In 1979, the French version of "Ai Qing Poems" published in France, has done a number of major media coverage. Followed by the translator, including translation of Catherine Weijia De Mao Dun also including a number of contemporary Chinese writers. Winter afternoon in Paris, special correspondent visited the magazine nearly seven years, late of the French woman, opened her modern Chinese literature, and Ai Qing's a dust-laden history.
Rang the bell, Catherine Weijia De door. No year, impressively 乍现 silver hair. "You see, my friends and I bet, dare not dye your hair. The result, there is this effect, but also beautiful."
She never very beautiful.
In 1980, Ai first met the French translator of his poetry, they like me too amazing. However, that time, Catherine was a sparkling blond hair, Shucheng China was popular, well-behaved large braids.
Paris in the winter afternoon, we sat her full of rugs, books and paintings of the house, sipped green tea in China, so that Ai Qing and modern Chinese literature on the memories back.
To breathe and Ai Qing
Catherine was born a middle class family in France, early on intrinsic differences of language, in the studied Latin, Greek, after the Chinese text of this interest in the mysterious Orient strong interest. In 1959, when she was in the east of existing Language Institute (later the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilization) began the first year of professional learning Chinese, it does not know that this text will bring her life's mission. And this mission is the first Chinese poet.
Her first year of the respondent's mentor, is the development of 20th-century French Chinese leader - Switzerland Sinologist Paul.Demiéville. "It was a great honor." She said. But then they gave birth to the eldest son of Catherine, so interrupt their studies. Four years later, she was in Paris and from Paris III University to seven, to continue learning Chinese. When writing a master's thesis, happened to read Patricia Guillermaz translation of the "Contemporary Chinese Poetry" (1962, Seghers Press). Book, Ai Qing's poetry made her extremely shocking.
"Loess thick atmosphere and revolutionary zeal, so I feel that the unseen power of the poet," said Catherine, "The French must know him, to understand China is so famous writer." Moreover, when her mentor, and later the French Academy of Sciences Cheng Baoyi (France famous Chinese writer, poet, calligrapher) is also supported. Said that when Cheng Baoyi from Chongqing to France when the suitcase there is a Ai Qing's poetry. But at the time of the French, Ai Qing, little poetry in French, translated only part of Guillermaz and CRITICAL. But to find in France, Ai Qing Chinese books, even more difficult. Katherine search of all the libraries in Paris, and finally the old library in the Lille road, the dusty bottom, found a 1955 version of "Ai Qing poetry," it is in 1967.
That time, the "Cultural Revolution" Fang Xing, Ai Qing has been persecuted, exiled to Xinjiang. Catherine said: "When I'm in the translation of Ai Qing, a better understanding than that of someone close, one of his hi angry, heart the deepest emotional and sensitive, have clear in mind, in the pen. I later saw him, told him : 'You know what? I have and you were breathing. just to see you before, have not heard the sound fills your breath.' "
In 1979, Catherine published "Ai Qing poetry." Book publishing, the French media have done a number of important reports, among them the famous "Liberation." In 1980, Catherine published in Mao Dun's "Spring Silkworms", 1992 translation of Mao Dun in "erosion." During this period also translated many contemporary short stories. Of course, this is something.
Shu Ai Qing still alive to tell her
Ai Qing from the first read, to translate his poems, ten years. However, due to China's political movement, so that Ai Qing, who's message is extremely occlusion. Catherine the same breath with the author, but do not know of the specific situation in motion.
"Tell me Ai Qing, the living is shu. It was 1978, we held in Italy to join the 26th meeting of the European scholar. I first heard of Ai alive and return to the poetry, is expected to quickly moved back to Beijing, I am excited to have no words. then again, Qian and Italian, to put it really good! 1979, my translation of "Ai Qing poetry" published poet sent to Beijing. At that time, and Ai Qing not fully rehabilitated, as well as police custody, but my letters and books, he has received. He says in reply: 'thanks, Mr. translator.' hee hee, he thought I was a man. "
Soon after, Ai saw this in Paris, "Mr. translation." The summer of 1980, to France to participate in Ai Qing, "China's War of Resistance Literature International Forum", a French military and the many literary and art circles, accompanied by. USA, Canada, Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, the Netherlands, Italy, France and Hong Kong and other places of scholars, experts and specializing in Chinese youth of about a hundred people. When Ai Qing see Catherine, she has a small and delicate facial features, wore a dress of green water, 39-year-old was only in his early 20s who look. Ai really can not believe they have such a beautiful translation, victorious joy. He had given her Chinese name "Feixia."
Catherine said: "Ai like 'thin Red Cloud - Xia' word, because he loved his wife Wu Zuguang pay, called Xin Fengxia. Wu Zuguang and Ai Qing Xin Fengxia is admired, so he called me 'Feixia '. It is really a deep friendship between two people, adversity only see the truth of the people. "Ai Qing Wang Meng was Youxiang Catherine recommended.
