A day in the life of a martial artist in medieval China - Peter Lorge

翻译人员: Hilda Lee 校对人员: Bruce Wang

At dawn one morning in 1030 CE,

公元1030年的某天清晨，

Chu Hong wakes to the sound of fast-approaching footsteps.

朱红醒来时听到快速逼近 的脚步声。

His best friend, Liang Gao, rushes to him.

他最好的朋友，梁高，冲到他身边。

The local magistrate has been spotted holding a surprise archery competition

当地地方法官被发现在附近的城镇 举行一场惊喜

in a nearby town and will arrive at their village soon.

的射箭比赛，并将很快 抵达他们的村庄。

This is Hong’s chance to showcase his talents—

这是Hong展示自己的才华的机会，

and secure some much-needed money for his family,

也为他的家人争取到一些急需的钱，

which is still reeling from the loss of his father.

当他的家人仍在为丧父之痛而耿耿于怀。

The news clouds Hong’s mind as he tends his family’s millet field.

当洪照看家里的小米田时， 这个消息让他大吃一惊。

When he returns home, his sister, Zhi, and mother, Lihua, have already heard.

当他回到家时，他的妹妹Zhi 和母亲Lihua已经听说了。

Lihua serves breakfast,

Lihua 供应早餐，

then returns to the task that kept her up last night: her silkworms.

然后又回到了昨晚让 她无法入睡的任务：她的蚕子。

There’s little money left from her husband’s farm work,

她丈夫的农活所剩 的钱很少，

which she's meagerly supplemented with her weavings,

她的编织

and the silk she painstakingly harvests with Zhi.

和她用Zhi精心收获的丝绸作为补充。

Silkworms are finicky creatures.

蚕是挑剔的生物。

Lihua and Zhi to keep the house warm

Lihua 和 Zhi 会为屋子保暖，

and feed the caterpillar mulberry leaves constantly

不断喂养毛毛虫 桑树叶，

before they unravel the silken cocoons

然后他们才会解开丝绸蚕茧

and sell them to be made into fine cloths they’ll never wear themselves.

然后卖掉它们做成他们自己永远不会穿的精美布 料。

The family is struggling to survive long-term,

这个家庭正在为长期生存而苦苦挣扎，

and Hong wants to give his mother and sister some hope.

洪想给他的母亲 和妹妹一些希望。

He heads off to train with his martial arts teacher.

他去和他的武术老师一起训练。

Li Qiangbiang had been an imperial soldier until he injured himself

李强边一直是一名帝国士兵， 直到他

and returned to his home village and devoted himself to teaching.

受伤后回到家乡全身心 地投入教学。

Like many towns on China's northern border,

像中国北部边境的许多城镇一样，

they stay vigilant to raids from the north and roving bandits.

他们对来自北方的袭击 和四处游荡的土匪保持警惕。

The border has been fairly quiet since 1005,

自1005年，边境一直相当平静，

when China established a peace treaty with the Liao dynasty,

也是中国与辽王朝签订和平条约以来，

which encompasses the nomadic and pastoral groups of the northern steppe.

其中包括北部草原的游牧和 牧民群体。

But the village maintains an active, local militia of conscripted townspeople.

但是该村有一支由被征召的城镇居民组成的 活跃的当地民兵。

Hong's father was his first martial arts teacher.

洪的父亲是他的第一位 武术老师。

Together they practiced spear fighting, wrestling,

他们一起练习了矛战、摔跤

and the most important martial skill: archery.

和最重要的武术技能：射箭。

Hong has since become Qiangbing’s most committed student.

从那以后，洪成了强冰 最忠诚的学生。

Now, Qiangbing tests his strength.

现在，强冰在测试自己的力量。

Hong successfully draws a heavily weighted bow

Hong 在站立和骑马

while standing and on horseback,

时成功画出一把 重量很大的弓箭，

then fires it, surpassing his personal record.

然后发射了弩， 超过了他的个人记录。

Hearing the commotion accompanying the magistrate's arrival,

听到治安官到 来的骚动，

Hong and Qiangbing share a glance, then march to the village center,

洪和强兵看了一眼， 然后游行到村中心，

Gao joining them on the way.

高同他们一起上路。

Confucius himself emphasized the importance of archery

孔子本人也强调了射箭

in fostering social harmony.

在促进社会和谐方面的重要性。

And the Song dynasty uses archery competitions to recruit talent

宋朝通过射箭 比赛来招募人才，

and ensure that villagers are practicing defense.

确保村民 练习防御。

Spectators gather and the magistrate arranges a target,

观众聚集在一起， 治安官布置目标，

places a piece of silver on it,

在目标上放置一块银子，

and announces that anyone whose arrow hits it can keep it.

并宣布任何被 箭击中的人都可以保留它。

One by one, young men dance into position and take aim.

年轻人一个接一个地跳 到原位并瞄准。

Some get close, including Gao, but no one is successful.

有些人接近了，包括高， 但没有人成功。

Hong finally raises his bow and arrow,

洪终于举起了弓箭，

and the composure he learned from his father washes over him.

他从父亲那里学到的镇定情绪笼罩着他。

He strikes the target and the crowd cheers.

他击中目标， 人群欢呼。

The magistrate sets up another silver piece and Hong hits it again— and again.

地方法官设置了另一 块银币然后 Hong 一次又一次地击中了它。

This much silver could support his family for an entire year.

这么多白银可以养 活他的家人一整年。

But then the magistrate offers something even greater:

但是后来地方法官提供了 更多的东西：

a position in the provincial army with a regular salary.

在省级军队中担任固定工资 的职位。

This would allow Hong to take care of his family

这将使洪 能够照顾家人，

and provide his sister a dowry for a good marriage match.

并为他的妹妹提供嫁妆以实现美满 的婚姻。

He accepts without hesitation.

他毫不犹豫地接受了。

As Hong and Gao walk home,

当 Hong 和Gao 步行回家时，

it sinks in that they won't be taking this journey together.

他们无法 一起踏上这段旅程。

They relish each other’s company then part at the usual fork in the road.

他们喜欢彼此的陪伴， 然后在通常的岔路口分手。

Gao will continue farming to make a living for his family

高将继续耕种以 养家糊口，

while Hong will begin advanced martial arts training.

而洪将开始高级 武术训练。

If he excels, he could enter the imperial army

如果他表现出色，他可以加入帝国军，

and his family could join him in the capital city of Kaifeng,

而他的家人可以和他一起前往

home to over a million people.

拥有超过一百万人口的首都开封。

Maybe one day, Hong could even pass the military exams

也许有一天， 洪甚至可以通过军事考试

and join the Bureau of Military Affairs.

并加入军事局。

The Chu family sits for a celebratory dinner,

朱家坐在 一起吃庆祝晚宴，

and Hong’s emotions stir as he considers the secure future ahead for his family—

在考虑家庭未来的安全以及他所希望的一切时，

and all he wishes he could bring along with him.

以及他希望能带上的一切。