一、背景介紹
2010年9月，由其翻譯的《漢字中華》一書付梓。該書由原全國人大副委員長許嘉璐教授親自作序，著名學者、書法家黃苗子先生為該書題詞。《漢字中華》已成為中華文化瑰寶以及弘揚漢字文化的教科書。
二、譯作欣賞
再別康橋 (adieu, Cambridge)
徐志摩 / Xu Zhimo
孟憲波（譯）/ Tr. by Meng Xianbo
2006年12月5日/ December 5, 2006
輕輕的我走了，
正如我輕輕的來；
我輕輕的招手，
作別西天的雲彩。
Quietly I said adieu,
Just as quietly as I arrived;
I gently waved my hand,
Bidding farewell to the sunset glow.
那河畔的金柳，
是夕陽中的新娘；
波光里的艷影，
在我的心頭蕩漾。
The golden riverside willows,
Are brides in the afterglows.
They deeply touch my affections
With their enchanting reflections.
軟泥上的青荇，
油油的在水底招搖；
在康河的柔波里，
我甘心做一條水草！
The verdant cresses
Are Swaying in the sludge;
I wish I were an alga growing,
In the rippling waves of River Cam.
那樹蔭下的一潭，
不是清泉，是天上虹
揉碎在浮藻間，
沉澱著彩虹似的夢。
O', under the shades is the pool,
It's the rainbow from the sky,
Not springwater which is so cool.
Shattered among the duckweeds,
Are my rainbow-like dreams.
尋夢？撐一支長篙，
向青草更青處漫溯，
滿載一船星輝，
在星輝斑斕里放歌。
Can I seek my dreams?
By vaulting a long pole against the river,
I yearn for the grass even greener.
As my boat is laden with starlight,
I'd love to sing in the star-spangled night.
但我不能放歌，
悄悄是別離的笙簫；
夏蟲也為我沉默，
沉默是今晚的康橋！
But I can not sing aloud,
For silence's the music for departure.
Summer insects also keep quiet,
Silence belongs to Cambridge tonight.
悄悄的我走了，
正如我悄悄的來；
我揮一揮衣袖，
不帶走一片雲彩。
Quietly I said adieu,
As quietly as I arrived;
By flicking my sleeves,
I left every cloud behind.
相思 (Love Peas)
王維（唐）/ By Wang Wei
孟憲波（譯）/ Tr. Fred X. Meng
紅豆生南國，
春來發幾枝。
願君多採擷，
此物最相思。
Only in the South does love pea grow,
Early in spring a few twigs may show;
Please gather more, my dear friends,
'Cause they are the Best Love tokens.
春江花月夜 (The moonlit Spring River)
(唐)張若虛
孟憲波譯
2006年12月26日
Zhang Ruoxu, the Tang Dynasty
Tr. by Fred X. Meng
December 26, 2006
春江潮水連海平，
海上明月共潮生。
灩灩隨波千萬里，
何處春江不月明。
Into the sea Empties the spring river tides,
Over the tides the bright full moon shines.
Rippling waves roll thousands of miles,
Entire river’s enshrouded as the moon rises.
江流婉轉繞芳甸，
月照花林皆似霰。
空里流霜不覺飛，
汀上白沙看不見。
River winds through flower-dotted wilderness,
Graupel covers the moonlit flowering woods.
White sand beach can be seen nowhere,
While the moonbeam is flying everywhere.
江天一色無纖塵，
皎皎空中孤月輪。
江畔何人初見月，
江月何時初照人。
Looked alike sky and river are free of dust,
The lonely moon is full of clearness and luster.
Who was the first man ever to see the moon,
When did the moonlight first ever gleam on man.
人生代代無窮已，
江月年年只相似。
不知江月照何人，
但見長江送流水。
Generations run on without coming to an end,
Year on year the glimpse of the moon remains.
Does anyone know whom the moon is expecting?
Nothing except the river is forever flowing.
白雲一片去悠悠，
清楓浦上不勝愁。
誰家今夜扁舟子？
何處相思明月樓？
A trace of white cloud wanders yonder,
How sorrowful the solitary wife is I wonder.
The wanderer is drifting on a skiff tonight,
Leaving his lovesick wife in the moonlight.
可憐樓上月徘徊，
應照離人妝鏡台。
玉戶簾中卷不去，
搗衣砧上拂還來。
The wretched moon overhead does rover,
The beam cast on the toilet table in her boudoir.
Furling the curtains or whisking the washing-stone,
Yet the moonlight is bound to doggedly loiter.
此時相望不相聞，
願隨月華流照君。
鴻雁長飛光不度，
魚龍潛躍水成文。
We can't meet each other with the same moon though,
I wish I could follow the moon which shines over you.
Even wild geese can not beat the glittering moonlight,
No diving fish or dragons can bring you back to my sight.
昨夜閒潭夢落花，
可憐春半不還家。
江水流春去欲盡，
江潭落月復西斜。
I dreamed about some fallen petals in a serene pond,
Spring's halfway past yet home's nowhere to be found.
Gone with the river is nothing but the dearest spring,
The pond reflects the moon which is on the wane.
