Translation of the Preface of Zhang Dai's Night Sailing Ship

Original text:

There is knowledge in the world, but it is the most difficult to deal with on a night boat. Gai Cun Fu Su Zi, his knowledge is prepared in advance, such as Yingzhou 18 bachelor, Yuntai 28 general and so on, which is slightly worse than his name and needs to cover his mouth and laugh. Peter Guy doesn't know the names of eighteen bachelors and twenty-eight generals. Although he forgot their names, it is not harmful to study and art, but it is shameful to say that a person is separated. So according to hearsay, if you only have dozens of famous names verbally, then you are a learned scholar. I miss when I was eight years old, but the customs of Yuyao, young boys, were all studying until they failed at the age of 20, and then learned a craft. Therefore, everyone who works as a cheap worker is familiar with his "theory of sex" and "coachable". When I ask something, it is good to list people's names, official titles, year numbers and places. The wealth of learning is really a bookcase with two legs, but it is not conducive to liberal arts examinations, and it is no different from illiterate people. Or: "If you believe this, you don't have to remember the names of the ancients." Yu Yue said, "Otherwise. Names are not about arts and sciences. Don't forget, for example, eight yuan, eight kai, kitchen, handsome, gu, and so on. Those related to arts and sciences must be remembered, such as April, Sanlao, Zanggu and Mrs. Xu. " Once upon a time, a monk and a scholar sailed together all night. Scholars talk a lot, monks are scared, and their fists are sleeping all over the floor. The monk heard that there was a flaw in his speech and said, "Excuse me, Mr. Xiang, is Mrs. Tan one or two people?" The scholar said, "It's two people." The monk asked, "Is this Yao Shun one or two?" The scholar said, "Nature is lonely!" The monk smiled and said, "We'll see. Let's wait for the young monk to stretch his feet. " What I have recorded is very superficial in front of us. We can talk about it and remember it, but don't let the monk stretch his feet. Therefore, it was named "Night Sailing Ship".

Zhang Daishu, an old man from Tao An, Gu Jian.

Translation:

The knowledge in the world is the most difficult to deal with only when it is at night. Generally, vulgar people are prepared for knowledge in advance, such as the eighteenth bachelor of Yingzhou and the twenty-eighth military commander of Yuntai. If (someone) says these people's names wrong, (then everyone) will cover their mouths and laugh. I don't know the names of eighteen bachelors and twenty-eight military commanders, but even if I forget the names, there is nothing to hinder the adjustment of the knowledge, words and content of the article. It's just that (people) made a mistake and left out a person's name, which can be called a learned genius.

I remember, there is such a custom in Shaoxing and Yuyao County, Zhejiang Province. No young people don't study, and those who have achieved nothing before the age of 20 will change their skills. Therefore, in the humble industry of craft manufacturing, all people are familiar with sex theory and outline, and occasionally ask about one of them, so the name, official title, year number and place will be listed one by one without any mistakes. They are really rich in knowledge and can be regarded as a bookcase with two legs. However, knowing these things is not good for the writing, the organization of the article and the correction of the article, and it is no different from illiterate people.

Some people say; "It's really like you said, you don't have to remember all the names of the ancients." I said, "That's not true. The title of the article is not important, so it doesn't matter if you don't remember it. For example, eight yuan, eight kai, eight chefs, eight handsome, eight gu, eight and so on are all like this. There are names about the organization of the article, such as April, Sanlao, Nuer, and Mrs. Xu. "

Once upon a time, a monk and a scholar lived on a night boat. The scholar's words made the monks both awe and fear, and fell asleep with their feet shrunk. The monk heard the omission in his words, so he said, "Excuse me, is it one person or two?" The scholar said, "It's two people." The monk asked again, "In that case, is Yao Shun one person or two?" The reader replied, "People, of course." The monk smiled and said, "In that case, let the young monk stretch his feet."

What I recorded was very superficial. Or write it down, just don't let the monk stretch his feet. That's why I named this book "Night Boat".

Authors: Gu Jian, Tao An old man Zhang Dai.