Sep 29, 2015 01:44
8 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Chinese term
易窮則変 変則通 通則久
Chinese to English
Art/Literary
Philosophy
A phrase from I Ching (易经). I can kind of get the idea of the meaning but is there any established translation of this phrase?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
2 days 12 hrs
Selected
Yi said: 'When something's at its end, it changes. When it changes, it works. And
《易》:“窮則変，変則通，通則久。”
Yi said: 'When something's at its end, it changes. When it changes, it becomes unobstructed, and thus it endures.
I was majored in ancient Chinese literature, and Yi was one of the clasic pieces we must study. The words in it are simple while the meaning is infinite. There are different versions of Yi, because in ancient China there were no punctuations in books, people punctuated them when they read them in different ways. Here I use a most accepted version. May it helps.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2天12小时 (2015-10-01 14:43:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
By the way, Yi is another name of I Ching. You can replace it by I Ching in this sentence.
Yi said: 'When something's at its end, it changes. When it changes, it becomes unobstructed, and thus it endures.
I was majored in ancient Chinese literature, and Yi was one of the clasic pieces we must study. The words in it are simple while the meaning is infinite. There are different versions of Yi, because in ancient China there were no punctuations in books, people punctuated them when they read them in different ways. Here I use a most accepted version. May it helps.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2天12小时 (2015-10-01 14:43:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
By the way, Yi is another name of I Ching. You can replace it by I Ching in this sentence.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you everyone. It's difficult to select the best answer. Kinna's explanation was most helpful."
3 hrs
The change takes place in the deadlocked situations....
The change takes place in the deadlocked situations.
The change creates the new standards.
Then this standards lead for a long time.
(Got it from: http://taigongwang.net/fs/2009/08/1955.php?lang=jp)
An alternative version:
A dead-locked situation invites change, change opens up accessibility, and accessibility promises sustainability.
The change creates the new standards.
Then this standards lead for a long time.
(Got it from: http://taigongwang.net/fs/2009/08/1955.php?lang=jp)
An alternative version:
A dead-locked situation invites change, change opens up accessibility, and accessibility promises sustainability.
10 hrs
When desperate, one must adapt. By adapting, one will find a way out, which leads to sustainability
A suggested translation for your consideration.
15 hrs
When gradual progress can no longer rein in the needs at the end of an era, drastic changes are...
The sentence in Chinese means:
【釋義】事物發展到了極點,就要發生變化,發生變化,才會使事物的發展不受阻塞,事物才能不斷的發展。 說明在面臨不能發展的局面時,必須改變現狀,進行變革和革命。
My own rendition would be:
When gradual progress can no longer rein in the needs at the end of an era, drastic changes are inevitable. Such changes open up uncharted territory and bring about new opportunities. In turn they open up a new chapter of unimpeded and long-lasting development.
Below is an oft-quoted translation online for your reference:
"Any circumstance hitting a limit will begin to change. Change will in turn lead to an unimpeded state, and then lead to continuity."
【釋義】事物發展到了極點,就要發生變化,發生變化,才會使事物的發展不受阻塞,事物才能不斷的發展。 說明在面臨不能發展的局面時,必須改變現狀,進行變革和革命。
My own rendition would be:
When gradual progress can no longer rein in the needs at the end of an era, drastic changes are inevitable. Such changes open up uncharted territory and bring about new opportunities. In turn they open up a new chapter of unimpeded and long-lasting development.
Below is an oft-quoted translation online for your reference:
"Any circumstance hitting a limit will begin to change. Change will in turn lead to an unimpeded state, and then lead to continuity."
18 hrs
Robert Hopkins
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
ATA-certified, meticulous, and well-read
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US)
Works in: Chinese to English, English to Chinese, Chinese
Chinese term (edited):
易穷则变 变则通 通则久
When the Changes reach their limit, they transform. When they transform, they become cycles...
When the Changes reach their limit, they transform. When they transform, they become cycles. As cycles they endure.
(Translated by Douglass A. White, Ph.D, The Complete Book of Changes: Translation with A Commentary on the Evolution of Consciousness, 2009, p.12)
As you likely know, this quote does not come from the actual divination text of the Book of Changes, but rather from the commentary on the Book of Changes. There is no single authoritative translation in circulation. The translation provided above is a relatively recent one by Douglass White that adheres very closely to the original.
Given the context of the quote, if a wooden translation like this will only confuse the reader, I would perhaps opt for a more elaborate translation like some of those suggested above, or at least add it in parentheses.
(Translated by Douglass A. White, Ph.D, The Complete Book of Changes: Translation with A Commentary on the Evolution of Consciousness, 2009, p.12)
As you likely know, this quote does not come from the actual divination text of the Book of Changes, but rather from the commentary on the Book of Changes. There is no single authoritative translation in circulation. The translation provided above is a relatively recent one by Douglass White that adheres very closely to the original.
Given the context of the quote, if a wooden translation like this will only confuse the reader, I would perhaps opt for a more elaborate translation like some of those suggested above, or at least add it in parentheses.
Reference:
Discussion
Anyway, both Robert and I are just proposing what has been established as the translation of the sentence. It turns out that sometimes established translation may not be the best or the right solution.