斜月沉沉藏海霧，
竭石瀟湘無限路。
不知乘月幾人歸，
落月搖情滿江樹。
Behind the sea fog is the slanting moon hidden,
There is a long distance to cover afore our reunion.
The returning journey how many people can make,
Nothing but the moonlit woods by the river shake.
致橡樹 (To an Oak)
舒婷（著）/ By Shu Ting
孟憲波（譯）/Tr. by Fred X. Meng
2007年1月25日 / January 25, 2007
我如果愛你——
絕不像攀援的凌霄花
借你的高枝炫耀自己；
If I'm in love with you ——
Never shall I be garish like a trumpet creeper
By taking advantage of your high branches;
我如果愛你——
絕不學痴情的鳥兒
為綠蔭重複單調的歌曲；
If I'm in love with you ——
Never shall I be monotonous like a bird
Repeating the same old tune in your shades;
也不止像泉源
長年送來清涼的慰藉；
也不止像險峰
增加你的高度，襯托你的威儀，
Nor just like a wellspring
Providing perpetual cool solace;
Nor just like a perilous peak
Enhancing your height and your impressiveness;
甚至日光。
甚至春雨。
不，這些都還不夠！
Nor the sunlight
Nor the spring drizzle
No, as they're far from satisfactory!
我必須是你近旁的一株木棉，
作為樹的形象和你站在一起。
I must be a tree, a nearby KAPOK tree
Always standing with you side by side.
根，緊握在地下
葉，相觸在雲里。
Our roots intertwined under the surface
Our leaves caress each other in the clouds.
每一陣風過
我們都互相致意，
但沒有人
聽懂我們的言語。
With every gust of wind
We greet each other
Yet no one else
Can truly decode our secret messages.
你有你的銅枝鐵乾
像刀、像劍，
也像戟；
With your bronze branches and iron trunk
Like swords
Also like halberds;
我有我紅碩的花朵
像沉重的嘆息，
又像英勇的火炬。
With my deep sighs
And my bright-red blossoms
Like huge torches.
我們分擔寒潮、風雷、霹靂；
我們共享霧靄、流嵐、虹霓。
Let us share cold fronts, windstorms and thunderbolts;
Let us enjoy mists, hazes and multi-colored rainbows.
仿佛永遠分離，
卻又終身相依。
這才是偉大的愛情，
堅貞就在這裡：
It seems we're forever independent,
However we're forever interdependent.
This, I believe, is the true love,
herein lies our mutual faithfulness.
愛——
不僅愛你偉岸的身軀，
也愛你堅持的位置，足下的土地。
Love means——
Apart from your outstanding stature,
I also love the soil under your feet
And the position you hold in persistence.
長恨歌(Ode to Everlasting Regrets)
By Bai Juyi （白居易）
Tr. Fred X. Meng (孟憲波)
Aug. 26, 2001
漢皇重色思傾國，御宇多年求不得。楊家有女初長成，養在深閨人未識。
More than anything else His Majesty loves beauties who're fond,
Enthroned for years the most satisfying has not yet been found.
Presently Yang's daughter is reported to have been well-bred,
No one has noticed her as it is in her boudoir that she's confined.
天生麗質難自棄，一朝選在君王側。回眸一笑百媚生，六宮粉黛無顏色。
None of her beautiful features would be cast in oblivion,
Only because she has been presented to the sovereign.
Casting a smiling glance she is the most attractive lady,
All the concubines and beauties can do nothing but flee.
春寒賜浴華清池，溫泉水滑洗凝脂。侍兒扶起嬌無力，始是新承恩澤時。
Permitted to bathe in Huaqing Pool in the still chilly spring,
Warm spring water cleans her smooth and silky skin,
The fragile lady is helped to her feet by her maid,
Thus begins their most fascinating wedding day.
雲鬢花顏金步搖，芙蓉帳暖度春宵。春宵苦短日高起，從此君王不早朝。
Her hair is decorated with dangling glittering jewelry,
The warm spring night they spend is most fascinating.
The joyous night is too short as the hideous sun rises,
Hence he refuses to attend business early in the morning.
承歡侍宴無閒暇，春從春遊夜專夜。後宮佳麗三千人，三千寵愛在一身。
She spends every minute making him happy by waiting at feasts,
She's the only lady he endears and they travel as spring tourists.
The only woman he adores is Yang, the delicate empress.
Leaving behind three thousand beauties in his palace,
金屋妝成嬌侍夜，玉樓宴罷醉和春。姊妹弟兄皆列土，可憐光彩生門戶。
With meticulous makeup she spends the nights with the emperor,
Drinking at feasts makes her an even more beautiful charmer.
All her brothers and sisters are being given royal titles.
auspicious clouds are hovering above the family's tiles.
遂令天下父母心，不重生男重生女。驪宮高處入青雲，仙樂風飄處處聞。
This helps all the parents to change their minds,
For they now prefer producing girls to having males.
The top of the Li Palace is piercing into the clouds,
While beautiful melodies of fairy music ringing aloud.
緩歌謾舞凝絲竹，盡日君王看不足。漁陽鼙鼓動地來，驚破霓裳羽衣曲。
Enjoying pleasant songs and graceful dances
Never has the ruler got tired from dawn to dusk.
