林语堂和梭罗——以《生活的艺术》为中心的个案考察

Lin Yutang and H.D.Thoreau——a Case Study of The Importance of Living

林语堂用英文撰写的《生活的艺术》是他最为畅销的作品,创作该书时他有着强烈的个人动因和民族动因。在书中讨论人性和人生哲学时,林语堂不止一次地提到了美国作家梭罗,由此可见林语堂对梭罗怀有不同一般的感情。在林语堂眼中,梭罗并非完美无缺,但他对梭罗基本上持一种褒扬的态度。林语堂创作《生活的艺术》的出发点和最终的落脚点都是从西方读者的需求出发,用英文展示中国人艺术生活的魅力。弘扬中国传统文化是最终目的,其余的一切都不过是在跨文化语境的创作中采用的传播手段和叙事策略而已。出于在异质文化语境下跨文化传通的考虑,林语堂选择了与中国人的人生理念极其接近的梭罗作为一个有力的佐证。梭罗成了林语堂在向西方输出中国的生活艺术时,下的一颗棋子,铺的一座桥梁。

The Importance of Living of the English version is the most popular production of Lin Yutang. Out of a strong personal motivation and a national motivation, Lin Yutang set out to create this book. When exploring the human nature and philosophy of life in The Importance of Living, Lin Yutang mentioned H. D. Thoreau many times, which showed that Lin Yutang held a particular feeling of H. D. THoreau. From the perspective of Lin Yutang, Thoreau was not perfect, but he still showed an appreciative attitude toward Thoreau. Considering the need of western readers, Lin Yutang did his best to attempt to display the charm of Chinese art of living. Given the intercultural communication in a hetero-cultural context, Lin Yutang chose Thoreau similar to Chinese as an evidence to support his viewpoint. Therefore, Thoreau became a medium for Lin Yutang to export the Chinese art of living.