Kadambari
Tags
Summary
As a result, Kādambarī has traditionally been regarded as a work of considerable reading difficulty, while also being considered a rare artistic masterpiece, demonstrating Poṇa's ability to marshal artistic imagination and verbal expression to the fullest extent on the basis of absorbing the nourishment of folk literature.
Poṇa died before completing the work, and the latter half of the novel was completed by his son Bhūṣaṇa.
This translation, based on the full synopsis of Kādambarī provided in the introduction to the Kale edition, compiles and translates the continuation and appends it after Poṇa's translation for the reader's reference.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a strong interest in classical Indian literature and culture
- Literature lovers who enjoy complex narrative structures and philosophical fiction
- Scholars and students of comparative literature or Oriental studies
- Seasoned readers seeking a unique reading experience and undaunted by an ornate, elaborate style
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking fast-paced, plot-driven entertainment
- Readers lacking basic patience for unfamiliar cultural backgrounds and religious-philosophical concepts
Reading tips
- It is advisable to read the translator's preface or an accompanying introduction first to learn about Bāṇa's life, the historical context, and the features of Sanskrit literature, which will help you enter the text.
- While reading, do not rush to sort out every character relationship; instead, immerse yourself first in the gorgeous language and scene descriptions and feel the unique literary atmosphere.
- Reading alongside some basic materials on Indian mythology and philosophy will help you better understand concepts such as karma and reincarnation that appear in the text.
About the publisher
Shanghai Zhongxi Book Company Limited is a publisher dedicated to the principle of “integrating Chinese and Western learning and establishing itself through scholarship,” focusing on the collation of unearthed documents, original academic works in the humanities and social sciences, and educational books. Its catalog reflects directions spanning philosophical reading, foreign literature, social culture, essays and miscellany, and film and television. Representative titles include Robert van Gulik’s The Lore of the Chinese Lute, Qiu Xigui’s New Studies on the Laozi, and works from the Sanskrit Literature Translation Series such as Kadambari, Malavika and Agnimitra, The Story of the Throne and The Hundred Counsels of the True Path, and The Tale of the Beautiful Face and The Tale of the Necklace, translated by scholars including Huang Baosheng. The press also publishes social and cultural works such as Prelude to the Gentry Class: Vagrants and Local Magnates, the Civil Service Examinations and Neo-Confucianism in the Two Song Dynasties, as well as philosophical readings for young people such as Beginnings: Philosophy for Young People, Volume 1: Science, Technology and Ethics. Authors represented in the catalog include Robert van Gulik, Qiu Xigui, Huang Baosheng, Bhasa, and Bana, reflecting its distinctive commitment to integrating Chinese and Western scholarship. Public information is limited; this introduction emphasizes the publishing directions reflected in the catalog.
Contents
- 版权信息
- “梵语文学译丛”总序
- 前言
- 主要人物关系
- 迦丹波利
- 正文一
- 正文二
- 正文三
- 正文四
- 正文五
FAQ
What kind of novel is Kadambari?
Who was the author Bāṇa?
Is this book difficult to read?
Comments
Find this book
This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.
About the author
Bona is an author about whom very little biographical information is available. Public sources do not confirm his nationality, dates of birth and death, or English name; the Chinese rendering of his name, "Bona," is all that can currently be verified. In Chinese library classification, his work is placed under foreign literature, and one title is held in the collection, namely Kadambari. Because reliable biographical information is lacking, it is difficult to discuss the author's life, education, or writing career, and any introduction must center on the work itself. On the available evidence, Kadambari is the main entry point for understanding Bona's creative profile, allowing readers to approach his narrative subject matter and writing style. Overall, Bona belongs to that group of foreign authors known to Chinese readers through a single work, whose personal history still awaits further discovery and scholarly verification.
Huang Baosheng is an author engaged in the translation and editing of foreign literature. Public information about him is limited, and no systematic account of his life is available. Judging from the four works recorded in the catalogue, his work focuses on Chinese translations of Sanskrit literature, including Kadambari, Malati and Madhava, The Story of the Throne and The Hundred Verses on the Right Path, and The Dream of Surprise with Two Farces. These texts span long narrative, poetry, and drama, and are generally classified under foreign literature, prose and miscellany, and folk literature. His translations introduce the stories, aphorisms, and farces of classical Sanskrit literature to Chinese readers, helping them understand the traditions and appeal of South Asian classical literature. His translations tend to convey the plot and genre features of the originals faithfully, and his selections balance narrative works with shorter verse pieces, providing usable texts for Chinese-language reading and research in this field.