Alas! A rebellion breaks out all of a sudden,
Dancers and singers are extremely panic-stricken.
九重城闕煙塵生，千乘萬騎西南行。翠華搖搖行復止，西出都門百餘里。
The stronghold is immediately left in dusty chaos,
Thousands of his troops are moving southwest.
When troops abruptly stop moving his banner flies,
Covering a distance form West Gate of forty miles.
六軍不發無奈何，宛轉蛾眉馬前死。花鈿委地無人收，翠翹金雀玉搔頭。
The troops decline a step forward and he can do nothing,
The poor delicate Empress has to be executed by hanging.
The execution ground is strewn with her golden jewelry,
No one cares to pick up the fallen hairpins in such a hurry.
君王掩面救不得，回看血淚相和流。黃埃散漫風蕭索，雲棧縈紆登劍閣。
Covering his tear-smeared face His Majesty can do nothing,
He keeps turning back his head with tears and blood blending.
The air is filled with yellow sand and saddening wind soughs.
Along the trail His Majesty is mounting the precipitous steps,
The zigzag trail of ancient Jiange is connected with the clouds,
峨嵋山下少人行，旌旗無光日色薄。蜀江水碧蜀山青，聖主朝朝暮暮情。
Few travelers can be seen at the foot of the EmeiMountain,
The banners and flags droop and the skies darken.
The rivers of Sichuan are lucid and the mountains green,
From morning to evening her image lingers over his dreams.
行宮見月傷心色，夜雨聞鈴腸斷聲。天鏇地轉回龍馭，到此躊躇不能去。
The gloomy moon hovering above his temporary palace,
He's heartbroken upon hearing the bells midst the night rain.
The situation has changed and the ruler is expected to return,
However he is hesitant to mount his royal chariot.
馬嵬坡下泥土中，不見玉顏空死處。君臣相顧盡沾衣，東望都門信馬歸。
Dirt at the foot of Mahuai Ridge witnesses her execution,
Unfortunately her beautiful face is nowhere to be seen.
Both His Majesty and his subordinates are weeping,
No one urges steeds back to the palace but let them be roving.
歸來池苑皆依舊，太液芙蓉未央柳。芙蓉如面柳如眉，對此如何不淚垂。
Lotus in Taiye Pond blooms by green willows in WeiyangPalace.
The regal ponds and gardens in the palace still remain intact,
What else can remind of the delicate features of the late empress?
How can His Majesty refrain from being lost in tearful distress?
春風桃李花開日，秋雨梧桐葉落時。西宮南內多秋草，落葉滿階紅不掃。
Peaches and plums are blooming in the spring,
Chinese parasol leaves are falling with autumn wind.
The steps are strewn with fallen frost-bitten leaves,
Palace courtyard' s covered with autumn grass luxuriant.
梨園弟子白髮新，椒房阿監青娥老。夕殿螢飛思悄然，孤燈挑盡未成眠。
The opera singers have become gray haired,
The faces of court maids have turned wrinkled.
Dusks find glowworms flying in the palace,
His Majesty in agony is again lost in meditation.
The oil of the lonely lamp is almost burning out,
Nonetheless His Majesty can hardly fall asleep.
遲遲鐘鼓初長夜，耿耿星河欲曙天。鴛鴦瓦冷霜華重，翡翠衾寒誰與共。
Bell announces beginning of a night unbearably long,
The dim starlight is ushering in the next dawn.
Covered with heavy frost the tiles are so cold,
Cold quilt can no longer bring dreams she can haunt.
悠悠生死別經年，魂魄不曾來入夢。臨邛道士鴻都客，能以精誠致魂魄。
Year in and year out hence her decease,
Her soul has never visited the ruler's dreams.
In the capital resides a kind Taoist priest,
With sincerity he can work as an EXORCIST.
為感君王輾轉思，遂教方士殷勤覓。排空馭氣奔如電，升天入地求之遍。
Deeply moved by His Majesty's restless lovesickness,
The Taoist priest offers to help with eager attentiveness.
Soaring by riding the clouds and air like a lightning,
He hunts in heaven and the nether world for the Empress.
上窮碧落下黃泉，兩處茫茫皆不見。忽聞海上有仙山，山在虛無縹渺間。
No news from heaven or the otherworldliness,
The Empress can be found from neither place.
Suddenly he learns a fairy mountain on the sea,
And the fairyland is just like a mirage scene.
樓閣玲瓏五雲起，其中綽約多仙子。中有一人字太真，雪膚花貌參差是。
Magnificent pavilions are hidden in clouds auspicious,
In the beautiful buildings live many nymphs gracious.
Amongst them there is one named Taizhen,
With delicate features and snow-white skin.
金闕西廂叩玉扃，轉教小玉報雙成。聞道漢家天子使，九華帳里夢魂驚。
The priest knocks at west wing made of jade,
Please inform your mistress he pleads the maid.
Learning the arrival of the envoy of His Majesty,
Startled in her dreams under the brocade canopy.
