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這是我們的圖書中譯英作品之一，與台灣泰瑞薩婚姻介紹所的合作案：
書名：走在婚姻的大道上：獻給所有人的泰瑞薩觀點Ⅱ
作者： 劉峰松
出版社：玉山社
僅擷取作者序部分作為範例。
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原作網站公開內容：
(http://teresamatch.com/reference_detail.asp?newsid=379)
書名：走在婚姻的大道上：獻給所有人的泰瑞薩觀點Ⅱ
作者： 劉峰松
出版社：玉山社
僅擷取作者序部分作為範例。
=======
“Sage Advice on Love and Partnership through the Spirit of Don Quixote”
Foreword
The
author of this book, Liu Feng-Song of Taiwan, is not just a typical fan of Don
Quixote. There are similarities in his life experiences and those of the
author of “The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote de la Mancha,” Miguel de
Cervantes (1547–1616), which may well lend him unique insight into the works of
Cervantes. In their youth, they both underwent extraordinary trials and
tribulations: Cervantes was captured by Algerian corsairs, and per the customs
of that time, he was sold into slavery in Algiers spending five years in
captivity before being ransomed, while our author was imprisoned for three and
a half years, charged with “sedition” by the Nationalist Chinese regime of
Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek. Both suffered at the hands of the scourge of
their respective communities at the time. Moreover, both are Christian, which
perhaps reflects a shared outlook on life, though they spring from quite
distinct backgrounds.
In 2007,
at the age of 65, Liu Feng-Song, retired from his position as the Director of
the Taiwan Historica Society (the National Historical Documents Archive of
Taiwan), and it so happened at that time, that his wife, Wong Chin-Chu, had
stood for re-election in the Changhua County Commissioner's race and lost. With
faith in the old Catholic prayer quoted in Cervantes, “When one door is shut,
another is opened.” the couple opened a small restaurant and coffee shop,
“Cervantes' Cafe.” Ostensibly, they had planned this venture as a means of
consolation and the joy of starting a new task, and they had planned to
specialize in serving paella, the famed Spanish dish -- in
this case adding seafood to it, which is abundant in Taiwan -- and planning
that one would work as cook and the other would be waiter, and live a simple
but happy “peasant” life.
Unexpectedly,
however, God opened another door indeed – a different door -- for Liu’s wife,
Wong Chin-Chu, as in 2008, she was appointed by then-President Chen Shui-Bian
to serve as Chairperson of the Council for Cultural Affairs (now the Ministry
of Culture). Then, a year later, she was nominated and became a legislator-at-large.
Hence, Liu Feng-Song therefore lost his partner at work for the time being.
Moreover, due to warfare in the Middle East, the price of the spice,
saffron, used as a base ingredient in their paella surged in
price by 1000%, making a change of business timely. So, the theme of their café
was transformed into the salon of a matchmaking service, with the aim of
bringing together people through faith, courage and love.
Over
these past years and with the participation and experience of a plethora of
clients whom found the love they sought this unique agency has come to be known
all across Taiwan and our author's advice has been sought out and published as
three books locally already. Giving wise and sound advice as a service rather
than some grand business enterprise has established its sterling reputation.
Through his writings and the help of his agency, the author, Mr. Liu Feng-Song,
truly believes that the spirit of Don Quixote, whose steadfast devotion to his
love, and the character's love of romantic ideals, that seem to have become
lost, can alleviate the problem posed for those trying to find a partner and
get married in today’s modern Taiwanese society as well as beyond.
Considering that not only in Taiwan but all across the developed world the
problem of finding a truly suitable partner and then going on to live a happy
and productive life, this search has become something of a universal problem.
Herein, the author humbly offers this translation of a selection of articles
that have been of great benefit and inspiration to his previously love-lorn
Taiwanese clients and readers in the hopes that the romantic ideals found in
the Don Quixote tales from the Age of Renaissance can be
revived in this modern, technological and sometimes overly logical and
impersonal world, and that they can lead to a renaissance of personal love and
devotion in your own world.
Preface for the English Edition
Dear Readers,
I felt
it appropriate to preface this book with a few words explaining my motivation
and inspiration and a bit about the background of the matchmaking service I've
founded and managed for some years now, that I have based upon a literary work,
“The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote de la Mancha,” that left a profound
impression on me since many years past, and whose spirit I've tried to
incorporate into our agency's work to help people find an appropriate partner
for life.
