To the east of Linchuan, the land is hidden and high, so Linxi is a new city. Above the new city, there are pools and depressions, but the sides are long, such as Mo Chi by Wang Xizhi and Linchuan Ji by Xun Bozi. The taste of Xihe River longs for Zhang Zhi, studying in Linchi, and the water in the pool is all black. This is an ancient relic. Do you believe in evil?

Fang Xi can't be an official, but taste the extreme east and go out to sea to entertain the meaning between mountains and rivers; Is he wandering around wantonly, but trying to get a rest from this evil? The book of Xi is good at night. If it can, it will cover itself with energy, which is unnatural. Then people who can't reach in the world are not as good as evil people. Then can you learn less? Those who want to be more moral are evil.

Above Mo Chi, it is now a public school. Professor Wang Junsheng was afraid that it was not a chapter, and the book revealed the words "Wang Jin has an army in Mo Chi". He also told Gong Yue, "I wish I had a note". Pushing Wang Jun's heart, although the lover can be abolished, is it good because of his evil deeds? It also wants to push things to encourage its scholars? What a pity that my wife's ability makes future generations still like this, and the legacy of kind Shi Zhuang will remain in the afterlife!

Li Qing on September 12th, eight years, Ceng Gong was recorded.

Translation:

In the east of Linchuan county, there is a slightly uplifted land, which is close to the stream and called Xincheng. Above the new town, there is a low-lying rectangular pool called Mo Chi of Wang Xizhi. This is what Xun Bozi said in Linchuan Ji.

Xi Zhi once praised Zhang Zhi's spirit of "learning from the pond, the water in the pond is black". Is this the site of Mo Chi? When Xihe didn't want to be an official, he once traveled all over the East and the East China Sea, making him happy between mountains and rivers. Did he stop here when he was having fun?

Xi Zhi's calligraphy was not particularly good until his later years. Then he can do this step, probably by his own spirit and perseverance, not by nature. However, no one can catch up with him in the future Is it because future generations study harder than him? So can you learn less? What's more, people who want to further their studies in moral cultivation?

Next to Mo Chi, it is now the school building of Fuzhou State University. Professor Wang Sheng is worried that Mo Chi will not be famous. He wrote the words "Wang Jin has an army in Mo Chi" and hung it between two pillars in front of the house, asking me to say, "I hope there is a story about Mo Chi." It is speculated that Mr. Wang's original intention is to love the advantages of others, and even his skill will not be buried, so it is extended to Wang Xizhi's remains. Do you also want to publicize Wang Xizhi's deeds to encourage those students?

A person has a skill that can make future generations respect him like this; What's more, those people with noble character and dignified behavior have left a fascinating and beautiful demeanor, not to mention the influence on future generations!

On September 12th, the eighth year of Li Qing, Ceng Gong made a note.

Extended data

Creation background

Mo Chi is located in Linchuan County, Jiangxi Province. According to legend, it is the place where Wang Xizhi, a great calligrapher in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, washed his pens and inkstones. According to legend, Wang Xizhi, a calligrapher in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, studied calligraphy by the pool, and the water in the pool was all black.

Ceng Gong admired Wang Xizhi's reputation and made a special trip to Linchuan to pay tribute to Mo Chi's remains in September of the eighth year of Li Qing (1048). Wang Sheng, a professor of Chinese studies (official name), asked him to write a note about "Wang Jin has a gentleman, Mo Chi", so Ceng Gong wrote this essay "Mo Chi Ji" based on Wang Xizhi's anecdote.

Poetry appreciation

Starting with the legendary Mo Chi's remains of Wang Xizhi, this paper skillfully uses the topic to play, leaving the truth of "Mo Chi" behind, but focusing on Wang Xizhi himself, explaining that Wang Xizhi's success depends on his unremitting efforts the day after tomorrow, and naturally emphasizes the importance of learning.

Judging from the title, Mo Chi Ji belongs to the Ji-style prose that narrates historical sites. However, the author did not stop at the tedious narration of historical sites, but gave full play to his artistic talent of being good at reasoning, closely centering on the central clue running through the whole text, focusing on discussion, regardless of narrative discussion, he can write freely.

The narrative part not only describes the orientation, topography and environment of the new town, but also describes the origin of Mo Chi and introduces Wang Xizhi's life experience and ideal interest. All narrative words are only used as a foil and a starting point for discussion. The discussion part is concise and logical.

For example, according to the historical fact that Wang Xizhi's calligraphy is "late is good", the author only uses the word "late" to fully explain that Wang Xizhi's exquisite brushwork is "made by energy" and "unnatural".

As for later generations' failure to catch up with Wang Xizhi, it is not because of lack of genius, but because "his knowledge is inferior to others", that is, his subjective efforts are inferior to his, so the final conclusion naturally falls on "whether knowledge is indispensable" and points out that the key to the problem is the spirit of hard study. In this way, the author only needs a few words to get to the point and get the effect of turning the stone into gold; Once the main idea is pointed out, it comes to an abrupt end, leaving room for thinking.

Through the alternation of narration and discussion, the full text is ups and downs, highlighting the distinctive theme of encouraging people to learn, thus making this "narrative" prose an excellent reasoning essay with rich literary feelings, rigorous structure and vivid brushwork.