Sword Of The Yueh Maiden

[Howard Wallace]

Red Flower was telling me earlier today about one of the famous kung-fu novel writers whose works she used to read when she was living in Beijing. His name is Jin Yong and he worked as a journalist. He is widely respected through the world's Chinese community, both for the content of his stories and for his mastery of the Chinese language. Only a few of his books have been translated into English, and they're a bit pricey. I found this short story of his online though. I read it this evening and thought it a good story. Some of you guys might like it.

Here it is.

If you take the time to read it please tell me what you think of it.

Take care. (Around pretty girls especially!)

 

[Astrodada]

I have read all of Jin Yong's works. Very addictive. Simply cannot put it down once you start.

 

[munk]

I'm very happy to learn of a writer I don't know who is good. Will look into it.



munk

 

[Kevin the grey]

Copyand filed for the moment . It will be interesting to see how it translates into English . I have read numerous technical journals that could get amazingly descriptive for an instruction manual .

 

[Astrodada]

Red Flower was telling me earlier today about one of the famous kung-fu novel writers whose works she used to read when she was living in Beijing. His name is Jin Yong and he worked as a journalist. He is widely respected through the world's Chinese community, both for the content of his stories and for his mastery of the Chinese language. Only a few of his books have been translated into English, and they're a bit pricey. I found this short story of his online though. I read it this evening and thought it a good story. Some of you guys might like it.

Here it is.

If you take the time to read it please tell me what you think of it.

Take care. (Around pretty girls especially!)

Jin Yong's a master of the Chinese language I do totally agree. One thing to note, his writing has such a natural flow to it that it is actually very easy to read, maybe that's why his works are so broadly appreciated as well.His style of writing is like a storyteller speaking to you in dialogue.

A master in using simple vocabulary to story telling.

btw. The Book of the Sword ,from the same link you had provided, is a longer and better novel. IIRC......that was his 1st book. But I like the Condor Hero better. Most think that is his best work. Well too bad it's not translated.

 

[Howard Wallace]

The Book of the Sword ,from the same link you had provided, is a longer and better novel. IIRC......that was his 1st book. But I like the Condor Hero better. Most think that is his best work. Well too bad it's not translated.

I didn't link to The Book and the Sword because that is now published in book form by a respected publishing house. The translator took it off his website when the publisher accepted it. Although there are still copies floating around on the web I didn't want to link to them.

The other large work that has been translated is The Deer and the Cauldron. Both these major translated works are available, for a price, on Amazon.

Red Flower an I spent a lot of last night looking at available Chinese video productions of Jin Yong's work. They have been done many times, both as tv series and as movies. We're planning to order several. Unfortunately, the company only delivers to the US at a relatively high cost, so we'll have them delivered to relatives in Beijing and either shipped to us or brough over when someone flys this direction.

Hopefully I can work on my understanding of rapid-fire spoken Chinese by watching them, even as I'm having fun.

 

[Astrodada]

The tv series that I eonjoyed most is my favorite Jin Yong's book as well. Oh never gonna translate it to an appropriete level but I'll try, "the condor shooter hero's story", .

One thing that strike me is that the characters of JY's novels started out as a nobody....like the novel that I had just mentioned, the main character is a young lad who was actually not very bright (couldn't speak until 6-8 I think). And the story described an uphill struggle.

And the other one you mention, the deer and the cauldron. that is a blast. Imagine a young kid, son of a whore, yes a whore, sneaky bastard who by chance in some sort of mix-up got into the royal palace as a unich ! befriened the king and started a wild journey !

Such is the diversity of the writer.

 

[Dave Rishar]

I liked it, and it saddens me that I'm forced to read a translation. How much was lost in the process?

 

[Howard Wallace]

I liked it, and it saddens me that I'm forced to read a translation. How much was lost in the process?

The translator said that he tried to translate faithfully, and rather than add or embelish he would leave stuff out that didn't translate well. Jin Yong agreed with his approach.

I suspect there are a lot of nuances missing. Not only are a lot of Chinese concepts broader than the English ones, requiring a choice of meanings when translating, but Chinese writing is replete with references to cultural history that can not really be understood by someone outside the culture without lots of explanatory footnotes that might break up the flow of a novel.

 

[Yvsa]

I suspect there are a lot of nuances missing.

Not only are a lot of Chinese concepts broader than the English ones, requiring a choice of meanings when translating, but Chinese writing is replete with references to cultural history that can not really be understood by someone outside the culture without lots of explanatory footnotes that might break up the flow of a novel.

I liked the story, kept me wondering what was gonna happen next.:thumbup:
But I felt that the author was assuming I knew a lot of things I didn't and that made it hard for me to follow the story in different parts.
I'd read more by the author but probably wouldn't buy any books because I did feel something was lost in the translation.
Perhaps if I knew more about Chinese Culture and history I wouldn't feel that way, it's highly possible.