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In a Bronze Mirror: Eileen Chang’s Life and Literature

Historical Translations
and Cross-Cultural Futures

Eileen Chang drew great inspiration from the classic Qing Dynasty novels Dream of the Red Chamber (紅樓夢), written by Cao Xueqin (曹雪芹)in the 1750s, and Sing-song Girls (海上花列傳), written by Han Bangqing (韓邦慶) and published in its entirety in 1894. She devoted much of her time in the United States to researching Dream of the Red Chamber and translating Sing-song Girls into English. From Chang’s perspective, Dream of the Red Chamber stands as the first novel about romantic love in China, and Sing-song Girls came as the former’s late Qing successor. Sing-song Girls focuses on courtesan life in the late Qing Dynasty, and uniquely portrays romantic love between courtesans and their clients. As described in a letter to Professor C.T. Hsia, Chang understands Sing-song Girls as the first Chinese novel to treat men and women equally. Before completing the English version of Sing-song Girls, Chang translated the novel’s parts in Wu-dialect into Mandarin Chinese with extensive annotations. In translating the novel, Chang understood her role as transmitter, rather than creator. Yet Chang’s distinct annotations link traditional and modern concepts of literature and literary creation. Chang values the author’s ability to depict sentiments and evoke feelings through descriptive images and scenes. She finds in Sing-song Girls a lyrical quality often associated with classical Chinese poetry. Chang was at one of the lowest points in her life when she set out to translate Sing-song Girls. Her previous English manuscripts had been rejected by numerous publishers and her second husband passed away shortly after she started the translation project. Despite these circumstances, Chang persisted in her mission to introduce Chinese literature to English readers.

Eileen Chang’s unwavering commitment to cross-cultural studies, transformative foregrounding of female protagonists, and nuanced stories of love, lust, and familial dynamics reverberate today. Supported by Chang’s legacy, contemporary Chinese American women artists and designers, including notable figures at USC, make evocative works that probe, embody, and celebrate cross-cultural identities and experiences.

