林譯《巴黎茶花女遺事》筆下的基督宗教：兼論林紓的畏天與鬼神論

Christianity in Lin Shu's Translation of La Dame aux camélias (Bali Chahuanu Yishi) -- With Discussion on Lin’s Theory on Heaven Veneration and Reflection on Ghosts and Spirits

本文析論林紓譯《巴黎茶花女遺事》筆下的信仰與宗教話語，以之比對《茶花女》原文宗教意涵，再聯繫林紓畏天與鬼神論，說明林紓《遺事》對基督宗教的詮釋和重塑，主要指出：《茶花女》原作與林譯均述及「天」與「上帝」，二者皆言「天意」與「天佑」，但林譯中的「天命」為原文所無，其「天從人願」渴求也與原作「爾旨得成」觀念相悖。《遺事》的「天」賞善罰惡，鑒察人心，但林譯卻刪去了許多原作的基督宗教隱喻，其贖罪思想與原作救贖觀並不相同。另一方面，也正由於林譯的重塑，《遺事》筆下基督宗教上帝（天）的形象和道德觀，與林紓本人「畏天循分」、天佑忠孝的觀念，因而變得相當貼近。林紓認為基督宗教的上帝為「善」，這一認識，是他即使視耶穌教為「迷信」，但在譯作中仍屢作介紹，並始終未曾敵視基督宗教的重要原因。

 

The religious discourse in Lin Shu’s Chinese translation of La Dame aux camélias is analysed and compared to the religious meanings conveyed in the original. The results are then connected to Lin’s theory on Heaven veneration and his reflection on ghosts and spirits, in order to explain how he interpreted and recreated Christianity. The major findings are that: Lin’s translation retains two terms from the source text, Heaven (tian) and God (Shangdi), both bearing the meanings of "providence" (tianyi) and "Heaven’s blessings" (tianyou). However, "fate" (tianming) is found to be the translator’s own additions. His translation also projects a wish for "Heaven to have any Earthly wish fulfilled" (tiancongrenyuan), which differs from the concept of "let Thy will be done" expressed in the original French work. The Heaven as depicted in the original and Lin’s translation also rewards the righteous, punishes the evil, searches the heart and examines the mind, but Lin’s translation does not preserve most of the religious metaphors, and presents an idea of redemption which is different from the concept of salvation in the original. Because of Lin’s rewriting, the Christian image of God and moral values reflected in his translation are close to his understanding of Heaven veneration (weitian) and belief that "people embodying loyalty and filial piety will have divine blessings" (tianyouzhongxiao). Even though Lin equates Christian faith with superstition, the Western religion is frequently introduced in his translations as he considered the Christian God to be of good nature. This is why he was never hostile to Christianity.