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勿以独见而违众，勿以辩解为自然
兒感
Dec 9, 2014 10:21
9 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Chinese term

旧遗迹

Chinese to English Social Sciences History Mao era terminology
Has anyone seen this term used in other historical texts or texts that mention the Mao era?

I was just hoping to check with others if there is a term accepted by sociologists or academics in the field. I understand that it says "old ruin" but there might be a connotation of "bad ruin" or "unworthy of preservation" in there. I would appreciate links or an explanation so I know where you are getting your translation. Please see the paragraph below for context.

不过，当陈蓬希出生时，世代流传的宗祠已是被批判的「旧遗迹」自从一九四九年新政权建立以来，长期处于自治状态的乡村已被捲入了一轮又一轮的改造。人民公社取代了小农经济，地主与佃农的关系消失了，村子里的道德与权力中心，从宗祠转到了公社党委。这种变化给一些人带来了希望，也给另一些人带来了灾难。

Thanks very much for your help!
Proposed translations (English)
4 +2 The Four Olds （四旧）
4 +1 Relics of a bygone era
4 +1 remnants of the past
3 old decay

Discussion

jarv95888 Dec 11, 2014:
This "is" a passage about Chinese culture at a certain historical time. And this is by no means an ethnocentric issue in translation; it is just informative. There is nothing wrong to check or not to check encyclopedia.
When the term is put in parentheses, it is not meant any ordinary thing old or just belonging to the past. On the other hand, during that period, it is not anything old or from the past that was being criticized and judged.
David Lin Dec 11, 2014:
To mention the "four olds" is good but the fact that the English translation is supposed to be read by westerners or English speakers who might not have any knowledge about the infamous Cultural Revolution and what was done about the 'four olds' in the culturally destructive movement. I think the target of the translation is to cover both the meaning as well as the easy understanding of English readers so they don't have to check the history book or encyclopedia before understanding the meaning.
jarv95888 Dec 11, 2014:
Since the text says "被批判"的「旧遗迹」, both the context and the historical background are enough to manifest that the "old" in the phrase definitely means the "Four Olds." There is nothing wrong to make it articulate in the translation.
I agree to Zhang's suggestion in combination with "remnants" or "relics."

Proposed translations

+2
2 hrs
Selected

The Four Olds （四旧）

Destroying The Four Olds was one unfortunate event during the cultural revolution.
Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Olds

Peer comment(s):
agree jyuan_us
1 day 20 hrs
agree jarv95888
2 days 2 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I am combining a few of the ideas that translators have submitted, but this wikipedia article and the note of the specific terminology was the most useful to me. Thanks!"
+1
24 mins

Relics of a bygone era

It is both literal and figurative in that it is a relic of family ties and traditional beliefs of bygone eras that are considered harmful or reactionary in the new era.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 53 mins (2014-12-09 11:15:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

For the sake of brevity "relics of the past" will suffice.
Peer comment(s):
agree David Lin : source text does have the connotation of something in the "past" rather than just "old".
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
8 hrs

remnants of the past

OR: residuals
Peer comment(s):
agree jyuan_us
1 day 14 hrs
thanks
Something went wrong...
12 hrs

old decay

For most people who didn't live through that time in China probably wouldn't associate OLD with BAD. It is necessary to imply this in the translation.
Something went wrong...
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