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An untitled speech possibly delivered at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University on April 1, 1969. According to an essay by Phong Chang, Eileen Chang delivered an English speech titled中國翻譯作為文化影響的橋樑 at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University on April 1, 1969. See Phong Chang (張鳳), “張愛玲在哈佛：滿是蒼涼的因緣”, http://chinesewritersna.com/review/?page_id=10102.
A letter from Eileen Chang to C.T. Hsia, 1965. In this letter dated October 31, Eileen Chang discusses about her novel "Yuan Nu" with Hsia. She also expresses her interest to translate the Chinese classic novel "Hai Shang Hua" into English. In this letter, Eileen Chang mentions the Chinese author Nie Hualing whom she has heard of. The USPS 5 cents-envelope with dated stamp of 1 Nov 1965 Washington DC is addressed to "Mr. C.T. Hsia, 415 W. 115th St. Apt. 22, New York, N.Y. 10025" from"Chang, 1315 C St. SE, #22, Washington, D.C. 20003."; 張愛玲寄給夏志清的信與信封, 1965. 這封信註明10月31日寫的. 張愛玲於此信中與夏志清討論她的作品"怨女", 並表示對翻譯中國小說"海上花"有興趣. 信中也提到曾聽過作家聶華苓的名字. 信封上有五分錢的郵票, 郵政戳印日期為1965年11月1日華盛頓, 並有收件人地址"Mr. C.T. Hsia, 415 W. 115th St. Apt. 22, New York, N.Y. 10025" 及寄件人地址"Chang, 1315 C St. SE, #22, Washington, D.C. 20003."
A letter from Eileen Chang to C.T. Hsia, 1966. In this letter dated March 31, Eileen Chang thanks Hsia for assisting her to apply for Radcliffe Independent Study to support her translation work of "Hai Shang Hua". At the same time, she is frustrated with the amount of work involved in publishing her works. The envelope has USPS 5 cents-stamp, dated stamp of 1 Apr 1966 Washington DC, is addressed to "Mr. C.T. Hsia, 415 West 115th Street, New York, N.Y. 10025" from "Reyher, 1315 C St. SE, #22, Washington, D.C. 20003."; 張愛玲寄給夏志清的信, 1966. 這封信註明3月31日寫的. 張愛玲感謝夏志清幫助她申請工作(Radcliffe Independent Study)來翻譯"海上花". 另外也表達出對一些出版瑣碎雜事的煩惱. 信封上有五分錢的郵票, 郵政戳印日期為1966年4月1日華盛頓, 信封上有收件人地址"Mr. C.T. Hsia, 415 West 115th Street, New York, N.Y. 10025"及寄件人地址"Reyher, 1315 C St. SE, #22, Washington, D.C. 20003."
A letter from Eileen Chang to C.T. Hsia, 1966. In this letter dated July 8, Eileen Chang mentions that she will apply for a fellowship in September to translate "Hai Shang Hua". She also discusses about translating "Jin Suo Ji" with Hsia, and asks Hsia to handle publishing "Yuan Nu" for her in Taiwan. The envelope has USPS 5 cents-stamp with dated stamp of 9 July 1966 Washington DC is addressed to "Mr. C.T. Hsia, 415 West 115th Street, New York, N.Y. 10025" from address "Reyher, 1315 C St. Se, Apt. 22, Washington, D.C. 20003." The back of the envelope has a note saying "books has been received, thank you."; 張愛玲寄給夏志清的信, 1966. 這封信註明7月8日寫的. 張愛玲提到九月申請譯"海上花"的fellowship. 也跟夏志清討論翻譯"金鎖記", 並請夏志清在台灣時處理出版"怨女"事宜. 信封上有五分錢的郵票, 郵政戳印日期為1966年7月9日華盛頓, 並有收件人地址"Mr. C.T. Hsia, 415 West 115th Street, New York, N.Y. 10025" 及寄件人地址"Reyher, 1315 C St. Se, Apt. 22, Washington, D.C. 20003." 信封背面寫有一句"書剛收到, 謝了."
A letter from Eileen Chang to C.T. Hsia, 1968. In this letter dated September 24, Eileen Chang mentions these two Chinese actors Huang Zongying and Zhao Dan. She also discusses about Chinese classics novel "Hong Lou Meng" with Hsia. She also would like Hsia to mention the methods used in Chinese poetry and Chinese painting when he writes the preface for "Hai Shang Hua". The envelope has USPS 6 cents-stamp with dated stamp of Sept 26, 1968 Boston, Mass.31 is addressed to "Mr. C.T. Hsia, 415 West 115th St., Apt. 22, New York, N.Y. 10025" from address "Chang, 83 Brattle St., Apt. 43, Cambridge, Mass. 02138."; 張愛玲寄給夏志清的信,1968. 這封信註明9月24日寫的. 張愛玲提到上海演員黃宗英及趙丹. 也與夏志清討論中國經典小說紅樓夢. 張希望夏寫"海上花"的序時提一声中國詩與畫的手法. 信封上有六分錢的郵票, 郵政戳印日期為1968年9月26日波士頓, 並有收件人地址"Mr. C.T. Hsia, 415 West 115th St., Apt. 22, New York, N.Y. 10025" 及寄件人地址"Chang, 83 Brattle St., Apt. 43, Cambridge, Mass. 02138."