攬衣推枕起徘徊，珠箔銀屏迤邐開。雲鬢半偏新睡覺，花冠不整下堂來。
Pushing aside the pillow she gets up hesitantly,
The pearl curtains and the silver screens are open,
She makes her maids usher in the visitor immediately.
Eyes blurred she finds her dresses in disarray.
風吹仙袂飄飄舉，猶似霓裳羽衣舞。玉容寂寞淚闌乾，梨花一枝春帶雨。
Her long sleeves are rippling in breeze,
As if she were dancing to the Nichang music.
Her lovely face is smeared with lonely tears,
A branch of pear blossoms dampened by spring rain.
含情凝睇謝君王，一別音容兩渺茫。昭陽殿里恩愛絕，蓬萊宮中日月長。
With affection she expresses her gratitude to the king,
Never have they met each other since their separation.
They once truly love each other in Palace Zhaoyang,
The lonely days in Palace Penglai are unbearably long.
回頭下望人寰處，不見長安見塵霧。惟將舊物表深情，鈿合金釵寄將去。
Looking down at the earthly human scene,
Enshrouded in dust the capital can't be seen.
I can do nothing but express my affections.
By sending my beloved our old love tokens
釵留一股合一扇，釵擘黃金合分鈿。但教心似金鈿堅，天上人間會相見。
Half of the jewelry and my golden hairpin I'll keep,
And the rest of them shall undoubtedly go to him.
As long as our devotion remains as sturdy as gold,
We shall meet in heaven or in the human world.
臨別殷勤重寄詞，詞中有誓兩心知。七月七日長生殿，夜半無人私語時。
Will the envoy please take my message to His Majesty?
The pledges are perfectly understood by our two hearts.
When meet in Longevity Hall on the 7th day of the 7th month,
By midnight we shall be able to whisper into each other’s ears:
在天願作比翼鳥，在地願為連理枝。天長地久有時盡，此恨綿綿無絕期。
In heaven we'll be a pair of birds flying wing to wing,
On earth we'll be trees intertwined from twig to twig.
The profound eternity may come to an end,
Our hatred for separation will forever remain.
致韓興國教授
孟憲波
2007年1月17日致韓興國教授函
興國兄台鑒：
喜聞雅潛學有所成，甚感欣慰。兄嫂教女有方，可見一斑！
有道是，長兄如父，老嫂比母。然也。
想我兄弟萍水相逢，竟成莫逆。每每念及弟年少輕狂、無知好勝；而兄嫂仁心宅厚、至柔至剛，無不潸然涕下，感慨萬千。
光陰似箭，日月如梭。弟美利堅一別，而來已近七載。其間委屈、憤懣、彷徨、無奈，時常哀嘆古來才大難為用，往往不堪回首月明中。
痛定思痛，然後以常人十倍乃至百倍之努力，懸樑刺股，聞雞起舞。韜光養晦、潛心鑽研。如今，未敢言學有所成，卻可以下筆成文；不能稱滿腹經綸，卻可以出口成章；豈敢論腰纏萬貫，卻足以衣食無憂。著作盈尺，桃李萬千。嬌妻犬子，夫復何求？
信口開河，不知所言。
……
書憤
孟憲波
問世間，情為何物？
說什麼，
忠貞不渝，地老天荒；
舉案齊眉，白頭偕老。
到頭來，
見異思遷，勞燕分飛；
山盟海誓，彌天大謊。
話人生，歲月幾何？
誰不道，
福星高照，文曲下凡，
前程似錦，一片光明。
曾記否？
垂成功敗，頓足捶胸；
世態炎涼，注定坎坷。
……
縱千瘡百孔，
但生命如歌。
人生苦短，豈敢蹉跎。
流言蜚語，任憑世說。
命運多舛，我心自若。
我為書狂，世語心說。
詩以言志，知己頗多。
讀史明鑑，仰慕賢哲。
觀今懷古，文功武略。
鶯歌燕舞，天上宮闕。
舉杯邀月，把酒放歌。
心懷華夏，軒轅薦血。
生當人傑，至死不懈。
明日還鄉，高唱凱歌。
註：著名翻譯家李堯教授讀完作者所寫書信及譯作後，除褒獎外，稱仍有意猶未盡之意。作者浮想聯翩，夜不能寐，不覺已旭日東升，遂結合自己的人生經歷以及對生命的感悟，欣然命筆，一揮而就。
孩子快抓緊媽媽的手 (Hurry, Baby, Hold Mommy’s Hand)
獻給在四川大地震中遇難的孩子們
To the little victims who died in the earthquake in Sichuan
翻譯：孟憲波 / Tr. By Fred X. Meng
2008年5月16日 / May 16, 2008
孩子
快
抓緊媽媽的手
去天堂的路
太黑了
媽媽怕你
碰了頭
快
抓緊媽媽的手
讓媽媽陪你走
Hurry
Baby
Hold Mommy’s hand
Don’t let go
The road to the heaven
Is too dark
I’m so worried
Mind your head
Hurry, Baby
Hold Mommy’s hand
Don’t let go
And let me go accompany you
媽媽
怕
天堂的路
太黑
我看不見你的手
自從
倒塌的牆
把陽光奪走
我再也看不見
你柔情的眸
Mommy, Mommy
I’m so scared
It’s too dark
Along the road to heaven
I can’t see your hand
Since the wall collapsed
The sunshine has been blocked
Your soft eyes can no longer be seen
孩子
你走吧
前面的路
再也沒有憂愁
沒有讀不完的課本
和交不完的答卷
你要記住
我和爸爸的模樣
來生還要一起走
Go, Baby
Please go
Along the road ahead of you
No more textbooks
No more exam papers
And no more sorrow
But will you remember
The looks of Mom and Dad
For in our next life
together again we shall go
媽媽
別擔憂
天堂的路有些擠
有很多同學朋友
我們說
不哭
哪一個人的媽媽都是我們的媽媽
哪一個孩子都是媽媽的孩子
沒有我的日子
你把愛給活的孩子吧
Mommy, Mommy
Stop worrying, won’t you?
