From Preface to Lanting Collection by Wang Xizhi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty.
Excerpts from the original text:
Yonghe nine years, aged in Guichou, will gather in Lanting to repair things in late spring and early spring. A group of smart people never miss, but some of them are long and salty. There are mountains here, and there are bamboo cultivation in Maolin; There is also a clear stream, which reflects left and right, thinking it is a stream, followed by a row. Although it is not as prosperous as the string of silk and bamboo, it is enough to love.
Explanation:
In the ninth year of Yonghe, in early March, we will meet in Lanting, Yin Shan, Huiji County, in order to handle affairs. Many talented people gather here, young and old. Lanting Group has towering peaks, lush trees and tall bamboo forests.
There is also a clear and swift stream, shining around the pavilion. We painted the stream as winding water and sat next to it. Although there is no grand occasion of playing music, drinking some wine and writing some poems is enough to describe that hidden feeling.
The article describes the scenery of Lanting and the fun of gathering with Wang Xizhi and others, and expresses the author's sigh about the infrequent activities and "All shall be well, jack shall have Jill". The author is sad when he is happy, and sad when he is happy to the extreme. The article also changed with his feelings, from calm to calm, to ups and downs, ups and downs.
Extended data
From the first paragraph to the second paragraph, the time, place, reason and person of meeting are described, and the surrounding environment and scene are described from "There are mountains here". Finally, "this is a day" leads to describe the mood of tourists and express the mood of the meeting.
In the third natural section, Lanting gathering potential is linked with people's getting along with each other today. Even if people get along in different ways and have different degrees of calmness, it implies the source of life troubles.
The fourth natural paragraph: from the experience of reading the works of the ancients in Sense of Style, it shows that the ancients also felt the feeling of death and life; Then he turned to the in-depth description of life and the world, criticized the current literati, and showed Wang Xizhi's persistent resistance to the illusion of life.
In the fourth paragraph, while criticizing Zhuang Zhou's nihilism, the author lamented the impermanence of the lives of the ancients, present people and future generations, which should of course be regarded as positive.
Wang Xizhi is ambitious and creative. He learns from Zhong You, so he can change. Zhong Shu is still turning over, and the real book is also divided. The pen is still expanding and there is a tendency for birds to soar. The so-called bell-tailed falcon wave. Wang Xizhi likes to chase with his hands, but it is easy to turn into a song and subtract momentum.
Wang Xizhi's calligraphy has influenced bookstores from generation to generation. Ou Yangxun, Yu Shinan, Zhu Suiliang, Xue Qi, Yan Zhenqing and Liu Gongquan in the Tang Dynasty, Yang Ningshi in the Five Dynasties, Su Shi, Huang Tingjian, Mi Fei and Cai Xiang in the Song Dynasty, Zhao Mengfu in the Yuan Dynasty and Dong Qichang in the Ming Dynasty were all impressed by Wang Xizhi, so they enjoyed the reputation of "book saints".
Wang Xizhi's original works existed before the world, and the fine copy of Tang people has always been regarded as original works. Because of its long history and long-standing reputation, Rainbow Xi's other inks have different inferences about its engraving age.
Some are called Song Copy, some are suspected to be Mi Fei Copy, and more are classified as Tang Copy. It has been recorded a lot and carved into various essays again and again. The public and private collections and circulation after the Yuan Dynasty are vivid and reliable, and their preciousness is self-evident.