getting back to the ZGC
Mar. 31st, 2009 12:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ximenOkay, spring break is over, and so I have structure in my day again. This means more translations. This story is interesting, because it focuses more on household politics than international politics.
Important stuff:
Wei, a warring state. In this one the ruler is called king, so either the author is being extra-respectful, or this story post-dates Lord Wei.
Chu, a really big warring state to the south
Zheng Xiu, the king of Chu's primary wife, which means that her son will be the one to inherit.
The King of Wei sent the King of Chu a beautiful girl. The King of Chu was pleased with her. His primary wife, Zheng Xiu, knew that the king's happiness was due to the new girl, and she greatly cared for the new girl. In clothes and finery, toys and baubles, Zhengxiu selected for the girl whatever she liked. In all her rooms and quarters Zhengxiu selected for the girl whatever she found good. She cared for her even more than the king did. The king said, "The way a wife can please her husband is through sensual pleasures, and so jealousy is her natural state. Now Zheng Xiu knows that Our pleasure is in the new girl. She cares for her even more than We do. This is a filial child's way of serving his father, a loyal vassal's way of serving his lord." Zheng Xiu knew that the king did not think her jealous, an so she addressed the new girl, saying, "The king cares for your beauty. But although this is so, he hates your nose. When you are going to see the king, you must cover your nose." The new girl saw the king, and because of Zheng Xiu covered her nose. The king addressed Zheng Xiu, saying, "Whenever the new girl sees Us, she covers her nose. Why?" Zheng Xiu said, "I know about that, but..." The king said, "Even if it is hateful, you must speak of it." Zheng Xiu said, "Perhaps it is because she hates to smell my lord's stench?" The king said, "How dare she!" He ordered the new girl de-nosed, and there were none who would disobey the order.
translation note: I know "de-nose" is not a word, but the text uses a specific character that means "to cut off someone's nose." I wanted to preserve the specificity of that.
Important stuff:
Wei, a warring state. In this one the ruler is called king, so either the author is being extra-respectful, or this story post-dates Lord Wei.
Chu, a really big warring state to the south
Zheng Xiu, the king of Chu's primary wife, which means that her son will be the one to inherit.
The King of Wei sent the King of Chu a beautiful girl. The King of Chu was pleased with her. His primary wife, Zheng Xiu, knew that the king's happiness was due to the new girl, and she greatly cared for the new girl. In clothes and finery, toys and baubles, Zhengxiu selected for the girl whatever she liked. In all her rooms and quarters Zhengxiu selected for the girl whatever she found good. She cared for her even more than the king did. The king said, "The way a wife can please her husband is through sensual pleasures, and so jealousy is her natural state. Now Zheng Xiu knows that Our pleasure is in the new girl. She cares for her even more than We do. This is a filial child's way of serving his father, a loyal vassal's way of serving his lord." Zheng Xiu knew that the king did not think her jealous, an so she addressed the new girl, saying, "The king cares for your beauty. But although this is so, he hates your nose. When you are going to see the king, you must cover your nose." The new girl saw the king, and because of Zheng Xiu covered her nose. The king addressed Zheng Xiu, saying, "Whenever the new girl sees Us, she covers her nose. Why?" Zheng Xiu said, "I know about that, but..." The king said, "Even if it is hateful, you must speak of it." Zheng Xiu said, "Perhaps it is because she hates to smell my lord's stench?" The king said, "How dare she!" He ordered the new girl de-nosed, and there were none who would disobey the order.
translation note: I know "de-nose" is not a word, but the text uses a specific character that means "to cut off someone's nose." I wanted to preserve the specificity of that.
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Date: 2009-04-02 08:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-04-03 02:35 am (UTC)