Bourgogne Lane: French name but a Chinese heart Visitors to Shanghai might not be surprised at all to see old place names with Western origins. Bourgogne Lane is a good example. This residential area is a typical Shikumen (stone-framed gates) complex and consists of seventy-nine two-storey, south-facing houses in four rows. Seemingly nothing spectacular from the other Shikumen structures in Shanghai, Bourgogne Lane has many an interesting story to tell.
Bourgogne Lane was commissioned by French merchants, hence its name and the Chinese version Bu Gao Li (lane of stepping up). The area was sparsely populated upon its completion in 1930 until people poured into French Concession to flee from the warfare when Japanese troops attacked Shanghai in August 1937. Over the decades the population in Bourgogne Lane multiplied; now, several households have to share a single house.
Bourgogne Lane has largely retained its architectural integrity despite the long history, and the Shikumen structures feature a harmonious combination of both Chinese and Western styles. Currently the whole complex is designated Excellent Modern-Era Architecture under City Heritage Protection.
Some historical figures lived in Bourgogne Lane in the 1930s, such as famous writer Ba Jin, famous poet Hu Huaichen, educators Ping Hailan and Zhang Chenbo. They were active in soliciting support for the Chinese troops in the War against Japan and somewhat lent a patriotic taint for Bourgogne Lane.
原来步高里是法商投资建造的,1954年5月前一直由法商万国储蓄会的子公司中国建业地产公司经租。“步高”是法国历史地名Cite de Bourgogne或Cit’e Bourgogne的音译,旧译“勃艮第”,该地区位于巴黎盆地东端,夹于盆地和汝拉山脉之间,跨今科多尔、勃恩一卢瓦尔、约纳三省地境,为连接塞纳河、罗纳河、索恩河和卢瓦河的要冲,盛产葡萄酒。原为5世纪至10世纪日耳曼人在该处先后建立的一些封建小邦国国名,后曾用为省名。勃艮第也是法国业主的家乡,故用为弄名。但在按音译注时,取了中国传统吉祥语词,既忠实于法文读音,又迎合了中国居民祝颂祈愿的心理,符合取名的传统习惯。这种信、达、雅有机统一的翻译技巧,堪称经典。