林语堂用美妙的英文向世界介绍中国人和中国历史文化,但是,囿于所处时代、社会环境和个人经历,他的思想认识不免带有历史的局限。20世纪30年代至50年代正是中国国内动荡变迁、破旧立新的时期,特定的创作背景无疑也给他的作品留下印痕。显而易见地,比如当时对朝代称谓与历史纪元的划定不统一(如称清朝为Manchu Dynasty);且时无汉语拼音方案,专有名词均使用威妥玛拼音音译等。此外,也能发现作者在解读文化历史和社会生活现象时的不足,如反映在民族关系的表述上,称少数民族为foreignblood、foreign race,乃至以Chinese特指Han Chinese等。诸如此类,为不妨碍我们对文学和语言的鉴赏,在我们最大程度地保留作品原貌的同时,敬期读者明辨。
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
PROLEGOMENA
BOOK OF TAO
(The chapter headings indicate the text of Laotse; section headings indicate selections from Chuangtse.)
Book One THE CHARACTER OF TAO
Book Two THE LESSONS OF TAO
Book Three THE IMITATION OF TAO
Book Four THE SOURCE OF POWER
Book Five THE CONDUCT OF LIFE
Book Six THE THEORY OF GOVERNMENT
Book Seven APHORISMS
IMAGINARY CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN
LAOTSE AND CONFUCIUS
THE PRONUNCIATION OF CHINESE NAMES
CONVERSION TABLE OF CHAPTERS IN CHUANGTSE
WADE-GILES TO PINYIN CONVERSION TABLE
WORKS IN ENGLISH BY LIN YUTANG