中英雙語話中國歷史名人 第54期:司馬光

Sima Guang (1019~1086) was a scholar, statesman, and poet who compiled the monumental Tzu-chih t'ung-chien (Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government), a general chronicle of Chinese history from 403 B. C. to AD 959, considered one of the finest single historical works in China.

司馬光(1019~1086)，學者、政治家、詩人，編寫了《資治通鑑》。《資治通鑑》記載了中國公元前403年至公元959年的歷史，被認爲是中國最優秀的歷史著作之一。

Known for his moral uprightness, he was learned in several disciplines and prominent in government.

司馬光以正直聞名，通曉數個學科，官高位顯。

Sima Guang studied the Confucian Classics and, after passing his civil-service examinations, rose rapidly to high office.

司馬光研習儒家經典，通過科舉考試之後很快就身居高位。

Between 1069 and 1085 he led the faction opposing the radical reforms of the innovator Wang An-shi.

1069年至1085年司馬光領導了反對改革家王安石激進改革政策的反對派。

Conservative in his interpretation of the Confucian Classics, Ssu-ma argued for the cause of good government through moral leadership rather than by assertive measures and through the improved functioning of tested institutions rather than by drastic changes.

司馬光對儒家經典的詮釋相當保守，他認爲改良政府應該通過道德上的引導，而不是通過武斷的措施;應該通過檢驗政府優化它的機能，而不是通過激烈的變革。

Shortly before his death he finally succeeded in dislodging Wang's faction from the government and became the leading minister in a government that attempted to repeal most of Wang's reforms.

司馬光去世前不久，最終成功地將王安石的改革派逐出政府，試圖廢除王安石所有的改革政策。

Until recent times most historians tended to view Sima Guang favourably and Wang from an opposite viewpoint, but recent historical work has shown that Sima Guang program of antireform measures was not greatly successful.

直到近代，大多數歷史學家都傾向於支持王安石，但是最近的著作表明司馬光反對改革的措施並不是很成功。

With chosen associates, Sima compiled the Tzu-chih t'ung-chien in emulation of the Ch'un-ch'iu ("Spring grad Autumn[Annals]," a chronicle believed to have been edited by Confucius).

司馬光與一些精選的合作伙伴一起，效法《春秋》編著了《資治通鑑》。

Sima Guang criticized men and institutions from the standpoint of Confucian moral principles.

司馬光從儒家的道德原則出發批評人和制度。

He devoted most of his attention to political events, but the work also covered such diverse subjects as rites, music, astronomy, geography, and economy.

這部著作主要敘述政治事件，但是也包括禮儀、音樂、天文、地理、經濟等學科。

In spite of Sima Guang moral perspective, his chronicle showed evidence of rigorous critical standards.

儘管司馬光持的是儒家的道德觀，但是這部編年史展示了他嚴格的批評原則。

He even compiled a separate work, the Kao-yi (Scrutiny), which dealt with the discrepancies in his numerous sources and gave his reasons for preferring certain authorities.

司馬光甚至還編了本《考異》來處理他浩瀚的材料之間的差異，給他偏好某些典據提供了原因。

Sima Guang was also an excellent poet and is the hero of modern Chinese children's books, which portray him as the child who saved a playmate from drowning by breaking the water tank into which his friend had fallen.

司馬光還是一位傑出的詩人，是現代中國兒童讀物裏一個英雄，這些讀物講述了這樣一個故事:司馬光小的時候與夥伴們一起玩要，結果有個朋友掉進了水缸裏，於是司馬光把缸砸破救出了他。