In my
home country of Taiwan there is a very prevalent trend taking place,
second only toGermany. We are shrinking as a nation. Of course this carries
with it some very profound consequences as the population ages with a downturn
in economic productivity and lots of associated social ills. For whatever very
valid reasons many, many ladies in Taiwan are not getting married and
not having children. However, from what I have observed at some point, much
later than is timely or typical elsewhere, they might come to regret having
made such decisions and find that in fact they do really want to have someone
to share their lives with. Being someone who has dedicated a lot of time and
energy to reforming and rebuilding my country, of course, I see this as an
issue of great concern personally. And of course knowing these people who are
our friends and clients – not only ladies, by the way – who face many
difficulties in establishing their relationships and bonding with a partner for
life successfully, I've wanted to help in what little way I can. I hope that
the re-emergence of a certain spirit can serve to prolong the lives of the
human community, wherever it may be, and it members, be it in Taiwan or
globally. We hope that all people will find the courage right now to try to
love again or really love for the first time.
Having
taken to heart the narrative of the story of Don Quixote I realized that the
key to good matchmaking resides with the deeply romantic, yet very practical,
principles found within that literary work. As such it became the theme and
mechanism of our matchmaking service – which I will discuss shortly with you
dear reader – that I founded almost by chance years ago. Moreover the
spirit of these principles – at least my own interpretation of them -- are in
my observation sadly lacking in these times we pass through, and as such I
believe the articles I've penned for the assistance of my clients and readers
in Taiwan would benefit readers anywhere, because of course these problems one
encounters in love and relationships are experienced worldwide in all societies
and in all periods of time – not just Taiwan. So although they are related very
lightly, sometimes jokingly so, I certainly hope they will be taken seriously
as and in so far as they can be of benefit to you or your loved ones wherever
you may be.
The
function of our matchmaking service, Teresa Match -- named after the earthy,
good-natured and wise wife of Don Quixote's squire in the work -- and its
mechanism, I think must be unique in all the world. Originally it was based at
a Spanish-cuisine restaurant/cafe, the “Cervates Cafe,” that I'd opened
previously in Yuanlin town of Changhua County, Taiwan. Rather
jokingly I was there playing the role of “Sungcho the cook, cousin to Sancho,
servant of Don Quixote” – an illusion to “Sancho,” Don Quixote's squire in the
story of course. When my wife got a great job opportunity I had to come up with
other “business” ideas – really just something to keep me busy after having
retired -- and at the time I realized that several family friends were in need
of some help in finding a partner in life. So I started “TeresaMatch” www.teresamatch.com as a free service
from there. TeresaMatch is a dating service for those seriously seeking a
partner in marriage. Later we have run the service separately as a
not-for-profit business, charging some small membership fee to counter costs
incurred for operations, computers and maintenance and several staff members'
salaries. The Cafe remains as well if you ever find yourself in Central
Taiwanand would like a tasty meal. It is used for a variety of things including
as a gathering place for aDon Quixote literary club and a small art
gallery. However, it is our service as a matrimonial agency that has
established our name in Taiwan. Members of our service are referred to as
“Maria” and “Robell,” for female and male members respectively. After assessing
their compatibility and interests we arrange a first meeting in a chaperoned
atmosphere as if you were meeting someone at your uncle's house and give people
a chance to get to know each other in what I like to think of as a more refined
yet much more practical and natural way.
The
guiding principle we make use of in our service can be found in a vignette from
the work, Don Quixote, which has inspired us. In the story, Sancho is a
key figure; a humble, peasant man, a common farmer who has dreams of becoming a
respected member of the elite, aristocratic society, and who wanted to be
made a governor with all his heart, which was a motivation for him to go along
with Don Quixote as his “squire,” as Quixote was of the opinion he should
be made a governor in time. His wife is Teresa for which our agency is named.
One day,
Sancho said to his wife Teresa, "By my faith, if God brings me to get
any sort of a government, I intend, wife, to make such a high match for
Mari-Sancha” (their daughter) “that there will be no approaching her without
calling her 'my lady."
