On Women’s Beauty 女性的美
Ifind a woman's face weathered from numerous storms in life to be beautiful.No matter what her age，just like the beauty of grains on wood that deepens with passage of time，beauty that has endured hardships shines with a distinctive splendor.
When one sees a woman for what she really is，free of decoration or cosmetics，I believe her life in all its naturalness，and her true，indestructible beauty emerges.But what is this elusive quality called beauty？
In ancient Chinese literature the so-called beautiful woman looks thin and fragile.Her feet are tiny，because they have been bound，and she looks frail，almost sickly.That seems to have been the preference at a certain time.But later，in the Tang dynasty，an ideal woman was someone voluptuous and healthy-looking.Even today，many cultures consider plump women to be beautiful and young women are strongly encouraged to eat well.This may sound incredible to women who live in societies where tall and thin models set the trend for what is considered beautiful.
In my country，Japan，too，the definition of beauty seems to vary according to the times.Beautiful women who were portrayed in wood-block prints during the Edo period had long faces，thin eyes and large，protruding chins.But，after the Second World War，women who were quite buxom were suddenly considered attractive.This makes me question how there can be such different standards in society concerning women's beauty.
Women tend to find themselves caught in a trap that makes them eager to fit themselves in the mold of“the beautiful woman”-a standard set by the social trends of the time.
The purpose of this endless pursuit，and who it is for，are often forgotten.Perhaps，in the end，the pursuit of beauty is actually for yourself，so that you can feel good when you look at yourself in the mirror.If the purpose of beauty is to be attractive to others，then，I would honestly recommend that this time and energy be spent on polishing and cultivating your inner self；your character，as I think that would be much more effective in serving your purpose.
Whether it be your boyfriend，husband，or friends……why are they attracted to you？I am sure it's not only because of your looks but because of who you are，what they find in you，the beauty of your mind and your personality.No matter how pretty a woman is，if her attraction is only in her physical looks，I don't think the appeal will last，but rather fade away with time.True，lasting attraction to another human being comes from an inner beauty and confidence that shine from within.
I once heard a story from a woman who had gone to her twentieth high school reunion.She made an astonishing discovery.Most of the women who had been beauties in their youth looked rather dull，while many of those who had been plain now shone with an inner beauty.As she talked to these friends from many years back，she realized that some of those who had been beautiful had not had to make much effort to attract attention，and this rather self-satisfied attitude had stayed with them through the years，while the more plain-looking women had clearly been working to develop themselves and had become truly attractive as human beings.
For me a woman's true beauty lies not in her appearance，but deep within her heart.A woman who makes all-out efforts and who exerts herself wholeheartedly in her field is beautiful；she really shines.She looks sharp and focused and full of confidence.This kind of radiance will always outshine for me any external beauty related to what a woman is wearing.In fact those who are aware of their inner beauty don't need to seek borrowed beauty from outside.And，sadly，those who care only for their physical appearance are often spiritually impoverished and trying to conceal that lack with exterior trappings.
We all long for things of beauty-beauty of nature，of appearance，of life，a beautiful family and so on.But these cannot be gained if we are withdrawn and isolated，just looking at ourselves.We must create better relationships with other people and interact with our community and society with an open heart.We must be kind to nature.It is only through this process that we really grow and cultivate our own beauty.
A woman who can praise，appreciate and wholeheartedly respect those around her is more beautiful than another who is constantly criticizing others.In the same way，someone who can find joy and excitement of her own in her daily life，or even in nature and the changes of the seasons，has the warmth and brightness that can give a sense of peace and comfort to others.Being an expert in discovering beauty makes one beautiful.
The famous sculptor Rodin once said that beauty is not found in one woman but in every woman.And he identified the source that lights up this beauty as the“flame in one's inner life.”The flame of a pure heart，the flame of compassion，the flame of hope，and the flame of courage.These flames are the source of light which enable women to shine with beauty.
It is said that“A woman's beauty shines with age.”I find so much wisdom in these words.People normally connect beauty and youth，and cannot link the word“beautiful woman”with“older woman.”A young woman in her teens is indeed beautiful，but there is a different kind of beauty that is found in women in their 30s，50s，even 70s.When we seek beauty inside a person，we will realize that a truly beautiful woman is a person whose inner beauty continues to deepen and be cultivated with time.
Your physical appearance is a reflection of your inner self.Hence，a truly beautiful woman knows who she is and what her strengths are and is happy and confident to be true to herself.
Today we live in an age where commercialism determines what is“beautiful”，but please remember that you cannot find true beauty in these fashionable trends.Beauty cannot be bought with money either.Many insecure young women tend to become confused by such messages sent out by the mass producers of today's society，but I feel that appreciating and realizing your own beauty means establishing a secure and robust inner self that will not be swayed by outer circumstances.
Every woman can be beautiful.It all begins by believing in your own beauty.
