Translation: In the third year of Qingli, when I was just a child and entered the township school, a scholar from the capital showed the "Qingli Shengde Poem" written by Shi Shoudao, a native of Lu, to the teacher of the township school. I peeked from the side and could recite the sentences in the article. I asked my husband what kind of people the eleven people praised in the article were. He said, "What is the use of children knowing this?"
I said: "(If) they are the emperor, (I) dare not know; if (they) are also ordinary people, why can't I know them!" The husband thought what I said was strange and put these ten He told us all about one person and said: "Han Qi, Fan Zhongyan, Fu Bi, and Ouyang Xiu, these four people are heroes among people."
Although I didn't fully understand it at the time (this sentence ), but already remember them privately. In the second year of Jiayou's reign, I came to the capital to take the Jinshi examination, but Fan Gong passed away. After the burial, the tombstone was erected. I read the inscription so much that I shed tears and said, "I know what he is like." I haven't seen Mr. Fan for fifteen years. Isn't it fate?
This year (I) passed the exam and was appreciated by Ouyang Gong. Through Ouyang Gong, I met Han Qi and Fu Bi. They all treated me with the etiquette they would treat the country's elites, saying: "It's a pity that you didn't get to know Fan Wenzhenggong."
Alas! Fan Wenzhenggong's merits do not need to be highlighted by articles, and his articles do not need them either. Relying on the order and leaving the biography. However, the reason why I dare not refuse is that it has been forty-seven years since I learned to respect and love Duke Fan at the age of eight.
Those three heroes were able to socialize with them, but Fan Wenzhenggong was the only one who did not get to know him. I think it is a lifelong regret. Isn't it also the wish of the past to have a name for the poor?
The ancient gentlemen, such as Yi Yin, Tai Gong, Guan Zhong, and Le Yi, assisted the kings in their strategies to become kings and hegemons, and the county was originally in the countryside. It was established in the wild and was not learned after becoming an official. The Marquis of Huaiyin met Emperor Gao of Han in Hanzhong, commented on the merits of Liu Bang and Xiang Yu, and plotted to conquer the Three Qin Dynasties, as if he were gesturing on the palm of his hand. When he assisted Emperor Gao of Han to bring peace to the world, all Hanzhong's opinions were fulfilled.
Zhuge Kongming lived in seclusion in a thatched cottage, discussing Cao Cao and Sun Quan with his predecessor (Liu Bei), planning to capture Liu Zhang, relying on the capital of Shu to fight for the world, and never changed his views throughout his life. Is this something that people tried to do and got lucky by hearsay? In the Tiansheng year, Duke Fan Wenzheng kept filial piety for his mother, and he already had the wish to realize peace in the world, so he wrote a book of ten thousand words and sent it to the prime minister, and everyone in the world recited it.
When he was appointed as a general and promoted to be in charge, if we examine what he has done in his life, there is nothing beyond this book. He is loyal, filial, and loving to benevolence, justice, rituals, and music, just like a hungry and thirsty person to food and drink, which cannot be forgotten even for a moment.
He is as hot as fire and as wet as water. His nature has to be like this. Even if you write jokes and write according to your nature, it must be attributed to this nature. Therefore, people all over the world believed in his sincerity and rushed to learn from him and respect him.
Full text: In the third year of Qingli, General Shishi entered the township school. There were scholars from the capital. He showed Mr. Xiang his "Qingli Shengde Poem" written by Shi Shoudao from Lu. Shi watched from the side and could recite his words. He asked the teacher who were the eleven people he praised? The teacher said: "How can a boy know it?" Shi said: "This is a heaven and a man, so I don't dare to know it; if it is also a human ear, why can't it be done?"
Mr. Shi said all the words He told them and said: "Han, Fan, Fu, and Ouyang, these four people are outstanding people." Although the time is not over, they have already known each other privately. In the second year of Jiayou's reign, Jinshi were first promoted to the capital, and Duke Fan died. After he was buried, the tombstone came out, and he cried when he read it, saying: "I know who he was." Isn't it a fate to not see his face for ten and five years?
When he ascended the throne at this age, he first met Ouyang Gong, and he got to know Han and Fu because of his official duties. They all treated Shi as a scholar and said, "I hate you for not recognizing Fan Wenzheng." Woohoo! The merits of the public are revealed without waiting for writing, and the writing is passed down without waiting for a preface.
