To our surprise and sadness, on November 3rd of this year, Liang Shih-chiu passed away. We all feel deep sorrow at this loss. In order to show our deep respect, Sinorama decided to hold a meeting in which to discuss the literary accomplishments of Liang Shih-chiu. The meeting was held on November 12, 1987, at Nationl Taiwan Normal University. It was hosted by Yu Yuh-chao, Editor-in-Chief of Sinorama. Guest speakers included Limin Chu (Chair Professor of English Department of Tamkang University), Yu-ming Shaw (Director General of the Government Information Office), Shen Ch'ien (Head of the Humanities Department at National Open University), Li Jui-t'eng (Editor-in-Chief of Wen Hsun Monthly and Associate Professor at Tamkang University), Cheng Ming-li (Associate Professor in the Chinese Department of National Taiwan Normal University), and Lo Ch'ing-che (Associate Professor of the English Department at National Taiwan Normal University).
Dr. Yu Yuh-chao: Everyone is aware of the great accomplishments of Liang Shih-chiu in literature, academic research, and English education. Yu Kuang-chung has described Liang Shih-chiu as "Sharing the same ideas as Hu Shih (educator and philosopher), a buddy of Hsu Chih-mo and Wen I-to, a close friend of Shakespeare, a disciple of Irving Babbitt, an opponent of Lu Hsun, and 'anti-Mao.' Among the people of that time I'm afraid it's very difficult to find a second one like him."
At the passing of Liang Shih-chiu, Sinorama worked quickly to hold this symposium, which is surely not in any way comprehensive. However, it is our desire that this be just the beginning which will cause others to look into and research the works of Liang Shih-chiu.
At this point let's hear from our guest speakers.
Dr. Limin Chu: With several years of experience in teaching Shakespeare, I have encouraged my students in time of difficulty during their reading, to take a look at the Chinese translation. At present, the two most popular translations are those of Liang Shih-chiu and Chu Sheng-hao.
Hou Chien, writing for the United Daily News, points out that "the accomplishment of Liang Shih-chiu's translations such as the Complete Works of Shake-speare and other British literature is unparalleled."
I feel, as I think so many of us do, that the standard of the translation is quite high. However, since Liang Shih-chiu placed so much emphasis on translating, perhaps the Chinese version does not read so smoothly. Translating any language presents difficulties. If one expects to convey the exact essence of the original work, I'm afraid that it's almost impossible. This is especially true with poetry, which constitutes a large portion of Shakespearean plays.
Liang Shih-chiu himself said that he used colloquial prose to translate. He managed to match the rhyme and style of the original language.
Although he paid so much attention to translation, one thing is for certain: When you read it carefully, you'll find that a great number of smooth running sentences far surpass those which do not read so smoothly.
Dr. Yu-ming Shaw: As a long admirer of Liang Shih-chiu I had the opportunity to meet with him once or twice and go over a few questions. Today, I'd like to review a few of the points we discussed in the hope that it will be of some help to those interested in researching the thought of Liang Shih-chiu. However, most important, here is my own personal opinion of him, which I would like to share with everyone.
Firstly, he is a representative of intellectuals who were deeply concerned for the nation after the May Fourth Movement.
Secondly, I think that with intellectuals of the 20th century, emotion always surpasses reason. However, Liang Shih-chiu was determined to stand his ground and resist Marxist--Leninist thought.
In 1981, since I had some questions concerning a thesis I was writing on Wen I-to, I went to ask Liang some questions. At that time he said something which I have never forgotten. We were discussing the thought of Wen I-to. He said that in 1943 Wen wrote him a letter in which he said, "Shih-chiu, both you and I are wrong, it's Lu Hsun who's right." When I asked Liang Shih-chiu if he agreed with this, he firmly replied, "No!" He added, "I'm not the least bit sorry for opposing the writings of Lu Hsun during that year."
Dr. Shen Ch'ien: Today I'd like to discuss with everyone a work of Liang Shih-chiu's with which I'm sure we are all familiar--Sketches of a Cottager.
Traditional Chinese sketches flourished during the late Ming dynasty. Sketches of a Cottager appears to be the modern accomplishment of such style. Its box office value and its artistic value are high. The style of his prose is the reflection of the person himself.
In Sketches of a Cottager, Liang used three types of rhetorical devices: metaphor, stratification, and hyperbole.
Dr. Li Jui-t'eng: I would like to mention Liang's editing of the supplement of P'ing Ming of the Central Daily News. In the editor's note he said, "The War of Resistance is at a high point; therefore there are those who when writing simply cannot forget this. However, I've got a different opinion. As for materials having to do with the War of Resistance, we welcome them most gladly. Yet as for those materials which are not concerned with the War of Resistance, only if they are fluent we can accept them. We don't have to force the War of Resistance into all writing. As for the shallow writings during the War of Resistance few were of use to anyone."
Dr. Cheng Ming-li: Personally, I would divide essays into three categories: sentimental essays, philosophical essays, and miscellaneous literature, such as narratives, commentaries, and so forth. Liang's works are a combination of all three. His essays may be divided into pure and humorous essays. When you read them you can get to know the author's personality, interests, character, style, emotion, thinking, erudition, life history, and so on.
Mr. Lo Ch'ing: I feel that the pen of Liang Shih-chiu is like a surgical knife.
His essays are very humorous, quite different from those of Lu Hsun. Lu Hsun's essays are like a dagger. Yet Liang Shih-chiu still admitted that Lu Hsun's work contained good points even though they were rivals.
Liang's humorous works were made up of three principles: sharpness, satire, and structure.
Liang's literary criticism during that time was very awakening. In one of his essays entitled, "Irving Babbitt and Thought" he mentioned, "When I was a student I was most greatly influenced by him in 'historical perspective.'"
Dr. Yu Yuh-chao: After such a meeting as this today in which we have discussed the literary accomplishments of such a great man as Liang Shih-chiu, I think we are all left with a better under standing. A great person has left us, but there's a spot in history reserved for the immortals. Liang Shih-chiu has found his place there.
[Picture Caption]
The eyes of Liang possess the coolness of a scholar and the magnanimity of a fine human being. (photo by Hsiao Chia-ch'ing)
The discussion was hosted by the editor-in-chief of Sinorama, Yu Yuh-chao.
Yu Yuh-chao
Limin Chu
Yu-ming Shaw
Shen Ch'ien
Li Jui-t'eng
Cheng Ming-li
An example of Liang Shih-chiu's calligraphy. (Courtesy of Ch'iu Hsiu-chih)
Lo Ch'ing-che
Han Chin-ch'ing, wife of the late Liang Shih-chiu, and son, Liang Wen-ch'i attend the meeting.
The discussion was hosted by the editor-in-chief of Sinorama, Yu Yuh-chao.
An example of Liang Shih-chiu's calligraphy. （Courtesy of Ch'iu Hsiu-chih）
Han Chin-ch'ing, wife of the late Liang Shih-chiu, and son, Liang Wen-ch'i attend the meeting.
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