Lanting Preface
Introduction
Lanting Preface, also known as "Lanting Banquet Collection Preface", "Lanting Collection Preface", "Linhe Preface", "Ye Preface" ", "Wan Tie". It is one of the three major calligraphy calligraphy calligraphy styles and one of the ten most famous hand-written calligraphy works in China. On March 3rd in the ninth year of Yonghe (AD 353) of Emperor Mu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Wang Xizhi, Xie An, Sun Chuo and other 41 people went to "repair evil spirits" at Lanting Pavilion in Shanyin (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang). Everyone wrote poems at the meeting. Wang Xizhi's manuscript preface to their poems. The preface describes the beauty of the mountains and rivers around Lanting and the joy of the party, expressing the author's feeling that good times do not last long and life and death are impermanent. The original copy of the Dharma calligraphy has twenty-eight lines and three hundred and twenty-four words. It is perfect in composition, structure and writing style. It was his proud work when he was thirty-three years old. Later generations commented that "Youjun's font is a change from the ancient method. Its majestic and elegant style comes from nature, so it is regarded as a follower in ancient and modern times." Therefore, calligraphers of all ages have praised "Lanting" as "the best running script in the world". Among the extant Tang Dynasty ink imitations, the "Shenlong Edition" is the best. During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Feng Chengsu had a gold seal, so it is called "Lanting Shenlong Edition". This edition is a fine copy, with brushwork, ink style, style, and charm all reflected, and is recognized as such. It is considered to be the best copy; among the stone carvings, the "Dingwu version" is preferred. After Guo Moruo's research, he believed that the second half of the "Lanting Preface" that was passed down was gratuitous and had no similarities with Wang Xizhi's thoughts. The style of the calligraphy was also different from the epitaphs of the Wang family in the Eastern Jin Dynasty that had been unearthed in recent years, and he was suspected to have been forged by the Sui and Tang Dynasties. But there are also those who disagree with it. "Lanting Preface" expresses the highest state of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy art. The author's magnanimity, phoenix spirit, broadmindedness, and emotion are fully expressed in this work. The ancients said that Wang Xizhi's writing style was like "the breeze comes out of the sleeves and the bright moon enters the arms", which is a wonderful metaphor.
There are all kinds of interesting anecdotes circulating in the world about "Lanting Preface". It is said that after Wang Xizhi finished writing, he was very satisfied with his work. He rewrote several articles but could not reach this level. He once sighed and said: "This god can help my ears, but I can't do it." Therefore, he himself also He cherished it very much and regarded it as a family heirloom, which has been passed down to his 7th generation Sun Zhiyong. Zhiyong became a monk as a young man and loved calligraphy. Before his death, he passed the "Preface to the Lanting Collection" to his disciple, Monk Biancai. Monk Biancai also studied calligraphy very well. He knew the value of "Lanting Collection Preface" and regarded it as a treasure, hiding it in a hole specially dug in the beam of his bedroom.
Li Shimin, Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, loved calligraphy, especially Wang Xizhi's calligraphy. He heard that Wang Xizhi's calligraphy treasure "Preface to the Lanting Collection" was in the possession of Monk Bancai, so he sent people to ask for it many times, but Monk Bancai always claimed that he did not know the whereabouts of the original work. Li Shimin saw that force would not work, so he decided to outwit him. He sent Xiao Yi, the supervisory censor, to dress up as a scholar and get close to Biancai, looking for an opportunity to obtain the "Preface to the Lanting Collection". Xiao Yi also studied calligraphy very much, and had a very good conversation with Monk Biancai. After the two became close, Xiao Yi deliberately took out some of Wang Xizhi's calligraphy works for Monk Bancai to appreciate. After reading it, Bencai said disapprovingly: "It's true, but it's not good. I have an authentic copy that's not bad." Xiao Yi asked what the post was, and Bencai mysteriously told him that it was the original "Preface to the Lanting Collection". Xiao Yi pretended not to believe it, saying that the post had disappeared. Bencai took the original work from the roof beam and showed it to Xiao Yi. Xiao Yi saw that it was indeed the original "Preface to the Lanting Collection" and immediately put it in his sleeve and showed Bencai the relevant "Edict" of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. It is only then that you know you have been deceived.
Biancai was very sad to lose his original work. Soon he became depressed and became ill, and died within a year.