For I’ve got many school pals
The road to heaven’s a bit crowded though
We all say:
We will not cry
For any Mommy’s our Mommy
Any baby’s Mommy’s baby
In those days without me
Will you give your love to other babies
Who are still alive?
媽媽
你別哭
淚光照亮不了
我們的路
讓我們自己
慢慢的走
媽媽
我會記住你和爸爸的模樣
記住我們的約定
來生一起走
Mommy, Mommy
Stop crying
Tears won’t lighten
Our road to heaven
Slowly but surely
Please let us go
Mommy, Mommy
I’ll remember the looks of
Both Dad and you
And our appointment:
In our next life
Together again we shall go
Two Truths to Live By (人生之二原則)
亞歷山大·M·辛德勒（著）/ By Alexander M. Schindler
孟憲波（譯）/ Tr. by Fred. X. Meng
2007年2月6日/February 6, 2007
Hold fast, and let go: understand this paradox, and you stand at the very gate of wisdom. The art of living is to know when to hold fast and when to let go. For life is a paradox: it enjoins us to cling to its many gifts even while it ordains their eventual relinquishment. The rabbis of old put it this way:" A man comes to this world with his fist clenched, but when he dies, his hand is open." Surely we ought to hold fast to life, for it is wondrous, and full of beauty that breaks through every pore of God's own earth. We know that this is so, but all too often we recognize this truth only in our backward glance when we remember what it was and then suddenly realize that it is no more. We remember a beauty that faded, a love that waned. But we remember with far greater pain that we did not see that beauty when it flowered, that we failed to respond with love when it was tendered.
收與放：收與放為一對矛盾，懂得這個道理，您即為智者。生活的藝術在於懂得何時該收以及何時該放。生活本身即是一個矛盾統一體：它鼓勵我們緊擁其饋贈的同時又命令我們最終放棄。“一個人呱呱墜地時，他雙拳緊握；當他撒手人寰時卻是兩手空空。”古代猶太智者如是說。誠然，我們需要緊緊地擁抱生命，因為美麗人生充滿了奇蹟，它存在於上帝所佑庇的每一寸土地。我們知道這一點，但是，我們往往在回首往事時才記起它，然後突然意識到它已經隨風而去，不復存在了。我們記得容顏不再和昨日戀歌，但是，當我們發現美麗綻放時，自己卻沒有看到它；愛情需要回應時，自己卻沒有呵護它，就會倍感痛苦。
奧運賦 (Ode to the Olympics)
王金玲（著）/ By Wang Jinling
孟憲波、高平（譯）/ Tr. by Fred X. Meng & Gao Ping
公元二零零八，廿九奧運在京。全球為之呼吸，億萬為之佇目，曠世空前。予壯其盛，遂作斯賦，賦曰：
The 29th Olympics are going to be hosted in Beijing, China in 2008. Billions of people from all over the world are holding their breath, attaching great importance and looking forward to this grand occasion. In order to stress its significance, I, hereby, compose the ode as follows:
夫奧運者，現代奧運之謂也。史源希臘，古今有別。始，希人為尊萬神之王宙斯，於前七七六年立節以慶，約四年一舉，地擇奧林匹亞，曰奧林匹亞賽。每逢其典，體樂文皆備，歷時十六日。勝者折桂橄欖，刻石雕影，備極崇幸。其俗綿延千載，始盛終衰，止於公元三九四年。此為古之奧運，係為希國一地之賽事也。今之奧運，始自一八九六，已歷百年。先是，法人顧拜旦，倡復奧運。應者鵲起，聚首巴黎，決襲希奧之名，四載輪換，易地而行。旨宗友誼，幟摯五環，寓五洲共舉之會也。於是，地不分歐、亞、非、澳，人不擇黑、白、棕、黃，能者為伍，萬國一擂。更添人文灌輸、吉祥擇物、會徽徵選、聖火傳遞，啟閉藝演，奏凱升幟，凡此呈善爭榮之舉，莫不登峰造極。是故，與賽者神之往之，個個思折桂如越龍門、出手不遺餘力；人人慕摘金似登麟閣，拼搏何惜剩勇？破舊標新，記錄無極限之說；昨是今非，王者無常歲之冠。擊心震魄，競者吁吁，觀者吆吆，天下為之傾倒，人間為之瘋狂，遂成寰宇無匹之大觀也。
The said Olympic Games refer to the modern ones, which originated from ancient Greece but are different from their ancient counterparts. Originally, the Olympics had been held once every four years by the Greek since 776 BC in honor of Zeus, the king of all gods. The venue chosen was called Olympia, thus came the name of Olympia Games. The grand occasion used to last for 16 days when sports, music as well as other recreational activities were performed. The winners would be presented with laurels made of olive and bay branches, have their names engraved on the stone tablets and win great acclamations. The tradition lasted for over one thousand years before it came to an end by AD 394. The events aforementioned were ancient Olympics limited to one state, Greece only. The modern Olympics, however, started in 1896, with a history of over one hundred years. A Frenchman named Pierre de Coubertin was the first to advocate the resurrection of the Olympics and was applauded by numerous enthusiasts who gathered at Paris and decided to adopt the name of the Olympics held in ancient Greece. The new event was to be held once every four years in different cities around the world for peaceful purposes. The five rings on the specially designed flag represent a grand meeting co-held by the five continents. Hence the black, white, brown and yellow contestants from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, etc. could meet at the same arena. Moreover，the modern Olympics are characterized by humanitarian elements, the choice of mascots, passing-on of the holy fire, performances on the opening and closing ceremonies, national anthems played and flags raised. All of these well-intentioned and honor-oriented activities are performed consummately without any exception. Therefore, the contestants are most fascinated by the Games and would spare no efforts at all in vying each other for the olive crowns. Each and every of them is striving after the gold medals with which they are obsessed, and breaking old records and establishing new ones which know no limits. As the record before shall always be excelled by the later, who can remain ever victorious in the Olympics? It is most exciting to watch the Games where athletes are exerting their best while the spectators are cheering aloud. The whole world is overwhelmed and the entire earth is thrilled by such unprecedented and spectacular events!
