https://www.reddit.com/r/learnchinese/comments/1fn4luk/please_correct_my_translation/
created by UltraTata on 22/09/2024 at 21:48 UTC
3 upvotes, 2 top-level comments (showing 2)
是以圣人云：「受国之垢，是谓社稷主；受国不祥，是为天下王。」
Hence, the sage says: “The nation that accepts its disgrace is called master of soil and grain, the nation that accepts its misfortune is to become master of the world”.
Comment by Stunning_Pen_8332 at 23/09/2024 at 08:23 UTC*
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This is from Chapter 78 of Tao Te Ching.
社稷 is commonly understood as the state, or more specifically the very foundation of it. While I understand in English the term is translated as “soil and grain” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_and_grain[1] I think it’s more easily understandable, to both Chinese and those who are new to Chinese culture, to translate the term as the state. Perhaps a note can be added to explain the meaning of the term as the altar of soil and grains.
1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_and_grain
Also the saying was referring to the ruler of the state, not the state itself.
Otherwise the translation looks good!
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Sharing some translations that I came across
Thus, the wise sage once said, “A person who can accept all the shame of a state can be called the master of the state; a person who can accept all the misfortunes of a state can be called the leader of all under the Heaven.
因此，圣人说：能承受全国的屈辱，才配作天下的君主; 能承担全国的灾难，才配作天下的君王。
Comment by MandarininMinutes at 23/09/2024 at 08:26 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Great translation, but I would make some small improvements from your version to: 'Hence, the sage says: "He who bears the disgrace of the nation is called the master of soil and grain; he who bears the nation's misfortune becomes the ruler of the world."'
I'd use 'He who' to show that the sage is referring to a leader or ruler, rather than the nation.
I have used 'bears', as the 受 here is more 忍受, rather than 接受.
'Ruler of the world' is more appropriate here as it is referring to a person 'in charge of' or 'dominating' the world, not 'mastering'.