谈论中国国画英语对话-锐意英语口语资料库17-1

A: It's interesting that Chinese paintings can be created on the spot, even though most of them have similar subjects. Peony, plum blossoms, mountains, creeks or cottages are very popular. There are painters at significant celebratory and commemorative events.
A: 这真有意思：中国画是可以现场表演的。在一些庆典或纪念性的场合，你可以看到画家们挥毫泼墨。画的题材大致相同：牡丹、梅花、山水、林中小屋等。

B: Their education function is, in fact, a unique feature of Chinese paintings. Human profiles were were used as a method to either glorify heroes or condemn traitors 2,000 years ago. Tang Dynasty officials even tried to bring painting into Confucian ideology. The Court of Song Dynasty published an official guide to paintings. This raised criteria not only for human profiles but also for landscape and object paintings.
B：其实，这是中国画的一个特点：强调绘画的宣传功能。早在两千年前，人物画就被政府机构广泛用做宣传工具，表彰忠臣烈士，批判乱臣贼子。唐代的士大夫们甚至试图把绘画创作纳入儒家的思想体系。到了宋代，政府专门出版了官方画谱，不但对人物画的功能提出要求，对山水画和花鸟画也如此。

A: Oh, what was that?
A：都是些什么要求？

B: It classified paintings into ten categories covering religious beliefs, Confucianism and state power. This classification gave an official definition of the value and significance of the paintings. The purpose of landscape paintings was to portray the five mountains, while fruit and bires were used to exemplify or eulogize the Gods. In this case, the subjects were used as references to people in order to deliver moral messages. For example, peony and peacocks represented wealth and fortune; pine trees bamboo, plum blossoms and orchids represented elegance and accomplishments; and pine trees and cypresses symbolized loyalty.
B：这个画谱将绘画分为十类，涵盖宗教思想、儒家理论和政权统治，论述了各类绘画存在的价值与意义。山水画的存在价值是能描绘“五岳”；瓜果、花鸟有敬神的作用。绘画因此起到以物比人的教化作用。比如，牡丹、孔雀表现富贵；松、竹、梅、兰比喻高人雅士；松、柏象征忠贞。

A: As far as I know, painters who did not have to make a living by painting used different skills to those specified in the guide, even though they painted the same subjects.
A：不过，据我所知，古代那些不靠绘画谋生的文人，虽然也画同样的题材，但他们的技法与官方画谱规定的不同。

B: Artiest are usually against pragmatism. They like to give meaning to the subjects they paint. Bamboo symbolizes integrity and simplicity; the orchid symbolizes modesty and misfortune; and pine trees symbolize never giving up. Artists also like landscapes. It doesn't take a lot of training to paint landscapes. It all depends on the painter's personality and ability, as well as his unique touch. Most of today's non-professional painters follow the landscape style. The objective of these painters is purely entertainment and self-satisfaction. The more successful artists have the opportunity to exhibit as public functions. That is probably the climax of their painting careers.
B: 文人反对实用主义，他们的画有不同的象征意义：竹子代表正直、质朴；兰花代表谦虚和怀才不遇；松树代表自强不息。文人也喜画山水，这不需要进行长期的技巧训练，完全取决于画家的个性和修养，还有独特的笔触。今天，一些非职业画家依然沿袭古代文人的路子，为自娱自乐、修身养性而画。他们当中知名度较高的能参加各种活动，现场作画。这大概是他们艺术价值的最高体现了。

A: What are professional painters doing?
A：职业画家在干什么？

B: Some of them make a great effort to improve their painting skills. They want to develop new and innovative painting methods by borrowing from other genres. Others are busy making money. They have found ways to produce commercially attractive paintings. Some people say they are no longer artists. Instead they have become manufacturers of paintings.
B：一些人的苦心演戏技巧，试图多方借鉴，开发出不同凡响的画法；另一些人忙于赚钱，他们绘制具有商业价值的作品。有人说他们其实已经不算画家，只是画匠而已。