銳意英語口語資料庫17-1
A: It's interesting that Chinese paintings can be created on the spot, even though most of them have similar subjects. Peony, plum blossoms, mountains, creeks or cottages are very popular. There are painters at significant celebratory and commemorative events.
A: 這真有意思：中國畫是可以現(xiàn)場表演的。在一些慶典或紀(jì)念性的場合，你可以看到畫家們揮毫潑墨。畫的題材大致相同：牡丹、梅花、山水、林中小屋等。
B: Their education function is, in fact, a unique feature of Chinese paintings. Human profiles were were used as a method to either glorify heroes or condemn traitors 2,000 years ago. Tang Dynasty officials even tried to bring painting into Confucian ideology. The Court of Song Dynasty published an official guide to paintings. This raised criteria not only for human profiles but also for landscape and object paintings.
B：其實，這是中國畫的一個特點：強調(diào)繪畫的宣傳功能。早在兩千年前，人物畫就被政府機構(gòu)廣泛用做宣傳工具，表彰忠臣烈士，批判亂臣賊子。唐代的士大夫們甚至試圖把繪畫創(chuàng)作納入儒家的思想體系。到了宋代，政府專門出版了官方畫譜，不但對人物畫的功能提出要求，對山水畫和花鳥畫也如此。
A: Oh, what was that?
A：都是些什么要求？
B: It classified paintings into ten categories covering religious beliefs, Confucianism and state power. This classification gave an official definition of the value and significance of the paintings. The purpose of landscape paintings was to portray the five mountains, while fruit and bires were used to exemplify or eulogize the Gods. In this case, the subjects were used as references to people in order to deliver moral messages. For example, peony and peacocks represented wealth and fortune; pine trees bamboo, plum blossoms and orchids represented elegance and accomplishments; and pine trees and cypresses symbolized loyalty.
B：這個畫譜將繪畫分為十類，涵蓋宗教思想、儒家理論和政權(quán)統(tǒng)治，論述了各類繪畫存在的價值與意義。山水畫的存在價值是能描繪“五岳”；瓜果、花鳥有敬神的作用。繪畫因此起到以物比人的教化作用。比如，牡丹、孔雀表現(xiàn)富貴；松、竹、梅、蘭比喻高人雅士；松、柏象征忠貞。
A: As far as I know, painters who did not have to make a living by painting used different skills to those specified in the guide, even though they painted the same subjects.
A：不過，據(jù)我所知，古代那些不靠繪畫謀生的文人，雖然也畫同樣的題材，但他們的技法與官方畫譜規(guī)定的不同。
B: Artiest are usually against pragmatism. They like to give meaning to the subjects they paint. Bamboo symbolizes integrity and simplicity; the orchid symbolizes modesty and misfortune; and pine trees symbolize never giving up. Artists also like landscapes. It doesn't take a lot of training to paint landscapes. It all depends on the painter's personality and ability, as well as his unique touch. Most of today's non-professional painters follow the landscape style. The objective of these painters is purely entertainment and self-satisfaction. The more successful artists have the opportunity to exhibit as public functions. That is probably the climax of their painting careers.
B: 文人反對實用主義，他們的畫有不同的象征意義：竹子代表正直、質(zhì)樸；蘭花代表謙虛和懷才不遇；松樹代表自強不息。文人也喜畫山水，這不需要進(jìn)行長期的技巧訓(xùn)練，完全取決于畫家的個性和修養(yǎng)，還有獨特的筆觸。今天，一些非職業(yè)畫家依然沿襲古代文人的路子，為自娛自樂、修身養(yǎng)性而畫。他們當(dāng)中知名度較高的能參加各種活動，現(xiàn)場作畫。這大概是他們藝術(shù)價值的最高體現(xiàn)了。
A: What are professional painters doing?
A：職業(yè)畫家在干什么？
B: Some of them make a great effort to improve their painting skills. They want to develop new and innovative painting methods by borrowing from other genres. Others are busy making money. They have found ways to produce commercially attractive paintings. Some people say they are no longer artists. Instead they have become manufacturers of paintings.
B：一些人的苦心演戲技巧，試圖多方借鑒，開發(fā)出不同凡響的畫法；另一些人忙于賺錢，他們繪制具有商業(yè)價值的作品。有人說他們其實已經(jīng)不算畫家，只是畫匠而已。