However, those who dare not resign have known how to respect and love the Duke since he was eight years old. This is now forty-seven years. Those three heroes were all allowed to travel with him, but Gongdu didn't know him, and he felt that he hated them all his life.
If he was named in his writings, he would be able to trust himself to the end of his sect. Wouldn't it be the wish of the past?
The ancient gentlemen, such as Yi Yin, Tai Gong, Guan Zhong, Le Yi and others, their strategies of kingship and domination were always determined in the countryside, and they were not officials but scholars. When the Marquis of Huaiyin met Emperor Gao in Hanzhong, he discussed the shortcomings and lengths of Liu and Xiang, drew pictures of the Three Qin Dynasties, like pointing to the palms, and assisted the emperor to determine the world. Hanzhong's words were all rewarded.
Zhuge Kongming was lying in a thatched cottage, discussing Cao Cao and Sun Quan with his predecessors, and planning to seize Liu Zhang. He wanted to fight for the world because of Shu's capital, and it was difficult to talk about it all his life. How can this be passed down by word of mouth, tried by ears, and succeeded by luck?
When the Duke is in the Heavenly Saint, and the wife is worried about him, he already has the intention of worrying about the world and bringing peace, so he wrote a thousand-character letter to leave the prime minister. It is recited all over the world. When he was used as a general and promoted to power, no one could write this book after examining his actions in his life. They are to benevolence, righteousness, rituals and music, to be loyal and filial to their younger brothers, just like hunger and thirst to food and drink, they are forgotten in a moment but cannot be obtained.
It is as hot as fire and as wet as water, which is inevitable due to its nature. Although he plays Han's drama, he does it straightforwardly, and this is where he will end up. Therefore, the world believes in his sincerity and strives to respect him as a master.
From: Preface to "Collected Works of Fan Wenzhenggong" by Su Shi [Song Dynasty].
Extended information:
Creation background of the article
"Collected Works of Fan Wenzhenggong" is a collection of poems and essays by Fan Zhongyan (989-1052) printed in the Northern Song Dynasty. It is the earliest existing biography of Fan Ji. The preface to "Collected Works of Fan Wenzhenggong" is written by Su Shi. The article is narrated in the tone of later generations, using Yi Yin, Jiang Ziya, Guan Zhong, Le Yi, Han Xin, and Zhuge Liang as metaphors for Fan Zhongyan, expressing his reverence and remembrance of Fan Zhongyan with sincerity.
According to "History of the Song Dynasty", Fan Zhongyan's works include 20 volumes of "Collected Works", 4 volumes of "Part Collection", 2 volumes of "Child Slips", 15 volumes of "Memories", and 8 volumes of "Danyang Bian". roll. In the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a engraved version of "Collected Works of Fan Wenzhenggong". In the Southern Song Dynasty, there were a revised edition of Qiandao engraved edition and a engraved edition of Suihantang of Fan's family school, both of which were twenty volumes.
Fan Zhongyan was "competent in both civil and military affairs" and "excellent in resourcefulness". He was not reduced to presiding over the government or serving as commander to guard the borders. This was all related to the safety of the country and the great hope of the times. His improvement of certain military systems and strategic measures stabilized the western frontier defense for a long time;
Although the Qingli Reform Movement led by him was only implemented for one year, it pioneered the reform trend of the Northern Song Dynasty. It became the prelude to Wang Anshi's "Xining Reform"; even when he was a local official, he worked hard and devoted himself to his work.
Fan Zhongyan was not only a famous politician and military strategist in the Northern Song Dynasty, but also an outstanding writer and educator. As the founder of Song Dynasty studies and a leader of scholars, he pioneered the trend. His articles and discussions must be based on Confucian benevolence and righteousness; Recruiting talents; even in his later years, "the countryside has not been established" and he has no fixed place to live. His last "posthumous note" did not include a word about personal matters.
The idea of ??"worry first and rejoice later" and the moral integrity of people with lofty ideals he advocated set a new benchmark for the enterprising spirit in Confucianism and are a shining spiritual wealth in the history of Chinese civilization. For thousands of years, Fan Zhongyan's remains have always been protected and commemorated by people in various places.
