To the east of Linchuan County, there is a raised highland with a stream below, called Xincheng. Above the new city, there is a low-lying rectangular pool called Wang Xizhi Mochi. This was described by Xun Bozi, a native of the Song Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties, in "Linchuan Ji". Wang Xizhi once admired Zhang Zhi, a calligrapher of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and practiced calligraphy by this pool. The water turned black because of it. This is his legacy. Is this really what happened?
When Wang Xizhi decided not to be an official anymore, he traveled all over the East and went boating on the East China Sea, taking pleasure in the mountains and waters. Could it be that when he traveled freely and enjoyed his sights, did he ever rest here? Wang Xizhi's calligraphy gradually improved in his later years. It seems that the reason why he has such profound attainments is the result of his hard work, not the result of genius. But no one in later generations could match Wang Xizhi, maybe because they didn’t study as hard as Wang Xizhi, right? It seems like the time spent on studying can be reduced! What's more, what about people who want to achieve high moral achievements?
Beside the Mochi is now the school building of Fuzhou Prefecture School. Professor Wang Jun was deeply afraid that Mochi's deeds would be forgotten, so he wrote the six characters "Mochi of the Right Army of Jin Dynasty" and hung them between the two pillars in front of the door to mark it. He also said to me: "I hope there will be a narrative article." "I speculate that the king's intention is that he likes the strengths of others and refuses to let them be buried even if they are skills, so he also pays attention to his relics? Or do you want to promote Wang Xizhi’s hard study in the pond to encourage students here? A person's skills can be respected to such an extent by future generations, not to mention how the customs and virtues left by benevolent gentlemen will affect future generations!
On September 12, the eighth year of Qingli, Zeng Gong made a note. Notes:
Mochiji ①
To the east of Linchuan City ②, there is land hidden but high, facing the stream, called the new city. Above the new city, there is a pool that is low and long, which is called Wang Xizhi's Mochi, as Xun Bozi's "Linchuan Ji" says. Xi Zhi admired Zhang Zhi⑥ and came to the pond to study calligraphy. The water in the pond was completely black. This is a trace of his past. How can you believe it is evil⑦?
Fang Xizhi cannot force himself to be an official 8, but he tastes the extreme east 9 and goes out to the sea 10 to amuse his mind among the mountains and rivers. How can he wander around as he pleases (11) and try to rest on his own? This evil?
Xi Zhi’s book was good in its later years (12), so what he can do is only accomplished by his own energy, which is not natural. If there is no one in the future who can reach it, how can it be that he is not as good as him in learning (13)? How can there be less learning? Is it evil to want to learn more about morality?
Above the Mochi is now the Prefecture School Building (14). Professor Wang Junsheng (15), fearing that it would be incomplete (16), wrote the six characters "Mochi of the King of Jin Youjun" between the couplets to reveal it (17). He also told Yu Gong, "I hope this will be remembered!" How can the king's heart love the kindness of others, even if he can do it (18), and then cause evil (19)? Does he also want to push his case to encourage scholars to do evil? Madam, she is so capable that future generations will still be like this. What if the legacy of the benevolent Zhuang Shi (20) will be relegated to the next life!
On September 12, the eighth year of the Qingli calendar, Zeng Gong was recorded.
① This article is a narrative written by the author at the request of Wang Sheng, a professor of Fuzhou studies. The article first deduce the conclusion that Wang Xizhi's calligraphy was developed through hard practice based on rumors about Mochi, and then extends it to the general principle that learning and self-cultivation depend on acquired diligence. The full text is simple and profound, with many questions and euphemistic words, which reflects the author's unique writing style.
②Linchuan: Linchuan County, Fuzhou, Song Dynasty. It is now Fuzhou City, Jiangxi Province.
③Waran: A sunken look.
④Wang Xizhi: courtesy name Yishao, a famous calligrapher in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, known as Wang Youjun in the world, and later known as the "Sage of Calligraphy".
⑤Xun Bozi: A native of the Song Dynasty in the Southern Dynasty, he served as the internal history of Linchuan and wrote "Linchuan Ji". Volume 110 of "Taiping Huanyu Ji" records Wang Xizhi's official affairs in Linchuan and Mochi.
⑥Zhang Zhi: courtesy name Boying, a famous calligrapher in the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was good at cursive calligraphy and was known as the "Cao Sage".
⑦How can you believe it? Is it true?
⑧ "Fang Xizhi" sentence: Wang Xizhi was as famous as Wang Shu at that time. , vowing not to be an official anymore. The matter can be found in "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xizhi".
⑨ Ji: To, reach.
⑩Out to the sea: rafting in the East China Sea. According to the "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xizhi": "After Xizhi resigned from the official position, he traveled with people from the east to enjoy the mountains and rivers, fishing for entertainment. He also practiced medicine with the Taoist Xu Mai, and traveled thousands of miles to collect medicinal stones. The counties in the east are all famous for their mountains, and the sea is vast."
(11) Wandering (chángyáng Changyang): roaming as much as you want.
(12) "Xizhi" sentence: Wang Xizhi's calligraphy was not as good as that of Yu Yi and Xi Min at the beginning, and he only reached exquisiteness in his later years. See "Book of Jin·Biography of Wang Xizhi".
(13) He: refers to Wang Xizhi.
(14) Prefecture school: refers to the school in Fuzhou capital.
(15) Professor: Official name, in charge of academic administration and education students.
Chapter (16): Same as "Zhang".
(17) Couple: The pillar at the front of the hall. Reveal: mark.
(18) Don’t let it go to waste: don’t let it be buried.
(19) "And because of" sentence: Does love therefore reach his relics?
(20) Renren Zhuangshi: A person who has moral cultivation and is a role model. Remaining thoughts of the legacy: the style left behind, the thoughts passed down