However,
Teresa responded disapprovingly, saying:
“A fine
thing it would be, indeed, to marry our Maria to some great count or grand
gentleman, who, when the humor took him, would abuse her and call her
clown-bred and clodhopper's daughter and spinning wench. I have not been
bringing up my daughter for that all this time, I can tell you,
husband. Do you bring home money, Sancho, and leave marrying her to my care;
there is (Robell) Tocho, Juan Tocho's son, a stout, sturdy young fellow that we
know, and I can see he does not look sour at the girl; and with him, one of our
own sort, she will be well married, and we shall have her always under our
eyes, and be all one family, parents and children, grandchildren and
sons-in-law, and the peace and blessing of God will dwell among us; so don't
you go marrying her in those courts and grand palaces where they won't know
what to make of her, or she what to make of herself."
Now, dear reader, before you object and say, “Oh how Un-romantic!”
think on her words. A relationship should be based not on false ideas of social
status and dreams of 'fanciness' rather it should be based on sincerity and the
stability of our lives as we choose to lead them not as we idealize them to
become in an uncertain, illusionary future. So, Teresa is right to think of a
union between two people of similar social backgrounds as being a stable basis
for a great and satisfying relationship for her daughter. And though it is out
of vogue perhaps, what, I ask you, is wrong with being surrounded by a loving
family that cares for you sincerely? Teresa is of the opinion simply that a
marriage from among one's peers is a wise choice – as she explains. She
does not like to reach for what is beyond one's grasp and in a careful reading
one can see that she is not arranging the matter but reading the tea leaves
about the reality between her daughter and her most likely suitor. Moreover,
her outlook is entirely in keeping with traditional Oriental culture that
places a high value on the extended family and the personal and social
stability that goes along with it.
So, our
service never promises you to find some exotic wonder rather we believe the
real wonder is a sincere and loving relationship found among one's own social
peers and those who share your interests and the realities of everyday life. We
believe that unswerving devotion to the one whom you choose to love is the real
romantic wonder. This is the basis of our assistance to our friends; our clients.
As a
means of service and interest I've written a number of articles in Mandarin
