Li Pingteng: I will dedicate my life to the truth

2012The year coincides with the birth anniversary of the great Enlightenment activist Rousseau300On the occasion of 6823_6886|The Complete Works of Rousseau, the largest and most comprehensive collection in China, was compiled and published by the Commercial Press. The translator of this collection is Professor Li Pingyu, a retired teacher from the French Department of w88 casino.

The spring silkworms will not run out of silk until they die, and the wax torch will turn to ashes before the tears dry up

Li Pingyu, born on March 16, 1924, was born in Renshou County, Sichuan. From August 1964 to w88 casino as a French teacher until his retirement in July 1995, Li Pingyu devoted more than thirty years to the University of International w88. As a teacher, Li Pingchen has both the rigor of a teacher and the tolerance of a scholar. In his teaching position, Li Pingreng is very strict and responsible. He often said that the most important thing in foreign language learning is to lay a solid foundation. Every word, every word, is the focus of learning. At the same time, he also attaches great importance to the interaction between teachers and students. In order to enable students to master basic knowledge in a solid manner, Li Pingchen once spent two hours explaining an interjection until all students understood and learned it. It is this kind of persistence and perseverance that allows Li Pingcheng to undertake heavy teaching tasks during his teaching period. At most, he has to attend 8 classes a day, and at the same time he insists on translation work every day.

The elderly Li Pingchun is not familiar with computer operations, and all his works are written in manuscript. Li Pingcheng has a special liking for manuscript writing, because every proofreading is a detailed revision of the manuscript. However, the writing efficiency of manuscripts is low. Li Pingyu said frankly that in order to complete the translation work perfectly, he developed the habit of "night reading" in his youth. Only in the dead of night can Li Pingchen be able to eliminate external interference and calm down to translate and think. Even into his twenties, Li Pingchen still maintained the habit of going to bed at two o'clock in the night. "The spring silkworms will die when their silk is gone, and the wax torch will dry up when it turns to ashes." Li Pingyu said that the University of International w88 has developed rapidly in recent years, and his biggest regret is that19959980_10120

I want to dedicate my life to the truth

Although it’s over88At the advanced age of 11695_11752|, Professor Li Pingyu is still energetic, quick-thinking, and elegant and humorous in conversation. Mr. Li was quite pleased when talking about "The Complete Works of Rousseau", which he has devoted decades of energy to. since1956After graduating from the Department of Western Languages and Literature at Peking University, majoring in French, Li Pingyu became deeply interested in Rousseau's works.1960Official translation of "Emile" since 2007,1978It was not officially published until the year 12844_12854|. to2011In the year, the book "Emile" has been published21Prints.

The "Complete Works of Rousseau" published this time is the largest and most comprehensive collection in history. The complete works are divided into 14650_14686|9Vol. Due to the large number of volumes, the complete collection is classified according to different themes, namely: Volumes 1 to 3 are Rousseau's autobiographical works; Volumes 4 to 5 are political and economic works; Volumes 6 to 7 are educational and cultural works; Volumes 8 to 9 are literary and artistic works.

Except for the eighth volume, which was co-translated with Professor He Sanya of Beijing Foreign Studies University, the rest were all completed by Li Pingchen on his own. In the process of translation, Li Pingcheng always regarded Yan Fu's translation theory of "faithfulness, expressiveness and elegance" as his translation criteria. Translation must first be based on "faithfulness". Faithfully reproducing the original author's original intention is the basis of "expressiveness" and "elegance". When talking about the difficulties in translating this complete collection, Li Pingchen said with a smile that there are two main reasons. First, it covers a wide range of topics. Rousseau's works cover knowledge in many fields, including botany, linguistics, law, religion, education, philosophy, etc.; second, there are too many languages. Rousseau's original works were written in French, interspersed with Latin, Greek, Italian and other languages. Faced with numerous volumes of disciplinary works and multilingual writings, Li Pingchun often sought advice from professional scholars when encountering difficulties, even making overseas phone calls to Paris for consultation. Despite the arduous translation process, Li Pingyu always firmly believed that Rousseau's thoughts and works have irreplaceable practical significance to China. The inherent revolutionary nature and profundity of Rousseau's thought had profound significance for both the French Revolution and the modern revolution, and his ideas on pedagogy——Naturalism, also deeply influenced modern educational theory. The book "Emile" is printed21times, and has been published in multiple editions in other regions and countries, with far-reaching influence.

The love for Rousseau's thoughts is the ideological pillar of Li Pingchun's determination to translate the nine-volume "The Complete Works of Rousseau". Li Pingteng loves Rousseau's writings. The beautiful French texts are extremely romantic, and coupled with the elegant or vulgar, vivid and vivid language style, Rousseau's works bring unforgettable touches to people. Rousseau's works have both the serious tone of theoretical works and the elegant or vulgar language style of literary works. Li Pingteng said that Rousseau's life experience was extremely difficult and rough. Due to his advanced ideas, Rousseau's ideas were not accepted by the people during his lifetime. It was not until after his death that his ideas were gradually recognized by the world. However, throughout his life, Rousseau did not give up his desire for knowledge and pursuit of truth because he was abandoned by the world.

Li Pingchun’s favorite quote from Rousseau is: “I will dedicate my life to the truth.” This is also Li Pingchun’s own pursuit in life.

Attachment: General Table of Contents of "The Complete Works of Rousseau"

Volume 1 Confessions (Part 1)

Volume 2 Confessions (Part 2)

Volume 3

A lonely walker’s dream

Draft of "Dream"

scoffer

Random thoughts

My portrait

Four letters to Mr. Director Malzerb

"Draft of "Confessions"

Conversation before the reading of "Confessions"

The attitude of people from all walks of life towards me

Citizen of Geneva—Jacques·Rousseau’s Will

Ways to enjoy life and more

Volume 4

Social contract theory

On the causes and basis of inequality between people

On whether the revival of science and art will help to make customs more simple

"Preface to "Narcissus"

Volume 5

Letter to D’Alembert

Political Economy

Letter from the mountains

Honor and virtue

On public happiness

Luxury, commerce and craftsmanship

The impact of environment on civilization

On the Motherland

On Nobility

On customs

Sparta and Rome——Comparison of the two republics

The Story of Lacedaemon

Volume Six Emile (Part 1)

Volume 7

Emile (Part 2)

Emile and Sophie or the lonely one

Prevost’s letter to the compiler of literary manuscripts

Volume 8 New Heloise (Part 1)

Volume 9

New Heloise (Part 2)

Preface to "Julie" or a conversation about the novel

Edward·Bombston Gentleman’s Love

On eloquence

About how to write a book

On women

A couple on the Avenue Saint-Denis

On major events secretly caused by women

Advice to a priest

On the qualities a hero should possess

Letter to Sana

The thoughts of a broad-minded person and the thoughts of a moral person 

Chronology of Rousseau