我发现女人的脸庞，经历生活中不计其数的暴风骤雨，很美。不管她的年龄多大，她的美就像茎秆上的谷穗随着时间的推移变得越发的深沉。历经人生磨砺的美闪耀着别样光彩。
当我们抛弃服饰和化妆，看清一个女人的原貌时，我相信，我们会看到她的生活，她自然的全部所蕴含的真实、长久的美丽。但是，这个难以琢磨的所谓的“美”到底是什么？
中国古代文学中，所谓的美丽女子通常看起来纤细、弱不禁风。由于足部一直被捆绑，所以她的脚如三寸金莲，而且她看起来很孱弱，几乎到了病态的地步。那似乎是某个时期的审美取向。但是后来，到了唐朝，理想的女子却成了圆润，看起来健康的类型。即使现如今，很多文化也都认为丰满的女人才是漂亮的，还大力提倡年轻女子多吃、吃好。这对于那些生活在以高瘦模特作为美丽标准的社会里的女人们来说，简直不可思议。
在我的故乡日本，美的定义似乎也是随着时代的变迁而变化的。江户时代的木版画里描绘的漂亮女子，长脸盘，丹凤目，凸下巴。但是，第二次世界大战后，突然间，体态丰满的女人被认为是很有魅力的。这不禁让我疑惑，怎么社会上关于女性的美会有这么多不同的标准。
女人们常会发现自己陷入了一场布局之中，急切地想把自己塞进“美丽女人”的模子里――那是某个时期下的社会潮流所决定的一系列标准。
这种无休止追逐的目的，它背后的主人公，反倒常常被忘记。也许，最终，对美的追求会演变为自己对自身美的发掘和把握，每次在镜子里看到自己，你都感觉不错。如果美的目的是吸引他人，那么，我真诚地建议你把时间和精力花在完善自我、陶冶情操上；我想，你的性格，才会帮助你更有效地实现你的目标。
不管是你的男朋友，丈夫，或是朋友……为什么他们会被你吸引？我保证不单单是因为你的外表，而是你这个人本身，你的内在，你的头脑和性情所散发的美。不管一个女人有多漂亮，如果她的魅力仅仅停留于她的外表，我不认为这种吸引力会持久，而会随着时间的无情流逝而消失。真正、持久的吸引他人的魅力来源于内在的美，从内心流露出的自信。
我曾经听过一位女士参加她中学二十年聚会的故事。她发现了令人惊奇的事情。大多年轻时候的美女现在看起来寡然无趣，而那些曾经平凡普通的小女生现在却内蕴珠玉，华美自溢。通过和这些多年前的朋友聊天，她意识到，对于某些女同学，姣好的面容赋予了她们天生的吸引力，所以她们觉得不需要再做什么，这种自我欣赏、自我满足的情绪一直伴随她们走进中年；而那些相貌平平的女同学，显然，一直在努力提升自己，因此变得魅力非凡。
对于我来说，一个女人真正的美不在她的容貌，而来源于她的内心深处。一个全力以赴，在自己的领域里全心努力的女人很美，光芒四射。她看起来敏锐、专注、充满自信。这种光芒，对于我，永远要比她的外在美来得更加耀眼夺目。实际上，清楚自身内在美的女人不需要去借助外部的装扮。但是，悲哀的是，那些只注重身体外在美的女人们往往精神贫乏，还总是试图用外部的虚饰去掩饰内心的空虚。
我们都渴望一切美的事物――美丽的大自然，娇美的脸庞，美好的生活，还有美满的家庭等等。但是，如果封闭和孤立自己，眼睛里只有自己的话，这些我们都得不到。我们必须与他人建立融洽良好的关系，敞开心扉，积极参与到集体和社会中去。我们必须善待自然。只有在这样的过程中，我们才能不断发展自身的美。
比起总是苛责他人的女人，能够赞扬、欣赏，并真诚的尊重周围其他人的女人更美。同样地，能够在日常生活中，甚至是在大自然的四季变换中找到属于自己的快乐和喜悦的女人，她身上具有一种温暖和光芒，可以让周围的人感到平静、舒坦。悉心去发现生活中的美会让一个人变得美丽。
著名雕塑家罗丹曾说，美不是在一个女人身上找到的，而是从每一个女人那儿找到的。他称这种美来源于“一个人生命深处燃烧的火焰”。纯洁心灵之火、怜悯同情之火、希望之火，还有勇气之火，这些火焰可以透射出一个女人的美丽光芒。
有人说，“女人的美愈老愈醇。”这句话里真是有不少的智慧。人们通常把美和青春联系在一起，而不是“漂亮女人”和“老女人”这两个词。十几岁的年轻女孩确实很美，但是，三十多、五十多，甚至七十多岁的女人身上具有另一种不同的美。当我们去发觉一个人内在所蕴藏的美的时候，我们会认识到一个真正美丽的女人，她内在的美是随着岁月而不断深厚的。
外在美是内在美的反映。所以，一个真正美丽的女人知道她的角色是什么，她的长处是什么，并且能够快乐，自信地做真实的自己。
今天，我们生活在一个由商业决定什么是“美”的时代，但是，请记住，真正的美不存在于一波一波的时尚潮流中，它也不能用金钱来购买。很多还不成熟的年轻女性会被今天社会上众多制造商传播的类似信息所迷惑，但是我觉得，发觉和欣赏自己的美，意味着塑造一个沉稳而又富有活力的自我，不为外界环境所左右。
每一个女性都可以是美丽的。只要你对自己的美有信心。
译者感言
商业，及商业操控的媒体的确在今天许多浮华、并不健康的行为和思想风潮中扮演着始作俑者和推波助澜的角色。琳琅满目的化妆品、时装，美女明星、选美大赛……女人们光应付一波一波的时髦、潮流就已顾“外”不暇了，哪有时间和精力去顾“内”。而且社会上大多数人似乎都已中了这种流行文化的毒，看到衣着入时、光鲜靓丽的女子，就觉得人家是新时代女性，高层次、高境界；而衣貌平平、不修边幅的女子，层次就下来了，普通一人嘛。可是，只有这些女性们自己心里知道，自己到底有多大价值。当感到处理问题棘手，当觉得所在情势压迫，当心中空虚茫然，漂亮的外表有用吗？心中该会呼唤真实的自己，想要完善自己了吧。看清生活和生活中的自己，学习外部世界的人和物，拥抱人生的喜怒哀乐，坚强和充实内心，这才是建立真正自我感觉良好的平衡生活的根本，这样的女性不用装扮就很美。只有内在的坚强、充实、丰富和爱才是打不败的美，才是能抓住人心的美，才是持久的美，真正的美。
