Motto---Cui Xuan
The shortcomings of those who do not know how to do things are the shortcomings of those who do not know how to express their own strengths.
Be careful not to forget when you give to others, and be careful not to forget when you are giving to others.
World reputation is not enough to be admired, but benevolence is the guideline [1].
If you hide [2] your heart and then act, what harm will it do if you slander me?
Don’t make your name exaggerate, keep the holy place of fools (ㄗㄤ viscera) [3].
In Nirvana (ㄋㄧㄝˋ婋) nobility is worthless (ㄗ子) [4], and in warmth (ㄞˋ爱) there is light within [5].
For those born weak, Lao’s commandment is to be strong.
Xingxing (ㄏㄤˋ ㄏㄤˋ沆) is a humble husband [6], so it is difficult to measure [7].
Be cautious about your diet and be content with yourself.
Persevere in your practice, and your fragrance will last for a long time.
Notes
[1] Ji Gang: The extended meaning of "law". Ji, thin rope; Gang, thick rope.
[2] Hidden: review.
[3] Zang: good; here it is a verb, expressing appreciation.
[4] In nirvana: in a dirty environment.
[5]暧暧: describes the appearance of hidden brilliance.
[6] Xing Xing: Describes a strong appearance. Idiot: A person with little knowledge.
[7]Youyou: Describes a quiet look.
Note the inscription on the right side of the seat for self-warning. "Selected Works·Cui Yuan
Author
Cui Yuan (ㄩㄢˋ), courtesy name Ziyu, was a Chinese calligrapher of the Eastern Han Dynasty and a native of Anping, Zhuojun (now part of Hebei Province). A famous calligrapher in the Han Dynasty, he was especially good at cursive calligraphy. He learned from Du Du and was known as "Cui Du" at that time. Cui Yuan was knowledgeable, proficient in astronomy, calendar, and good at diction. He once served as the magistrate of Ji County (now Weihui City, Henan Province), where he built farmland and water conservancy projects to benefit the people. Author of more than fifty articles.
Translation
Don’t talk about other people’s shortcomings, and don’t boast about your own strengths.
Never keep it in mind when you give kindness to others, and never forget it when you receive kindness from others.
Worldly fame is not worthy of envy. Only "benevolence" is the fundamental law of life.
Whatever you do, you should examine whether your heart is in line with benevolence before acting. What harm will other people's slanderous comments do to you?
Don't let your false reputation outweigh your true talents, don't show off your talents, don't show off your intelligence, this is what the saints praise.
In a dirty environment, the most valuable thing is not to be contaminated by the pollution. Talented and virtuous people keep their radiance introverted and only seek inner enrichment, not superficial vanity.
Weak people are resilient and are not easily broken, so they are suitable for survival; Lao Tzu believes that being strong is easy to break, and it is not as easy to survive as being weak, so he takes strength as a warning.
A person with little knowledge always appears to be strong. Only if he is quiet and does not compete with others, his success will be unstoppable.
If you speak carefully, eat in moderation, and know how to be satisfied without being greedy, you can stop or avoid unlucky things from happening.
If you follow this motto and work persistently, your talent and virtue will naturally shine like the fragrance of flowers spreading over time.
Appreciation + Internet resources [--Chinese Encyclopedia Online], [Motto--Baidu Encyclopedia]
Continued motto---Bai Juyi
Don’t admire the rich With the noble, don't worry about the poor or the lowly; ask yourself, what's the matter?
Don’t feel sad when you hear about being ruined, don’t be happy when you hear about praise; how can you care about your own conduct, and rest assured when you hear about reputation?
There is no need to be proud of things or to humiliate others; there is no use of sex to seek things, so as to respect oneself.
You and Xie are different, and home and righteousness are neighbors; there are choices between them, and there is no alienation.
Cultivate the outside as well as the inside, respect and nurture harmony and truth; nourish the inside without leaving the outside behind, and promote righteousness and benevolence[1].
A thousand miles begins with a single step, and dust rises from the mountains; the same is true for my way, and the journey is precious and new every day.
I dare not discipline others, but talk to myself and write to the gentry [2]; I will live my life by myself (preface of ㄒㄩˋ) [3], and my body will not be a hindrance to my future generations [4].
Hou Kungou is not my descendant.
Comments
[1] Rate: Follow.
[2] Gentleman: A large belt worn by officials in ancient times.
[3]Xu: Encouragement.
[4] Yi: Sound 1ˊ, left behind.
[5]Hou Kun: descendants.
Author
Bai Juyi (II) (772-846), whose courtesy name was Letian, and later nicknamed Xiangshan Jushi and Mr. Zuiyin. A native of Xinzheng, Henan (now Xinzheng, Zhengzhou), he was a great realist poet in the Tang Dynasty of my country and a famous and far-reaching poet and writer in the history of Chinese literature. His poetry has a wide range of themes, diverse forms, and simple and popular language. He is known as the "Poetry Demon" and the "Poetry King". He became a bachelor of the Hanlin Academy and a doctor of Zuo Zanshan. There is "Bai's Changqing Collection" handed down from generation to generation, and his representative poems include "Song of Everlasting Sorrow", "The Charcoal Seller", "Pipa Play" and so on. The Bai Juyi Former Residence Memorial Hall is located in the suburbs of Luoyang. Baiyuan (Bai Juyi's Tomb) is located at Pipa Peak in Xiangshan Mountain, south of Luoyang City.
Translation
Don’t envy wealth and honor, don’t worry about poverty and humbleness. What you should be concerned about is improving your moral character and cultivating your profession. Why should we worry about the level of status?
Don’t be overly sad when you hear slander; don’t be overly happy when you hear praise. What I care about is whether what I do is aboveboard. The slander and praise of others are really not worth paying attention to.
Don't act arrogantly or domineeringly in order to avoid the humiliation of others. Don't use clever words and tricks to get a job, respect your own personality.
When making friends, you should stay away from bad friends to avoid temptation or influence. Your residence must be adjacent to decent people, which can have a subtle effect. There is only the distinction between good and evil, and there is no distinction between closeness and distance.
Cultivation of external skills can reach the inner, making the inner more peaceful and sincere. When cultivating the inner, the external will not be neglected. Every word and deed must follow righteousness and benevolence.
If you want to walk a thousand miles, you have to start with the first step. Tall peaks are made of tiny particles of dust. Developing virtues and cultivating one's profession is like this. The most important thing is to be new and renewed every day.
I dare not use these words to persuade others, so I will write them on my belt and encourage myself throughout my life. After my death, I will leave this motto to my descendants.
If my descendants violate these teachings, they are not my descendants.
Annotation of Bai Juyi's "Preface to the Motto": "I admire Cui Ziyu's "Motto". Although I have not been able to complete it, I often read it on the wall of the study room. However, there seems to be something unfinished, because it is continued as a motto. ”