中英双语话中国历史名人 第54期:司马光

Sima Guang (1019~1086) was a scholar, statesman, and poet who compiled the monumental Tzu-chih t'ung-chien (Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government), a general chronicle of Chinese history from 403 B. C. to AD 959, considered one of the finest single historical works in China.

司马光(1019~1086)，学者、政治家、诗人，编写了《资治通鉴》。《资治通鉴》记载了中国公元前403年至公元959年的历史，被认为是中国最优秀的历史著作之一。

Known for his moral uprightness, he was learned in several disciplines and prominent in government.

司马光以正直闻名，通晓数个学科，官高位显。

Sima Guang studied the Confucian Classics and, after passing his civil-service examinations, rose rapidly to high office.

司马光研习儒家经典，通过科举考试之后很快就身居高位。

Between 1069 and 1085 he led the faction opposing the radical reforms of the innovator Wang An-shi.

1069年至1085年司马光领导了反对改革家王安石激进改革政策的反对派。

Conservative in his interpretation of the Confucian Classics, Ssu-ma argued for the cause of good government through moral leadership rather than by assertive measures and through the improved functioning of tested institutions rather than by drastic changes.

司马光对儒家经典的诠释相当保守，他认为改良政府应该通过道德上的引导，而不是通过武断的措施;应该通过检验政府优化它的机能，而不是通过激烈的变革。

Shortly before his death he finally succeeded in dislodging Wang's faction from the government and became the leading minister in a government that attempted to repeal most of Wang's reforms.

司马光去世前不久，最终成功地将王安石的改革派逐出政府，试图废除王安石所有的改革政策。

Until recent times most historians tended to view Sima Guang favourably and Wang from an opposite viewpoint, but recent historical work has shown that Sima Guang program of antireform measures was not greatly successful.

直到近代，大多数历史学家都倾向于支持王安石，但是最近的著作表明司马光反对改革的措施并不是很成功。

With chosen associates, Sima compiled the Tzu-chih t'ung-chien in emulation of the Ch'un-ch'iu ("Spring grad Autumn[Annals]," a chronicle believed to have been edited by Confucius).

司马光与一些精选的合作伙伴一起，效法《春秋》编著了《资治通鉴》。

Sima Guang criticized men and institutions from the standpoint of Confucian moral principles.

司马光从儒家的道德原则出发批评人和制度。

He devoted most of his attention to political events, but the work also covered such diverse subjects as rites, music, astronomy, geography, and economy.

这部著作主要叙述政治事件，但是也包括礼仪、音乐、天文、地理、经济等学科。

In spite of Sima Guang moral perspective, his chronicle showed evidence of rigorous critical standards.

尽管司马光持的是儒家的道德观，但是这部编年史展示了他严格的批评原则。

He even compiled a separate work, the Kao-yi (Scrutiny), which dealt with the discrepancies in his numerous sources and gave his reasons for preferring certain authorities.

司马光甚至还编了本《考异》来处理他浩瀚的材料之间的差异，给他偏好某些典据提供了原因。

Sima Guang was also an excellent poet and is the hero of modern Chinese children's books, which portray him as the child who saved a playmate from drowning by breaking the water tank into which his friend had fallen.

司马光还是一位杰出的诗人，是现代中国儿童读物里一个英雄，这些读物讲述了这样一个故事:司马光小的时候与伙伴们一起玩要，结果有个朋友掉进了水缸里，于是司马光把缸砸破救出了他。