When Fan Zhongyan took office in Taizhou, he recruited more than 40,000 people to rebuild the sea-defending weir. Completed from the fifth year of Tianxi (1021) to the fourth year of Tiansheng (1026), the new embankment spanned the three states of Tong, Tai and Chu, with a total length of about 200 miles. Not only did the people's lives, farming and salt production at that time improve The protection also played an important role in "defending against disasters" in later generations. The local people named the embankment built "Fangong Embankment", and the ruins still exist to this day.
In the first year of Jingyou (1034), there was heavy rain in Suzhou, rivers and lakes overflowed, and the stagnant water could not recede. As a result, good farmland was abandoned, farming lost harvests, and the people suffered from hunger and hardship. After Fan Zhongyan came to Suzhou, according to the Based on water properties and geographical environment, a water control plan was proposed to dredge the "Five Rivers" between Kunshan and Changshu to divert accumulated water from Taihu Lake and into the sea.
Fan Zhongyan’s water control scriptures and paintings focusing on “building fences, dredging rivers, and installing gates” not only won praise from the public at that time, but also benefited later generations. From the Southern Song Dynasty to the Yuan and Ming Dynasties, he was responsible for the work of Zhejiang and Zhejiang. They all follow this model to control floods.
In the first year of Kangding (1040), Fan Zhongyan was transferred to the northwest front and served as the border defense coach.
In view of the characteristics of the northwest region, which is vast, sparsely populated, with intertwined valleys and dangerous terrain, Fan Zhongyan proposed the border defense strategy of "active defense", that is, building fortresses in key places, strengthening fortifications, and training frontier troops, so as to use defense as offense. purpose.
In terms of the military system, the old system of leading troops according to official positions was abolished and replaced by contingency tactics of selecting generals according to the enemy's situation; the camp system was established to solve the military supply problem, giving the army a new look, and greatly improving its adaptability and combat capabilities. . In terms of fortifications, walled cities were built, city pools were repaired, and beacon piers were built, forming a solid strategic system with Dashun City as the center and the fortresses echoing it.
For the ethnic minorities along the border, we sincerely united, provided generous benefits, and strictly established reward and punishment conventions, so that they could return to the Song Dynasty with peace of mind. At the same time, Fan Zhongyan selected generals and vigorously promoted army generals, so that famous generals such as Di Qing and Zhong Shiheng emerged in the Northwest Army. He also trained a group of strong and brave soldiers. Until the end of the Northern Song Dynasty, this army was still a force of the Song Dynasty. Powerful team.
Fan Zhongyan’s idea of ??using cities and villages for active defense brought fundamental changes to the military defense situation in the northwest, and the border situation was greatly improved. In the fourth year of Qingli (1044), the Northern Song Dynasty and Xixia finally signed a contract, and peace was restored in the northwest frontier.
In poetry, Fan Zhongyan advocated "the same scope" and "keeping up with the news of the times". Fan Zhongyan inherited Mencius's "awesome spirit" and combined Cao Pi's "literary spirit theory", Lu Ji and Zhong Rong's "sensing things theory" and the poetic thought of "the unity of nature and man". He believed that the poet's creation Impulse and intention are the "one spirit" of adhering to the great road, which are felt by and reflected in all things.
Fan Zhongyan's "News with the Times" inherited Liu Xie's concept of "writing for emotion" and Bai Juyi's idea of ??"writing articles for the times, and writing poems for events", combining political education and In an organic combination of writing for emotion, Fan Zhongyan criticized the blind imitation and idle moaning in the early Song Dynasty, and advocated that poetry creation should be loyal to the reality of life, in line with current events, and not just empty words.
Fan Zhongyan has 305 poems in existence, with a very wide range of contents. They may express his aspirations and great political ambitions; he may concern about people's livelihood and express his concern for the country and the people; he may record his travels in the mountains and rivers and praise the great rivers and mountains of the motherland. Or chant things to show your personal integrity.
Poetry is pure and true, and artistic techniques are diverse. The characteristic of using purity as beauty is particularly prominent. The tendency of using text as poetry and argumentation is very obvious. At the same time, attention is paid to the use of line drawing techniques and overlapping words, which is in line with the white line at that time. Compared with the late Tang style and Xikun style, it shows a completely different look, becoming an important part of the transformation of poetry in the early Song Dynasty from Tang pronunciation to Song tune.