Apart from meetings, to Catherine Ai homes, and her husband and children are familiar with the family. Later visit the Palace of Versailles to the host organization. Ai Qing did not want to go, Catherine to be his guide, drove in Paris wandering around, looked at Place de la Concorde, the Louvre. Return visit after half a century poet, must have mixed feelings. "I can see, he was very happy."
Catherine Ai Qing all relevant information, whether it is reports, letters or photos are treasured for years in a long and dark green leather folder. Ai Qing she showed me photos of when to attend the forum. Photos on Ai Qing, Wu Zuguang, and Liu Baiyu and others, are very young.
Collection of photos in Kathleen, there is a high-Ying Ai Qing and his wife in Xinjiang photo. Two people walking on the road smiling, facial features, hands and feet are like a kid. "High-Ying is voluntary exile with me woman." Ai told Catherine. "She would love to, the face of such a pure soul and the history of modern Chinese literature pivotal figure, only sympathetic." Catherine said.
There is a picture, is Ai Qing, and other writers together, like smoking. "I really like this picture. Although the picture is a bit on the vicissitudes of Ai Qing. He said: 'In Xinjiang, there is no one to speak, only friend is the cigarette!' He said this time, that a heavy Jinhua accent, I think many people in Beijing did not understand. We are simply not rely on language to communicate, with the writer face to face with its direct translation see the inspiration for life! "in June 1980, in Catherine's book Ai inscription: "Give Feixia, thank you!" six words, on the one hand is the most difficult foreign friends during the trouble in the most sincere thanks to knowing each other, on the other hand is straight, see this simple lives.
Later, Ai Qing to the United States, to visit other countries have maintained communication with Catherine. Before I left China also sent her a popular north and south seventies and eighties, there are illustrations of small books. Ai Qing small books on the message: "The Great Wall of miles long, the Great Wall outside is home." This is the Panzi Nong, Liu Xue An Shanghai in 1937 created the lyrics of "The Great Wall Ballad" The first two sentences. Probably to France to participate in the anti-Japanese, anti-fascist activities, felt and written.
80s of last century, Catherine went to work in Beijing for some time, during which also had a meeting over Ai. Ai Qing met once and in a ceremony, just have a new statue in the next poet. Catherine said: "You stick a statue more than I!" The poet hear laughter, called her with the Jinhua Mandarin: "Weijia De, Weijia De!" Catherine said: "Strange to say, he never called my name, but rather name. probably also my guests as the West. "
Their last meet, in 1986, in the courtyard home in Beijing Ai Qing. Ai Qing was his voice to talk. Catherine later returned to France. Ai Qing seriously ill, died in 1996. "I later learned that he had fallen, and how much to reduce the impact of a sense of the event. However, the late 20th century into the early 21st century, there are many people who fall, aged to Yes." Catherine said with deep regret.
Has plans to translate the "Fallen City"
Catherine said that all the poems in Ai Qing, her favorite, "Sun", "Dawn of the notice" and "rock."
"Ai Qing's character is so prominent, so even when pressed by the political culture, he continued his voice in poetry. This voice in the Chinese people think the expression on the enduring nature. So even if the review in order to avoid the authorities, wrote the most simple little fables, short stories, but also to get it to the extreme expression of the truth. In my opinion, Ai Qing Poetry is the outbreak of the characteristics of enduring, simple and straightforward. "
"Ai Qing 30 years in the last century in France studied art, read a little French. He studied my translation of" Ai Qing poetry. "One day, he very excitedly told me: 'You know what? These poems are in French so beautiful, poetic than my Chinese is even better. You are the French I, French Ai Qing '. "
Catherine I of Ai Qing, "Cultural Revolution" on the eve of a more appreciation of the work: "You know, have experienced political movement, the poet's soul, and body face torture, how many will still damaged."
Ai Qing addition to poetry, painting done 也好. Catherine went to Beijing to visit once Ai Qing, Ai Qing took out his paintings, and Catherine selection, she chose a "Beyond the Great Wall late autumn map." It was time for Xinjiang, there are traces of border. Of course, Catherine's keep a lot of paintings, of which there are other Chinese scholars sent.
Catherine also translated the works of Mao Dun, like Xiao Hong, Zhang; in Europe saw Ba Jin and Qian et al; Cheng Baoyi more familiar with in France. China's literary world, gathered here. Anyway, Catherine shelves Letter Chinese books, even more than the law instruments.
She also loved Eileen Chang, and plan to translate the "Fallen City", give that time in the United States Eileen Chang wrote, and soon received a reply. Letter, Zhang am glad to have the support of French readers, and said they would wait for the French version of the publication. Ailing really is convergence, speaking very polite. Rummaging to find me and Catherine Zhang's letter, but unfortunately I do not know where to place a time to go. Leave a little regret. Later, for various reasons, Catherine Eileen Chang's book did not translate. "For me, Chinese literature, loved ones, or Ai Qing it!" She said.