Chinese for our members – the lingua franca of Taiwan – for our
website and they were so popular I was persuaded to publish three collections
as books by the publisher, “Taiwan Interminds Publishing Inc.” Under these
auspices we have decided to publish a collection of articles translated and
edited for readers of English and Spanish as well that will first appear on our
website, TeresaMatch.com, and then appear in the form of a book.
=======
原作網站公開內容：
(http://teresamatch.com/reference_detail.asp?newsid=379)
「泰瑞薩觀點」作者劉峰松先生是一個典型的堂．吉訶德迷，年輕時還跟賽凡提斯（Cervantes,1547-1616）一樣，經歷了一些離奇的事，一個被土耳其海盜抓去當俘虜五年，一個被老K黨當叛亂犯坐了三年半牢獄；同時兩人都是基督徒。
2007年劉峰松先生65歲自台灣文獻館館長退休時，剛好他的老婆競選彰化縣長連任失敗，為安慰她、也為她找個工作，兩人抱著「一門閉了一門開」的堂．吉訶德信念，經營一家以「賽凡提斯」為名的咖啡店，專賣西班牙海鮮飯；一個當廚師、一個當跑堂，打算過著幸福的平民生活。
想不到老天爺竟為他老婆翁金珠又開了一扇門，2008年被陳水扁總統拔擢為行政院文化建設委員會主任委員（按已升格為文化部），而一年後再轉任不分區立法委員。劉峰松先生暫時失去了工作上的伙伴，而且因為中東發生戰爭，烹飪西班牙海鮮飯所需的番紅花，價格翻漲十倍，不得已才把這家咖啡店轉型為「一家給人信心、勇氣與愛情」的婚姻介紹所。劉峰松先生從廚師變成「松丘」（Sungcho）媒人，成了堂．吉訶德僕人「桑丘」（Sancho）的表兄弟，並用桑丘老婆「泰瑞薩」（Teresa）的名字命名。男女會員又分別以「羅貝」（Robell）、「瑪麗」（Mary）稱謂；「瑪麗」是泰瑞薩的女兒，「羅貝」則是「瑪麗」的男友。現在這家「泰瑞薩婚姻介紹所」已聞名遠近，求助者絡繹於途，獲得不錯的口碑。
話說堂．吉訶德的僕人桑丘，一心想當總督才成了遊俠騎士的跟班，有一天他對老婆泰瑞薩說：
「老實說吧，老伴兒，如果上帝讓我做個什麼總督，我一定把瑪麗．桑丘嫁給大貴人。誰不能給她貴夫人的頭銜，休想娶她。」
可是泰瑞薩不贊成，說：
「咱們的瑪麗如果嫁了個伯爵或鄉紳，人家發起脾氣來就可以作踐她，罵她鄉下姑娘呀、莊稼漢的女兒呀、紡線ㄚ頭呀等等，那才美呢！老伴兒啊，我可死也不答應的！真是！我養大了女兒就讓人家糟蹋的嗎？桑丘，你只管把錢帶回家，嫁女兒的事歸我來。咱們這兒胡安‧多丘的兒子羅貝‧多丘是個身強力壯的小伙子，你我都認識；我知道他對咱們的姑娘很有意思。他家和咱們門戶相當，是很好的一門親。咱們的女兒可以常在眼前；父母、兒女、孫子、女婿可以在一起和和睦睦，安享上帝賞賜的福氣。你千萬別把她嫁到王爺和大人的府第裡去；到了那裡，人家不體諒她，她自己也不知怎麼做人。」（Ⅱ5）
從上述對話，可以看到泰瑞薩主張門當戶對，並不好高騖遠；而且贊成婚姻自主，並不干涉女兒的婚事。「門當戶對」的主張跟東方傳統思想不謀而合，而婚姻自主也符合現今世界潮流，所以才有「松丘」「泰瑞珊」「泰瑞娟」「羅貝」「瑪麗」這些演員出現。
台灣女性的不婚率排名世界第二，女性不婚造成未來少子化、人口老化、生產力減弱、經濟衰退等等隱憂。如果堅持不婚也算了，可是偏偏有很多人中途變卦、又想婚，這一來可能年紀變大、超出適婚年齡，就遇到生育困難的瓶頸，很難突破。現在除非立即走出來、勇於接受挑戰，並採用「愛無對價、不需理由」的堂．吉訶德精神，不然歉難「翻案」。
劉峰松先生深信以堂．吉訶德精神可以減輕台灣社會的婚姻問題，他甚至意外發現堂．吉訶德竟是人類歷史上一個最偉大的媒人，對他推崇備至，並寫了三百餘篇「泰瑞薩觀點」加以論述。同時，劉峰松先生也是四百年來已知唯一以堂．吉訶德精神作媒的媒人。
「泰瑞薩觀點」已由台灣玉山社出版公司出版「媒合也可以找到真愛」「走在婚姻的大道上」及「婚姻幸福的終極密碼」三本中文專書，預計每年持續出版一本。現在為推廣這種以堂．吉訶德精神作媒的奇妙經驗，經作者本人及玉山社出版公司林邦由先生共同選錄其中60篇，擬分別譯成英文與西班牙文，並陸續在「泰瑞薩婚姻介紹所」專屬網頁（http://www.teresamatch.com）發表；俟全部譯完後，並計畫發行紙本。
譯成西班牙文的想法，主要是對堂．吉訶德傳作者賽凡提斯母國西班牙的敬重，其次是因為西班牙人在十七世紀（1626-1642）曾經殖民台灣北部「雞籠」（基隆）一帶，兩國有一點遠親關係，做這件事有其特別意義。
選錄在網頁上的作品，除本說明外，包括：一、序言；二、相親交往須知及結婚者的贈禮；三、真愛的討論及實例；四、各種美德的重要性；五、家世或出身問題；六、信心、時機、專一、務實及禁忌；七、婚姻的阻力—功利主義及迷信；八、典範商店與典範人物；九、海鮮飯與番紅花；十、作者介紹等共十部分，內容繁雜、卻十分有趣。
愛情與婚姻不是台灣人這世紀獨特的話題，而是全人類、全歷史共同的話題，相信「泰瑞薩觀點」中堂．吉訶德精神的論述，不會是一個新的笑話，而是延續人類生存與文明進步的一個不可放棄的古老精神的再現。進行翻譯之前，慎重地作此說明。
親愛的讀者，如果您對我們的圖書翻譯或潤稿服務有興趣，歡迎來信。
✉ consulting@sofi1rob.net
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