奧運百年，其況逾巨，其勢逾熾。人皆思而主之。每屆輪換，申辦者趨之若鶩，東遊西說，莫不使盡渾身解數。廿九之會，逐鹿愈烈。決出之日，奧官齊聚俄都。億萬決眥，唯恐失報：全球屏氣，只待訊息。會終，薩翁一語天驚：東道有主，北京勝出！此語忽如墜雷，中華為之沸鼎，爆竹爭鳴不眠之夜；世界為之頜首，賀函紛至難了之情。至是，史碑重立矣！
As the centennial Olympics are drawing close with the largest scale ever of its kind, each state had been looking forward to winning its bid. Whenever a new Olympiad is to be held, there would always be numerous applicants scrambling for its bid, trying to be as persuasive as they can. The 29th was by no means an exception. On the contrary, the competition for its bid became ever fierce. On the day of declaration, all the officials of IOC were present in Moscow. Again, millions and millions of people were holding their breath, for they were extremely anxious to hear the last result by themselves, for fear that they should miss such a decisive moment. When the meeting was over, Mr. Juan Antonio Samaranch solemnly declared: the host of the 29th Olympic Games will be Beijing! Like a sudden thunderbolt fallen, Mr. Samaranch’s remarks were promptly followed by cheers and hoorays from the ecstatic people across China and the deafening sounds of fireworks throughout the sleepless night. The exciting news was also greeted by smiles on the faces from other parts of the world and numerous congratulatory letters and correspondences arrived in Beijing without an end. Hence a new historical monument was erected!
嗟乎！奧運之於中華，實非尋常之擇：在彼為通塞銜源，彌了缺憾；在我乃厘弱廁強，夙願終償。想我中華，亦為世界體壇之濫觴者，其情其史非遲於希之奧運。追遠溯源，可佐可陳者莫不彰然於史。今之靡世之事，其巨莫過於足賽，然我蹴鞠為戲，已盛數千載。跡遍臨淄，“鞠革為之，踏之為戲”，實為足球之祖。春秋論劍，“追形逐影，光若仿佛”，堪為擊劍之先。漢代百戲，“烏獲扛鼎”，當為舉重之始。《詩經》載泳，“就其深矣，方之舟之。就其淺矣，泳之游之”，游泳之舉，實我為宗矣。競舟之賽，遠古已習，漢唐逾興，“槕影翰波飛萬劍，鼓聲劈浪鳴千雷。”其況之壯，今人觀之，亦嘆弗如！若乃競射、角力、賽馬、操技之類，行世歷久，皆可為始為先。奧運移擂中華，無異臨源慕宗之舉，補益了憾之行也。
Alas! Hosting the Olympics is far from an ordinary choice for the Chinese nation. On the one hand, Olympiad is to be hosted in China, one of the cradles of the world civilization, and the universal regret of never hosting such a great event in China is finally relieved. On the other hand, China is shedding its indigence and marching toward prosperity and strength and our long-cherished dream have come true at long last. In reminiscence, China can well be called one of the birthplaces of sports and games, and such a history is by no means later than that of the Greek Olympia Games. In retrospection of the original sources, we are fortunate to be able to find so many supporting evidences and proofs, which lie in our historical heritages. The most popular event in today’s world is no other than FIFA. However, our ancestors had started playing Cuju (similar to the present-day football) several thousand years ago all over Linzi, the capital city of Qi, one of China’s famous warlord states in ancient times. “The Cuju made of leather was played for fun”. Therefore, the said Cuju can be well called the predecessor of the modern football. The contests of swordsmanship during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C. – 476 B.C.) were recorded as “glittering shapes and shadows of clanking swords”, and they can be regarded as the precursor of the modern fencing. According to the historical records of the acrobatics of the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. – A.D. 220), Wu Huo, China’s Hercules, raised a tripod vessel，which could be acclaimed as the progenitor of the modern weight-lifting. According to “The Book of Songs”, China’s ancient poetry, described swimming： “Rowing a boat where the water is deep; going swimming where the water is shallow”. Thereby, China can be regarded as the birthplace of swimming. The boat racing had been an ancient practice which reached its summit during the Han and Tang Dynasties (206 B.C. – A.D. 907), “the oars were hitting the waves like ten thousand swords flying, the rataplans of the drums sounded like one thousand thunders rumbling”. It was so spectacular that even people now may fail to beat their grandeur. As to archery, wrestling, horse-racing, gymnastics, etc., each can find its time-honored herald in ancient China. Actually，the new arena put up in China is no other than paying tribute to the birthplace of sports and compensating for the aforesaid regrets.
