The preface to Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy work Orchid Pavilion is as follows:
Original text
In the ninth year of Yonghe, when he was in Guichou, at the beginning of late spring, he met at the Orchid Pavilion in Shanyin, Kuaiji. It is also a matter of repairing bad luck. All the talented 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.
It is a sunny day, the air is clear and the wind is gentle and gentle. Looking up at the vastness of the universe and looking down at the abundance of categories, wandering your eyes and wandering your mind is enough to provide you with great visual and auditory entertainment, which is a joy to behold.
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 have temporarily gained yourself, you are happy and self-sufficient, and you never 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?
Every time I look at the reasons for people's interest in the past, if they are combined into one, I will always feel sad and mournful, and I can't describe it 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 the world is different and things are different, I am interested in it and it is the same. Those who view it later will also feel the elegance.
Translation
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 the evil ceremony. Many wise men and capable people gathered here, both old and young. Lanting is a place with high peaks, lush woods and bamboo bushes;
There is also clear and turbulent water that surrounds the pavilion. We use the water as a circular canal for floating wine glasses. Sitting next to Qushui, although there is no grand occasion of orchestral music, drinking wine and writing poems is enough to freely express the deep feelings.
On this day, the weather is sunny and the breeze is blowing. Looking up at the vast sky and looking down at the numerous things on the earth can stretch your eyesight and broaden your mind, which is enough to fully enjoy the pleasure of sight and sound. It is really Very happy.
People interact with each other and spend their lives quickly. Some people talk freely about their ambitions indoors; some people live an unfettered and unfettered life by focusing on the things they like and expressing their feelings.
Although each has his own hobbies, quietness and restlessness, when they are happy with the things they come into contact with, they feel complacent, happy and satisfied for a moment, without even knowing that aging is coming. When you get tired of the things you like, your mood changes with the current situation, and emotion arises.