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

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Yanyan Hong

At dawn one morning in 1030 CE,

在公元 1030 年的一個清晨，

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

快速接近的腳步聲吵醒了楚鴻（Chu Hong）。

他最好的朋友梁高 (Liang Gao) 急著來找他。

His best friend, Liang Gao, rushes to him.

The local magistrate has been spotted holding a surprise archery competition

有人發現當地的縣令 突然舉辦了一場射箭比賽，

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

現在正在附近的小鎮， 很快就會來到他們的村落。

這是楚鴻展示才華的機會——

This is Hong’s chance to showcase his talents—

還能賺獎金，因為他的父親過世 還在悲慟中的家人很需要用錢。

and secure some much-needed money for his family,

which is still reeling from the loss of his father.

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

鴻在照料家中的小米田時， 這個消息讓他的思緒十分混亂。

他回到家時，他的妹妹芝 和母親麗華都已經聽說此事了。

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

麗華準備好早餐，

Lihua serves breakfast,

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

又繼續去做昨晚熬夜尚未 完成的工作：她的桑蠶。

她務農的丈夫沒留下多少錢，

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

她靠編織以及她和芝辛苦 收成的蠶絲，稍微貼補家用。

which she's meagerly supplemented with her weavings,

and the silk she painstakingly harvests with Zhi.

桑蠶是很挑剔的生物。

Silkworms are finicky creatures.

麗華和芝得要保持房子的溫暖，

Lihua and Zhi to keep the house warm

and feed the caterpillar mulberry leaves constantly

且經常要餵幼蟲吃桑葉，

後續牠們才會破繭而出，

before they unravel the silken cocoons

再把蠶絲賣去做他們自己 永遠不可能穿到的高檔衣服。

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

The family is struggling to survive long-term,

這家人在為長期的生計苦惱，

鴻希望能帶給他的母親 和妹妹一些希望。

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

他前去接受武術老師的訓練。

He heads off to train with his martial arts teacher.

Li Qiangbiang had been an imperial soldier until he injured himself

李強彬（Li Qiangbiang）在受傷之前 一直擔任帝國士兵，

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

受傷後，他返鄉投入教學。

和中國北部邊界的許多城鎮一樣，

Like many towns on China's northern border,

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

他們時時刻刻都要提防 北方的襲擊和流竄的強盜。

自從 1005 年以來，邊境就相當安穩，

The border has been fairly quiet since 1005,

when China established a peace treaty with the Liao dynasty,

因為中國和遼朝訂定了和平條約，

遼朝涵蓋了北方的遊牧和畜牧部落。

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

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

但該村落仍然保有 一支活躍的當地民兵部隊，

成員是徵召來的鎮民。

鴻的第一位武術老師是他的父親。

Hong's father was his first martial arts teacher.

他們一起練習長槍對戰、摔跤，

Together they practiced spear fighting, wrestling,

及最重要的武術技能：射箭。

and the most important martial skill: archery.

自此，鴻成為強彬最認真的學生。

Hong has since become Qiangbing’s most committed student.

Now, Qiangbing tests his strength.

現在強彬要測試他的力量。

鴻成功在站立不動時和騎馬時 拉滿了一把沉重的弓，

Hong successfully draws a heavily weighted bow

while standing and on horseback,

then fires it, surpassing his personal record.

射出箭弩，打破了他的個人紀錄。

聽到縣令抵達所伴隨的喧鬧聲，

Hearing the commotion accompanying the magistrate's arrival,

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

鴻和強彬互看一眼，

接著便前往村中心， 高則在半途加入他們。

Gao joining them on the way.

孔子本人很強調射箭 對於促進社會和諧的重要性。

Confucius himself emphasized the importance of archery

in fostering social harmony.

宋朝透過射箭比賽來招募人才，

And the Song dynasty uses archery competitions to recruit talent

並確保村民會去練習防禦技能。

and ensure that villagers are practicing defense.

許多人聚集旁觀，縣令設立了靶子，

Spectators gather and the magistrate arranges a target,

places a piece of silver on it,

在上面放了一個銀子，

並宣布，用箭射中 這個銀子的人可以保有它。

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

年輕人一個接著一個 跳入射擊位置，瞄準目標，

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

有些人差點射中，包括高在內， 但沒有人成功命中。

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

鴻終於舉起他的弓與箭，

Hong finally raises his bow and arrow,

讓自己沉浸在他從父親 那裡學來的冷靜感當中。

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

He strikes the target and the crowd cheers.

他射中目標，群眾發出歡呼。

縣令再放了一個銀子， 鴻也再次命中——一次又一次。

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

這麼多銀子可以幫助 維持他家的生計一整年。

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

But then the magistrate offers something even greater:

但縣令接著提出了更大的獎賞：

a position in the provincial army with a regular salary.

省軍中的職位，可以領固定薪水。

這份薪水能讓鴻好好照顧他的家人，

This would allow Hong to take care of his family

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

並為他的妹妹準備嫁妝， 找個適合的婚姻對象。

He accepts without hesitation.

他毫不猶豫接受了。

鴻和高步行回家時，

As Hong and Gao walk home,

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

鴻才意識到他們兩人 不會一同踏上這段旅程。

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

他們珍惜彼此在路上的陪伴， 然後在往常分別的岔路口道別。

高會繼續農務以養家，

Gao will continue farming to make a living for his family

鴻則要開始接受進階的武術訓練。

while Hong will begin advanced martial arts training.

如果他表現出色， 就可以進入朝廷軍隊，

If he excels, he could enter the imperial army

而他的家人就可以到 首都開封與他相聚。

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

開封人口超過百萬。

home to over a million people.

Maybe one day, Hong could even pass the military exams

也許有一天，鴻甚至 可以通過軍方考試，

and join the Bureau of Military Affairs.

加入軍事衙門。

The Chu family sits for a celebratory dinner,

楚家坐下來吃晚餐慶祝，

而鴻的情緒激動起來，因為他想到 他的家人終於有安穩的未來——

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

以及他希望能帶在身邊的一切。

and all he wishes he could bring along with him.