The Yeti 于 2000/07/11 18:52:03 发表在 汉英
I have seen this translated as the "Eight Immortals" in several web sites
and right now I am adopting that translation temporarily.
I wonder if it is more appropiate to translate this as:
8 wizards, 8 immortal wizards, 8 immortal conjurers,
8 immortal magicians (magicians in the same sense as Merlin the magician),
or .... ? What do you guys feel ?
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"The Eight Immortals" sounds good to me.
作者：mortal - 2000/07/11 22:44:35
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八仙都已得道成仙，超越生死，与道合一，非一般巫师，术士所比。用wizards, conjurers, magicians均不贴切。最接近的是gods, goddesses，但用 8 Chinese gods and goddess（因何仙姑之故）又太罗嗦。愚见"8 Immortals"仍为最佳选择。
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极有道理。由此想到，"仙" 的概念其实是独特的。
作者：bm - 2000/07/12 06:54:27
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在Wizard of OZ 中，与那位可怕的“witch" 相对，有一位"good witch". 一夜长睡，还没有完全醒过来，先说到这。
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Immortal
作者：The Yeti - 2000/07/12 11:51:14
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You are quite right. The reason I brought that up was
because I felt that the word "Immortal"
does not imply being able to do "super-natural things" .
The "8-immortal attempting to cross the sea-- each showing off his/her
special ability" implies some sort of super-natural talent they each
has.
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It all depends
作者：mortal tian xin - 2000/07/12 19:07:19
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In the context of spiritual traditions, it is not just wizards or magicians who are able to perform supernatural things. Once one has become one with the Tao, one becomes one with everyone and everything and at the same time transcends one and all. Performing supernatural things is just child's play to such a soul. Jesus Christ performed miracles, and many miracles were attributed to Krishna, Buddha and Hui Neng etc. It all depends whether it is for mere show of supernatural powers or for enlightening others spiritually.
Accordingly, there are different types of so-called supernatural powers: divine power, mystical power, occult power, and so on. The supernatural powers of wizards and magicians and yogis are mostly occult, having little to do with the divine powers of enlightened beings, nor do these occult powers automatically qualify them as "Immortals". As far as I know, these 8 Immortals are Tao-realized beings and their supernatural acts are performed for the benefit of others. It is a complex subject and takes much time to explain.
I personally feel "Immortal" is the appropriate word in this context, conveying the attributes of the 八仙, at the same time some Chineseness as well as some hidden 俗气（this 俗气also has to do with the secularization of Taoism as exemplified in 炼丹术etc.) of the original word.
Hope I haven't confused you with my mortal interpretations.
Thanks for the discussion.
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To all: OK, I am Convinced ! I stand corrected.
作者：The Yeti - 2000/07/13 16:49:39
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