Dear Editor:
Let me get straight to point: The picture on page 21 of the December 1991 issue (overseas) is clearly inappropriate. The words in the picture say it is a portrait of Kuan Sheng the Big Halberd in Outlaws of the Marsh and not Kuan Yu of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, as your caption states. Kuan Sheng's defeat of the Water and Fire Generals is narrated in detail in Chapter 66 of the Kuan-hua edition of Outlaws of the Marsh (chapter 67 of the 120-chapter Chung-i version). Although Kuan Sheng is described in Outlaws of the Marsh as a direct lineal descendant of King Wu-an the Righteous and Brave (Kuan Yu) of the late Han Dynasty, as similar to his ancestor in appearance and as using a black-dragon crescent-shaped halberd like his, he and Kuan Yu shouldn't be confused as the same person.
Huang Hsien-hao
United States
Dear Editor:
Your magazine's December 1990 interview with professor Timothy Barrett of London University entitled "A Singular Listlessness in British Sinology?" has just been brought to our attention. We have always been intrigued by the number of Westerners who make it their business to know Chinese culture when so many of Chinese descent are bent on rejecting their heritage. Now we know that the British are having problems keeping up this special interest too.
One particular observation concerns Arthur Waley's reputation as "the best known Orientalist of this century." During the preparation of The Confucian Bible, Book 1. Analects, we referred to Mr. Waley's translation of The Analects Confucius--a fact which we cheerfully acknowledged. However, we found many passages which we consider inaccurately translated--an opinion which we verified as being widely shared by present-day Chinese academics. Perhaps we could persuade you and Professor Barrett to give us your critical comments on our publication as compared to Waley's. Two copies of The Confucian Bible are attached: one for your good selves and the other for the good Professor.
May we look forward to your early replies? Many thanks.
Yours very truly,
Granhill Corporation William B.S. Khu Vice-President
Dear Editor:
I am a longtime subscriber. You have recently carried a regular feature called "Home Thoughts From Abroad," with essays by writers living abroad. It's a pretty good idea, but very few of the essays printed over the past year seem to actually describe the feelings of living abroad, and all of them are written by famous authors instead of ordinary people. I have a suggestion: it wasn't until reading "Chinese Food at the Ends of the Earth" by Hsia Tsu-li last issue that I realized how much Chinese living overseas long for their native food. In Chinese society food is king. That is an area that could be emphasized more. If Chinese living overseas were asked to submit articles, I am sure you would attract a broad response.
Kang Ching-hsing
United States
Editor's Response: This feature has been temporarily discontinued for lack of variety. After discussion of your suggestion and further study, we will bring out a similar feature in a new format.
