“Look up at the vastness of the universe, and look down at the prosperity of categories” comes from the "Preface to the Lanting Collection".
Original text: In the ninth year of Yonghe, when I was in Guichou, at the beginning of late spring, I met at the Orchid Pavilion in Shanyin, Kuaiji, to practice evil spirits. All the virtuous people have arrived, and the young and old have gathered together. Here there are high mountains, luxuriant forests and tall bamboos; there are also clear and turbulent streams, reflecting them to the left and right, which make them look like flowing water. Although it is not as prosperous as silk and bamboo orchestral music, one drink and one chant are enough to express the secret love. On that day, the sky was clear and the wind was gentle and gentle. I looked up at the vastness of the universe and looked down at the prosperity of categories. Therefore, wandering around and wandering my mind was enough to provide great visual and auditory entertainment. I believe it is a joy.
The lady's relationship with you has been admiring for a lifetime, or you can take her into your arms and understand her words within a room; Although there are many different interests, calmness and restlessness are different, when you are happy with what you encounter, you are temporarily satisfied with yourself, you are happy and self-sufficient, and you don't know that old age is coming. When I am tired of what I am doing, my emotions change with the situation, and I am filled with emotion. The admiration for it and the admiration of it have become old traces, but I still cannot help but feel happy about them. The situation will be shortened and changed, and it will eventually end. The ancients said: "Death and life are also big things." Isn't it painful? (I didn’t know that old age was coming. One work: I didn’t know that old age was coming.)
Every time I look at the reasons for people’s interest in the past, if they are combined into one, I will not fail to express my condolences and cannot express them in my heart. I know that death and rebirth are just illusions, and mourning for Qi Peng is an illusion. The future looks upon the present, just as the present looks upon the past. Sad husband! Therefore, I listed people from that time and recorded what they said. Although things are different in different times, I am interested in them and they are consistent. Those who view it later will also feel the elegance.
Interpretation: In the ninth year of Yonghe, in the year of Guichou, in early March, we gathered at Lanting in Shanyin City, Kuaiji County to do evil deeds. Many talented people gathered here, both young and old. Lanting is a place with high peaks, lush woods and tall bamboos. There is also a clear and rapid stream that surrounds the pavilion. We used the stream water as a curved water for the drinking glass, and sat beside the curved water. Although there was no grand occasion of playing music, drinking some wine and writing some poems were enough to relax. It describes the deep inner feelings.
On this day, the weather is clear, the air is fresh, and the breeze is warm. Looking up to see the vastness of the universe, looking down to observe the numerous things on the earth, it is enough to stretch your eyesight and broaden your mind, which is enough to fully enjoy the sight and hearing. The entertainment is really very happy.
People interact with each other and spend their lives quickly. Some people talk freely about their ambitions indoors; some people express their feelings and live an uninhibited life based on the things they like. Although each has his own hobbies, quietness and restlessness are different, but when they are happy with the things they come into contact with, they feel contented for a moment. Feeling happy and content, unaware that aging is coming. When you are tired of what you get or love, your feelings will change with the changes of things, and emotion will arise. The things you liked in the past have become old relics in a blink of an eye, and it cannot help but cause feelings in your heart. Moreover, the lifespan is long and short, depending on the fate, and it will eventually be destroyed. The ancients said: "Death and life are a big deal after all." How can we not make people sad?
Whenever I see the reasons for the sighs expressed by the predecessors, and the reasons are as consistent as a talisman, it is inevitable to sigh and mourn when reading the articles of the predecessors, and cannot understand it in my heart. I originally knew that the statement that equates life and death is untrue, and the statement that equates long life and short life is a fabrication. Future generations will look upon today's people just as today's people look upon their predecessors, which is sad. So I wrote down the people who were present at the meeting one by one, and recorded the psalms they composed. Even though times have changed and things are different, the reasons that trigger people's emotions and their thoughts and interests remain the same. Later generations of readers will also be moved by the poetry and prose of this gathering.
Appreciation: The article describes the scenery of Orchid Pavilion and the fun of gatherings of Wang Xizhi and others, and expresses the author's lament that great events do not come often and that "the shortcomings are modified and the end is over". The author is sometimes happy and sad, extremely happy and sad, and the article also changes from calm to agitated, and then from agitated to calm according to the changes of his emotions. It is full of the beauty of ups and downs, cadences and ups and downs, which is why "Preface to the Lanting Collection" has become a famous work. The full text consists of three paragraphs.
The first paragraph of the article describes the grand occasion of the Lanting gathering and writes the deep feelings of the participants. First, the time, place, and reason for the gathering were pointed out, and then the large number of people and the wide scope of the gathering were introduced. Then write about the beautiful environment around Lanting. First write the high and far places: "lofty mountains, lush forests and tall bamboos"; then write the near and low places "clear currents and rapid turbulence"; and then write one line: "reflecting belt left and right". Use concise language. Very poetic and picturesque. On the basis of describing the scenery, this line leads to a poem written in the flow, highlighting the content of the grand event as "one drink and one chant", "smooth talk about the quiet feelings", "although there is no flourishing of silk and bamboo orchestras", this is a negative contrasting pen, Use extra pictures to express the pleasing feeling. Finally, it was pointed out that the day of the grand event coincided with the pleasant weather, and the "clear sky and clear air" provided favorable conditions for the "looking up" and "looking down" below; the "beneficial and gentle wind" echoed the "beginning of late spring". The beautiful scenery of this place at this time makes it possible to "look up", "look down", "wander the mind" and "visual and visual entertainment" to get rid of the troubles of the world, enjoy the natural beauty to the fullest and express one's own thoughts. At this point, the author attributes the feelings of the participants to the word "happy". The writing style is clear and simple, with no trace of chiseling.
This preface is clear, concise and profound, which prominently represents Wang Xizhi's prose style. And its sentences are exquisite, clear and catchy. It is a masterpiece of ancient parallel prose. "Preface to the Lanting Collection" has advantages in several aspects of parallel prose.
In terms of syntax, the antitheses are neat and the meanings of the sentences are parallel, such as "All the virtuous people have arrived, and the young and old have gathered together", "Look up at the size of the temple. Look down at the prosperity of the categories", "Maybe take the arms of all the people and talk to each other in the same room. "; Or because of the entrustment, let go of the waves." The two are opposite each other, the phonology is harmonious, there are no traces of chiseling, and the language is fresh, simple and natural. The text that belongs to the discussion part is also very simple and expressive. In terms of allusions, it only uses simple and easy-to-remember allusions such as "Qi Peng Dang" and "Xiu Wei Shi". Such simple writing is in line with the Eastern Jin Dynasty's carved seals. sentence, in sharp contrast to the flashy writing style.
This article reflects Wang Xizhi’s positive outlook on life, which is in sharp contrast to the inaction advocated by Lao-Zhuang’s theory.