… And reverts again to the realm of nothingness.That is why it is called the Form of the Formless,The Image of Nothingness. That is why it is called the Elusive.(54-55)
許淵沖:…it ends in nothing. It is a formless form, an image of nothing.It seems to be and not to be.(26)
若言道之為物,則是無物之物、惚恍之物。此處“無物”并非nothing、nothingness或without substance,而是此實(shí)在之物呈現(xiàn)出“無”的特性,近于seemingly nonexistent?!盁o”是修飾語(yǔ),而不是否定詞。有無是道之為物的一體兩面,并非指道一會(huì)是 thing,一會(huì)又變成 nothing。
惚恍之意,辜譯用拼音加注huhuang(vague and visible);林譯用Elusive;許譯仍是青睞引用to be and not to be,可見“惚恍”與“有無”同解。
在例5中,筆者已贊同用presence指代道的物性、實(shí)存性,此句沿用該詞以體現(xiàn)譯文的連貫和統(tǒng)一,試譯為:
It turns out to be a matterless presence, with a formless form and an imageless image, which seems nonexistent while existent.
道之為物不可直言其有或無,拙譯用一系列矛盾修飾來體現(xiàn)道為無物之物、無狀之狀、無象之象。至于惚恍,蕭天石(《道德經(jīng)圣解》139)認(rèn)為是指道實(shí)有而若無,似無而實(shí)有,即seems nonexistent while existent。
4.2? 道之德
何謂德?“道生之,德畜之;長(zhǎng)之育之……生而不有……長(zhǎng)而不宰。是謂玄德?!钡郎f物,道內(nèi)化于萬物即為德,德是道之性質(zhì)的體現(xiàn)。玄德即與道玄同,是最高之德,亦稱上德。上德和下德與有德和無德的辯證關(guān)系如下:
例7? 上德不德,是以有德;下德不失德,是以無德。
許淵沖:A man of high virtue does not claim he has virtue, so he is virtuous.A man of low virtue claims he has not lost virtue, so he is virtueless.(53)
辜正坤:A man of the great virtue (Teh) does not claim to be of virtue,Thus he is of the true virtue.A man of the small virtue always holds fast to the virtue in form.Thus he is actually of no virtue.(173)
林語(yǔ)堂:The man of superior character is not (conscious of his) character.Hence he has character.The man of inferior character (is intent on) not losing character.Hence he is devoid of character.(143)
上德因任天性之自然而行,無心于德,有德而不以德為德;下德則刻意守德、行德,反而失德、無德。不德而有德的矛盾最體現(xiàn)為不爭(zhēng)之德和不大之德,因“以其不爭(zhēng),故天下莫能與之爭(zhēng)”;“以其終不自為大,故能成其大?!?/p>
德是道內(nèi)在于萬物的本質(zhì),許譯virtue,辜亦譯virtue但加注拼音Teh,林譯character,另有韋利譯power,理雅各譯attribute,不一而足,本文不作討論。此處關(guān)注如何表述不德而德所體現(xiàn)的有而無、無而有的矛盾。三位譯家均采用一正一反的處理方式,如許譯not claim -> virtuous、not lost -> virtueless,此法可效。另,三譯文皆將德具體化為有德之人(a man of virtue),筆者認(rèn)為或可還原德的寬泛性、普適性,試譯為:
The high virtue is a virtue not intended but gained;The low virtue is a virtue not forsaken but in vain.
德另解為“得”(gain),不德而“得”,不失德反而無“得”,這就是老子對(duì)德之“有無”即“得失”的辯證觀。老子推崇的是不德而德的無為之德,無為則涉及到老子如何用道的方法論問題。
五、道用之有無——方法論
“弱者,道之用”,老子道論的價(jià)值主要在于其辯證思維具有方法論的指導(dǎo)意義,所謂推天道以明人事。老子從道在本體論意義上的有無推導(dǎo)出方法論意義上的有無。道用的總原則是尚“弱”、用“無”,修身要“無身”,治國(guó)要“無為”。
5.1? 修身之“無身”
道為宇宙本原,是人效法之原型。老子常以天之道推及人之道,如“天之道,利而不害;圣人之道,為而不爭(zhēng)”,又如“天長(zhǎng)地久。天地所以能長(zhǎng)且久者,以其不自生,故能長(zhǎng)生。是以圣人后其身而身先;外其身而身存?!边@就是以道之德教導(dǎo)人要后身、外身、無身,否則“寵辱若驚,貴大患若身”。
例8? 吾所以有大患者,為吾有身,及吾無身,吾有何患?故貴以身為天下,若可寄天下……
許淵沖:…Because we have a body.If we had not a body, how can we be affected?...(25)
辜正坤:…Because my life and body is the very source of great trouble.If I have no life and body, what trouble can I suffer?...(91)
林語(yǔ)堂:…because we have a self.When we do not regard that self as self, what have we to fear?...(48)Bynner:…Because a man thinks of the personal body as self.When he no longer thinks of the personal body as self.Neither failure nor success can ail him….(31)
老子認(rèn)為圣人要平天下須得修身、貴身,道家修的是“無身”之身,以天下為身。道“無”而“有”天下,身“無”而可寄托天下,所謂“反者道之動(dòng)”,這就是老子推道及身的道用方法論。
何謂“無身”?許譯與辜譯皆用have not a body(或 life and body)。然而無身并非真無此身,而是無身之念,是無我之心(蕭天石,《道德經(jīng)圣解》132)。所以林譯以self代body,“無身”譯為not regard that self as self,而Bynner則兼用body和self譯為no longer thinks of the personal body as self,受此啟發(fā),筆者試譯一例:
The reason why I am subjected to worries is that my self is confined to a body.If my self is free from the body, what will worry me?