A letter from Eileen Chang to C.T. Hsia, 1968. In this letter dated March 30, Eileen Chang says that "Roube of the North" does not receive any response due to lower exchange rate of pounds. She also want Hsia to write a preface for her if "Hai Shang Hua" can be published by "Columiba Press". The envelope has USPS 6 cents-stamp with dated stamp of 31 Mar, 1968 Boston, Mass. is addressed to "Mr. C.T. Hsia, 415 West 115th St., Apt. 22, New York, N.Y. 10025" from address "Reyher, 83 Brattle St., Apt. 45, Cambridge, Mass. 02138."; 張愛玲寄給夏志清的信,1968. 這封信註明3月30日寫的. 張愛玲提說"Rouge of the North"可能因為英鎊貶值的關係沒有什麼回響. 如果"海上花"能由"Columbia Press"出版,希望夏志清能夠寫篇序.信封上有六分錢的郵票, 郵政戳印日期為1968年3月31日波士頓, 並有收件人地址"Mr. C.T. Hsia, 415 West 115th St., Apt. 22, New York, N.Y. 10025" 及寄件人地址"Reyher, 83 Brattle St., Apt. 45, Cambridge, Mass. 02138."
A letter from Eileen Chang to C.T. Hsia, 1969. In this letter dated June 15, Eileen Chang informs Hsia that she has sent him 3 copies of her collection. She also congratulates Hsia for wining the Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship. She is applying for the National Endowment Fund herself. She has not finished translating the last fourteen chapters of "Hai Shang Hua". She also asks Hsia to write prelude for her book.; 張愛玲寄給夏志清的信, 1969. 這封信註明6月15日寫的. 張愛玲告知夏志清已寄上三本"全集". 也恭喜夏志清得了哥根漢研究基金. 自己另外提到申請國家人文學科研究基金的事. "海上花"還有十四回沒譯完. 也請夏志清幫忙寫序.
A letter from Eileen Chang to C.T. Hsia, 1979. In this letter dated September 5, Plaks is mentioned in her letter. Eileen Chang also mentions that she is impressed by Zhiqing's talent after she reads his "Chong Hui Qian Zhongshu". Zhang thinks that "Hai Shang Hua" treats men and women equally. She has finished translating 46 chapters. The envelope has USPS 15 cents-stamp with dated stamp of 6 Sept 1979 Los Angeles is addressed to "Professor C.T. Hsia, 415 115th St., Apt. 22, New York, N.Y. 10025" from address "Chang, 1825 N. Kingsley Dr., # 305, Los Angeles, CA 90027."; 張愛玲寄給夏志清的信,1979. 這封信註明9月5日寫的. 張愛玲說Plaks的理論是最典型的洋人故弄玄虛, 但李歐梵還稱讚他. 她還提到她看了志清的"重會錢鍾書",十分感嘆他的淵博. 信中還提到陳衡哲, 張認為"海上花"氣質好,並寫得男女平等與不殘酷 , 張已譯了四十六回. 信封上有一個十五分錢的郵票, 郵政戳印日期為1979年9月6日于加州洛杉磯, 並有收件人地址"Professor C.T. Hsia, 415 115th St., Apt. 22, New York, N.Y. 10025" 及寄件人地址"Chang, 1825 N. Kingsley Dr., # 305, Los Angeles, CA 90027."
Eileen Chang's grandmother and her mother， [s.d.]. When my grandmother was 18 years old, she took this picture with her mother. It seems like she's baring a laugh. It's probably the Caucasian photographer under the black cloth. -- "Dui Zhao Ji", p 033; 张爱玲的祖母与她母亲的合照，[s.d.]. "我祖母十八岁的时候与她母亲合影。她仿佛忍着笑，也许是笑钻在黑布下的洋人摄影师。-- 对照记，p 033

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Hai Shang Hua (The sing-song girls of Shanghai): full version, ca. 1975 A manuscript of The sing-song girls of Shanghai, ca. 1975. This manuscript of Eileen Chang in English, found among her papers posthumously, is the first translation of the famous 1894 Qing novel, 海上花列傳 or Hai Shang hua lie zhuan or The sing-song girls of Shanghai by Han Bangqing set in late nineteenth century Shanghai. This manuscript is made up of chapters deemed as better revised by Lillian Yang, Chinese Bibliographer of East Asian Library, from the three versions that were found among the papers received by that library of USC. This manuscript with extensive corrections by hand and footnotes contains a list of chapter headings.