神州之主東道，國人孰不喟古嘆今？泱泱中華，萬古隆榮，而近世蒙羞。清廷昏昧，喪權辱國，列強聚而瓜剖豆分，倭寇侵而鯨吞蠶食。我為魚肉，求存尚且難保，哪得益文強體；人為刀俎，亡我唯恐不速，何能爭雄一席？是以生靈塗炭，骸骨布野，百年飲恨，英靈泣血。於是，志士救亡，振臂揭竿，挽狂瀾於既決，扶大廈之將傾。百折不回，贏得中華新生。想十屆之賽，劉氏長春，隻身與會，孑然弔影，觀之悲愴。然時異景遷，廿三洛會，組軍首戰，浩蕩之勢，睹者刮目。更有許氏海峰，一槍而中首金，開元罅無，世界始呼，眠獅復醒矣！自始，屆屆以步以進，會會以進以前。廿八大會，囊金卅二，位列季前。終顯體育強幫之雄，盡洗東亞病夫之辱。國運強盛，謀揚威之於域外，思奧運不出國門。此願既萌，舉國同應。國奧申委，奮爭罔顧途舛；何公振梁，奔波不惜頭白。幾代戮力，百年夢圓。
Upon hearing the news of China’s hosting the new Olympics, all of us could not help sighing with emotions over the vicissitudes of the Chinese nation, which had enjoyed prosperity over thousands of years but became disaster-ridden in modern history. Because of their fatuities, the rulers of the later period of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1644 - 1911) were coerced to sign many an unequal treaty which humiliated the nation and forfeited its sovereignty and China was soon carved up by the invading foreign powers through piecemeal encroachment or wholesale annexation. As the conquered slaves, the Chinese people could hardly secure survival, let alone promote our culture or enhance our physique. Confronted with the blood-thirsty butchers who could not wait to see our perdition, how could we compete against them for a place in the Olympics? Since then, the Chinese people were plunged into the abyss of misery, the remains of innocent people were seen everywhere. Such hatred was brewed over 100 years when the spirit of our martyrs shed both tears and blood. At such a time of great jeopardy, however, heroes came forth to raise the standards of revolt in order to save our nation from extinction. They were making most vigorous and perseverant efforts to turn the adverse situation to a favorable one and to win the rebirth of the Chinese nation. At the 10th Olympics, Liu Changchun was the only Chinese contestant representing China, and his solitude looked so saddening. Time passed and the situation changed greatly, a grand delegation of Chinese athletes was organized for the first time to attend the 23rd Olympics in Los Angeles, drawing worldwide attention. Xu Haifeng, a shooting athlete, won the first Olympic gold medal ever for China in the history of Olympics. The world exclaimed: the sleeping lion was awakening! Ever since, China has continuously made greater progress after each Olympiad. On the 28th Olympics, the Chinese athletes won 32 gold medals, ranking the 2nd in the world, displaying China’s strength as a sports power and casting away the humiliating title of “Sick Man of East Asia”. Along with growth of comprehensive national strength, Chinese has planned to go global as well as hosting one of the great occasions within China and this aspiration won immediate and nationwide support. Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Bidding Committee had been struggling to this end despite extraordinary hardships. Mr. He Zhenliang exerted his vigorous efforts regardless of his senility. Through the concerted and unremitting efforts taken by generations, our 100-year-dream has finally come true.
雅典易旗，北京接幟，五環在握，奧運移宅。新主北京，千年古都，中華腹心，形盛天下。左環滄海，右擁太行，南襟河嶽，北枕居庸。九陌輻輳，八方鹹通。吸納五洲，進出萬邦。宏廣螢煌若是，何憂一會之操承也？
The Olympic arena was transferred to Beijing as the five-ringed banner relayed from Athens to our capital. The ancient city of Beijing, situated in the center of the country’s hinterland, boasts a history of over one thousand years with a most advantageous geographical location: faces the sea to the left, neighbors the Taihang Mountains to the right, encompassed by rivers and mountains to the south, and rests on the Juyong Pass of the Great Wall. Since Beijing is such a conveniently-located traffic hub, it embraces the guests from all over the world. Beijing is so magnificent and well-equipped that there is no need to worry about its capability to host the Olympics at all.
