Preface

As an editor-in-chief, I had worked in the WRSA（Western Returned Scholars Association）from 1987 till 2009. I had been in charge of the American-returned alumni association to compile and publish the WRSA Journal（later, the title changed to be Chinese Overseas Students with an additional one, namely, the WRSA Bulletin）. Since then I had more opportunities to meet Manfield Zhu for reading his more and more manuscripts in different kinds of writings to be published in the journal.

As a visiting scholar, Manfield Zhu had studied at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, United States of America. He was a professor of English at the Capital University of Economics and Business, China, and a senior translator conferred by the Chinese Translators Organization. He has had more concurrent posts and elected as vice president of American-returned alumni association. He wasmore concerned about the WRSA alumni service, often wrote some papers to report the American-returned alumni activities;usually, his wrote or translations, either on poetry or on essay or news report would be sent to me firstly.

Manfield Zhu is considered as a versatile alumnus member with a facile imagination. He is good at writing fast and effectively. Sometimes his writing style is humorous a little bit. I have had good memories of his careful consideration of some well-known translators. Once he sharply pointed out their some shortcomings or serious mistakes. For example, in the English version of A Dream of Red Mansions translated by Yang Xianyi “watchman's wooden clappers” was mistaken for “frogs' croaking” and that was found 27 years later after the book was published for the first version. For such a long time, even no one had pointed out the wrong translation except Manfield Zhu. The WRSA Bulletin published Manfield Zhu's academic paper to retranslate four metrical poems on Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter to correct something wrong of the original version of A Dream of Red Mansions translated by Mr. and Mrs. Yang.I am envious of his fearless spirit to seek for the truth. As time goes on, with more and more mutually cultural exchanges, he would like to ask me to read and check up his writings.

In 2012, I was trusted to compile his 256 translation of poems from the Chinese ancient period of time to present, almost including all the famous and typical poems which can represent the essence of classicand modern Chinese poetry. As an anthology, the book entitled Chinese Famous Poetry Translated by Manfield Zhu which was published in autumn, 2013, and three years later, the Commercial Press International Co., Ltd. published the book again as the second edition in addition of 20 newly-translated poems. Right now the book is still sell well.In 2014,he translated Complete Collection of Li Yu's Poetry.I was glad to write a preface to this book. Recently I am told the book is to sell well, and the publishing house will publish more copies to meet more readers' need.

“The more plowing and weeding will have the better crop.” Right now Manfield Zhu has completed translating Complete Collection of Li Qingzhao's Poetry Translated by Manfield Zhu.He said“it is the most reluctant or timid for me to hand in such a translation manuscript to a publishing house”. Because there are too many talented translators who have translated Li Qingzhao's Song poems into English, it is more difficult for any fresh translator to surpass their translation levels. He said if your version had no outstanding features to show to all the readers, it is really unnecessary to publish your manuscripts. Actually the translation manuscripts was completed a year ago, but on purpose, he left them alone, he would like to wait for a new flash idea that would come into his mind and then he could retranslate or revise them again. During a whole year, he has repeatedly revised one poem after another. He often tries to play a role as a native speaker to recite his own translation poem and seeks for English senses. At the sametime, he has paid much more attention to researching Li Qingzhao's family and social background. In order to interpret the poetess' inside meaning of her each poem, he made more helpful annotations to some key words or difficult words or expressions. Manfield Zhu takes more careful consideration and more researching time on this book's manuscript than his two published books. Therefore, from his translation annotations, readers can benefit very much for deeply understanding Li Qingzhao's inner world and her poetry's context and rich imagination. He has a strong desire that his translation works will not be just a flower vase in front of our poetess' west window, but like a red candle burning to brighten her mind. And also he hopes his newly-translated works will be like a long corridor to let all the passengers enjoy our poetess' beauty.

Finally I'd like to say that his English translation poems are more like original ones, and that is the characteristic of his English translation. He is very concerned about the feedback or comment from his English teachers and classmates. He will try to know his translation works is really good or not, never self-righteous. If he findshis translation image is poorer or the mood is not so better than original text, he will never reluctantly finalized, and sometimes he cannot find a more appropriate translation, he would rather stop translating but waiting for “inspiration” regeneration. Because his will or perseverance is extremely strong, and ultimately he can always find a new breakthrough, to achieve his ideal goal. His strong point is that he has kept on writing in English directly, and also he always pays attention to the trend from international poets organization which has officially published his English poems, some of which was rewarded by success, and others have been published. And one of his poems was compiled in the book entitled The Best Poets and the Best Poems of 2005 published in America.

Yanchao Lee,

The Western Returned Scholars Association