Li Dongyang's clever translation and annotation of classical Chinese are as follows:
Translation:
Li Dongyang was able to write in regular script when he was 4 years old. When he was in Jingtai, he was recommended (to the emperor) as a child prodigy. (Because Li Dongyang was short) the eunuch helped him across the threshold of the palace. When the emperor saw it, he said: "The child prodigy's feet are really short." Li Dongyang followed up and said: "The threshold of the palace is high." Then he entered to see the emperor.
(The Emperor) ordered Li Dongyang to write more than ten characters for "dragon", "phoenix", "turtle" and "lin". The emperor was very happy, held (Li Dongyang) in his arms, made him sit on his knees, and gave Li Dongyang the precious fruits of Shanglin and the coins in the palace. At that time, Li Dongyang's father had already stood up and was waiting for orders at the foot of the steps. The emperor said: "The son is sitting, but the father is standing. Is this in line with etiquette?" Li Dongyang replied: "My sister-in-law fell into the river and my brother-in-law went to pull her. This is a temporary solution."
Notes :
Write a big book: write in regular script. Jingtai: The reign name of the Ming Dynasty. Chamberlain: Eunuch. Threshold (yù): threshold. Shanglin: refers to Shanglin Garden; the name of the emperor's safari garden. Neifu: the palace treasury.镪(qiǎnɡ): coin.
Information expansion:
Dongyang was able to write big books at the age of four. During the Jingtai period, he was recommended as a child prodigy. The chamberlain helped him cross the threshold of the palace and said, "The child prodigy has short legs." He replied, "The emperor's gate is high." After entering the audience, the order book contained more than ten characters of "dragon", "phoenix", "turtle" and "lin". I was so happy that I held him on my knees and gave him the precious fruits of the forest and the precious treasures of his inner palace. At that time, his father bowed down and waited on Danqi. The emperor said: "Is it etiquette for a son to sit on his father's throne?" He replied: "It is the right for a sister-in-law to support her uncle."
Character Profile
Li Dongyang (1447-1516) , named Binzhi, nicknamed Xiya, posthumous title Wenzheng, was an important minister in the middle of the Ming Dynasty, a writer, calligrapher, and a core figure of the Chaling Poetry School. Han nationality, a native of Chaling Prefecture, Changsha Prefecture, Huguang (now Chaling, Hunan), and a native of the capital (now Beijing).
In the eighth year of Tianshun's reign, he was a Jinshi and was awarded the title of editor. He later moved to serve as a bachelor's lecturer and served as a lecturer in the East Palace. In the eighth year of Hongzhi's reign, he served as minister of the Ministry of Rites and bachelor of Wenyuan Pavilion, directing the cabinet and preparatory to machine affairs. The dynasty has been established for fifty years and the country has been in power for eighteen years. The Qing Dynasty remains unswerving. The article is elegant and fluent, using seal script and official script. There are "Huailutang Collection", "Huailutang Poems" and "Yan Duilu".