至乃青島、香江，輔賽之地，佳象可陳。青島者，膠灣之市，古屬琅琊。曾經秦皇蒞境尋仙，又歷唐宋板橋開埠。臨洋面海，實乃較帆之勝地。香江者，香港之別謂也，古粵之域，南國之戶。久譽“鰲洋甘瀑”之勝，史傳“紅香爐港”之說。九七歸國，更隆其盛。中外容融，獨枝一秀。擇地賽馬，上乘之算也。
As to its auxiliary venues, Qingdao and Hong Kong, are also blessed with many meritorious qualities. Facing the Jiaozhou Bay, the city of Qingdao belonged to Langya Prefecture in ancient times. Ying Zheng, the First Emperor of Qin (221 – 206 B.C.) had visited this area for immortality and Banqiao Town, an important harbor of the Tang (AD 618 - 907) and Song (AD 960 - 1279) Dynasties was located here. As Qingdao faces the sea, it can serve as an ideal place for yachting competition. Hong Kong used to belong to the ancient Canton and is a gateway to the south, it has long been famous for its legendary “Sweet Cataract in the Ocean”and “Red incense Burner”. It has enjoyed greater prosperity since it returned to the motherland in 1997. Integrated with both the Chinese and foreign elements, Hong Kong is such a unique city, which is the best choice for horse racing.
東道之就既位，萬象始於心裁。理念立三，曰綠色，曰科技、曰人文。是故穹霄勤於打掃，引清控濁，天無塵游纖浮之翳；九衢頻加收拾，布蔭散爽，地有綠怯紅羞之木。場館之設，匯中融外，嘆天工之錯落；景觀之立，博古寓今，疑人事之神移。至若人文奧運，彰文明，昭風範，言談好客之主，舉止大國之風。
Since Beijing won the bid for the Olympics, everything takes on a new and distinguished aspect. The three concepts of the 29th Olympics are: “Green Olympics”, “Scientific Olympics” and “Humanitarian Olympics”. To this end, greater importance has been attached to the treatment of air pollution and the seriousness of sandstorm has now been greatly alleviated; more plants have been grown and all streets are currently lined with shady and cooling trees. Characterized by both Chinese and foreign features, the wonderful designs of venues excel the nature; reminiscent of both the ancient and modern styles, the landscaping is beyond compare. As far as the concept of “Humanitarian Olympics” is concerned, sportsmanship, good manners, hospitality and courtesy are advocated.
會事之重，亦在定徽立標。廿九會徽，展中華之國風，現奧運之精神：中國印，漢字形，似人似京，如舞如奔，五環相配，年號相間，形活而意深也。
One of the key jobs of the Olympic Games is to set the logo. The vivid and meaningful logo for the 29th Olympics displays the demeanor of the Chinese nation and embodies the Olympic spirit: the Chinese seal looks like both a dancing or running figure and the Chinese character of Bejing; the five rings interrelate each other, forming 2008.
爾其寓物吉祥之選，福娃五抱：曰貝貝、曰晶晶、曰歡歡，曰迎迎，曰妮妮。字諧其音，“北京歡迎你”；色仿五環，紅黃藍綠黑。散福送祥，睹者悅目，五位一體，創奧運吉祥之數最矣。
As to Fuwa, its five-doll mascots: Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying and Nini, phonogramically means: Welcome to Beijing! Red, yellow, blue, green and black, the colors of the five rings were adopted for the dolls. The five auspicious and delightful mascots together create a record in mascot number in the history of Olympics.
更有口號主旨：“同一個世界，同一個夢想”。納天下之意願，融北京於一會。大哉斯旨，“同一個世界”：天同圓，地同方，日同時，人同心，情同懷，行同宗，競同規；“同一個夢想”：同此希望，同此追尋，同此期盼，同此理想，同此祝福，同此收穫，同此榮耀也。百年一會，永世遺芳。大同之夢，盡圓北京奧運矣。
Moreover, the slogan represents the objective of the 29th Olympics: One World One Dream. The universal aspirations are to be shared at the Beijing Olympics. “One World”: we share the same sky, same earth, same sun, same sentiments, same heart and soul, same code of conduct and same rules of competition; “One Dream”: we share the same hope, same pursuit, same expectations, same beatitude, same harvest and same honor. The centennial Olympics shall be blessed with enduring charm. The dream of one world shall finally come true in the Beijing Olympics.
予銘五內，感天地之有情，嘆山河之壯色，吁空而頌曰：永遠的奧運！永遠的北京！永遠的中華！
My heart has been so deeply touched by the love between the heaven and earth and grandeur of our landscape that I can not help raising my head skyward and exclaiming: Long live, Olympics! Long live, Beijing! Long live, China!
王金鈴
By Wang Jinling
公元二零零五年，歲次乙酉冬
In the winter of 2005