老子的無身之教即無我之教,無我即去我之有、解我之囿,如佛家所言去除“我執(zhí)”,故反能成大我,大則與道同,與天下同,“若可寄天下”。
5.2? 治國(guó)之“無為”
無為是老子治國(guó)的核心理念?!皭蹏?guó)治民,能無為乎?”,答曰“為無為,則無不治”。這一理念同樣引申自道?!疤煜轮寥?,馳騁天下之至堅(jiān)。無有入無間,吾是以知無為之有益”。老子由道之“無有”推及道之“無為”。道行天下,如江川入海,自然而然,無為而成,故“道常無為而無不為。侯王若能守之,萬物將自化”。這就是老子由道之“無為”推及治之“無為”。何謂“無為”?且看各譯家如何理解。
例9? 無有入無間,吾是以知無為之有益。
辜正坤:What consists of no substance can enter what has no crevices.I thus know the benefit of inaction.(191)
許淵沖:There is no space but the matterless can enter.Thus I see the utility of doing nothing.(58)
林語(yǔ)堂:That-which-is-without-form penetrates that-which-has-no-crevice;Through this I know the benefit of taking no action.(159)
韋利:Being substanceless it can enter even where is no space;That is how I know the value of action that is actionless.(93)
原文從“無有”推導(dǎo)出“無為”,這兩詞在構(gòu)詞和語(yǔ)義上均有承接之勢(shì);而上譯中,no substance/matterless與inaction/doing nothing在構(gòu)詞方式和邏輯語(yǔ)義上似欠連貫;其次,無為是否一事不為(doing nothing)、無所作為(taking no action)?非也,無為不是不為,而是圣人效法道的一種處事方式,舉一例為證:
例10? 是以圣人處無為之事,行不言之教。
辜正坤:Thus the sage behaves without taking unnatural action,Teaches without using words.(63)
許淵沖:Therefore the sage does everything without interference,teaches everyone without persuasion.(14)
林語(yǔ)堂:Therefore the Sage: Manages affairs without action;Preaches the doctrine without words.(7)
韋利:Therefore the Sage relies on actionless activity,Carries on wordless teaching.(5)
無為之“無”并非“沒有”、“不要”之意。無不是對(duì)為的否定,而是限定(qualified),無是為的一種方式。因此無為就是以無的原則而為,無為是一種處事態(tài)度和方式(任繼愈3-5)。無為實(shí)質(zhì)就是“為無為”,韋利的譯文較能體現(xiàn)這種關(guān)系:“無為”譯為actionless action,“處無為之事”譯為relies on actionless activity。
無為是老子思想的精髓,英譯應(yīng)以固定術(shù)語(yǔ)一以貫之,以向西方讀者固化此特有概念。正如筆者上文用矛盾修飾法處理道質(zhì)之有無,此處也建議采用韋利的矛盾修飾表述actionless activity來翻譯無為,并用相關(guān)詞性變化將這一“術(shù)語(yǔ)族”固定下來,如take actionless/inactive actions、act inactively、act in an actionless way等。據(jù)此,例9試譯如下:
From the fact that the formless form can enter spaceless space,I realize the benefit of actionless action.
“無有”是指類似于道之實(shí)有而似無的質(zhì)地。此處用三對(duì)矛盾修飾語(yǔ)貫連無有、無間、無為的內(nèi)在聯(lián)系。例10試譯如下:
Therefore the sage takes actionless action and does wordless teaching.(或 acts in an inactive way and teaches by wordless means)
這種同詞異構(gòu)的矛盾表述法一則符合道“玄之又玄”的妙性,二則易于形成固定術(shù)語(yǔ)族,便于“文化走出去”時(shí)溝通交流。
總言之,道用之法則就是用“弱”、用“無”,修身要無身、無心,治國(guó)要無為、無事,此處之“無”并非沒有之意,而是效仿道體之無,用“無”之“有”。
綜上,道之有無在四個(gè)層面上的關(guān)系、意義、及其英譯示例見下表。
六、結(jié)語(yǔ)
老子之道可謂“有無”之道,從形而上的道體之有無落實(shí)到形而下的器物之有無、到修身治國(guó)之有無,有無之意貫通道論之根本——本體論、存在論、矛盾論和方法論?!坝袩o”之意所體現(xiàn)的道論各部分既獨(dú)立又連貫,因此譯語(yǔ)應(yīng)追求各部分之內(nèi)的一致性以及各部分之間的差異性和互通性,形成較為連貫和固定的譯文,便于西方讀者理解和引述。道具有多面性,允許多重釋譯,任何譯本均提供一種獨(dú)特視角,并可從中反觀原文之意,實(shí)乃“原譯相生”,互通有無,譯之道也。
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責(zé)任編輯:翁逸琴