After that, there was a legend about "Xiao Yi's plan to win Lanting" from the Taizong sect of the Tang Dynasty... Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty admired Wang Xizhi's calligraphy so much that he ordered his ministers Zhao Mo, Feng Chengsu and others to carefully copy some copies. He liked to give these copies or stone rubbings to some royal families and favored officials, so at that time, such copies, which were "first-class authentic works", were also "Luoyang paper expensive". In addition, there are also copies of famous works by Ouyang Xun, Chu Suiliang, Yu Shinan and other famous artists handed down to the world. It is said that the original works were used as burial objects when Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty died and will never be seen in the world.
The so-called "Lanting Preface" today, in addition to several Tang copies, stone rubbings are also extremely precious. The most legendary one is "Song Tuoding Wulanting Preface". Whether it is a copy or a rubbing, it is quite convincing for the study of Wang Xizhi. At the same time, it is an extremely precious material for the study of calligraphy of past dynasties. Information about "Lanting Preface" abounds in Chinese calligraphy books, too numerous to mention.
There has always been a lot of controversy over whether the "Lanting Preface" was written by Wang Xizhi. There were quite intense public debates in the late Qing Dynasty and the 1960s.
Some people also think that the Lanting Meeting was a secret meeting to discuss military affairs, and it was used to cover up people's names in the name of calligraphy. In any case, its calligraphy status is unshakable.
Original text
In the ninth year of Yonghe, when I was in Guichou, at the beginning of late spring, I gathered at the Orchid Pavilion in Shanyin, Kuaiji, to repair the evil spirits. . Here there are high mountains, lush forests and tall bamboos; there are also clear and turbulent streams that reflect the surroundings, making them look like flowing water. Sitting next to each other, although there is no grandeur of silk and bamboo orchestral music, one drink and one chant are enough to express the quiet feelings.
It is a sunny day, the air is clear, and the wind is gentle and gentle. Looking up at the vastness of the universe and looking down at the prosperity of categories, it is a joy to wander around and enjoy the sight and sound.
The lady's relationship with her lasted a lifetime, or she would hold her in her arms and talk to each other in the same room; Although there are many choices and choices, tranquility and restlessness are different. When you are happy with what you encounter, you are temporarily satisfied with yourself, and you are happy and self-sufficient. You don't know that old age is coming, and you are tired of what you are doing, and your emotions change with things, so you can sigh with emotion. Looking towards it, admiring and admiring it, it has become an old trace, but I can't help but feel excited about it. The situation will be shortened and changed, and it will eventually end. The ancients said: Life and death are equally important. Isn’t it painful?
Every time I look at the reasons for people's interest in the past, if they are combined into one, I will always feel sad and mournful, and I can't describe it in my heart. I know that death and rebirth are just illusions, and mourning for Qi Peng is an illusion. The future looks upon the present, just as the present looks upon the past. Sad husband! Therefore, I listed people from that time and recorded what they said. Although the world is different and things are different, I am interested in keeping them consistent. Those who view it later will also feel the elegance.
Translation
In the ninth year of Yonghe, that is, the year of Guichou, at the beginning of March, celebrities gathered at Lanting in Shanyin County, Kuaiji County, in order to go to the waterside for entertainment. Activities to seek blessings from disasters. Many famous and talented people came, both young and old. There are tall mountains and precipitous ridges here, dense woods and tall bamboos, and clear water and rapids, all around (in the pavilion). Lead the water into the circular channel (in the pavilion) and let the wine glasses float on the water (for people to drink from). People lined up and sat next to Qushui. Although there was no grand occasion of orchestral music, drinking and composing poems was enough to happily express their elegant feelings. On this day, the weather was sunny and the breeze was blowing gently. Looking up, the sky is vast and boundless. Looking down, there are so many things on the ground. It is such a joy to expand your eyesight, broaden your mind, and exhaust the enjoyment of sight and hearing!
Life passes quickly when people get along with each other. Some people like to talk about their interests and ambitions and talk face-to-face indoors (with friends); some people express their feelings about the things they like, without any restraint, and live indulgently. Although people's hobbies vary greatly, whether they like to be quiet or active, (but they all have this experience:) when they are happy with the things they come into contact with, they feel content, happy and contented for a while, but they don't I feel that aging is coming; when I feel tired of the things I like, my mood changes with the current situation, and I feel sad. Things that I felt happy before suddenly become obsolete, and I still can't help but sigh. What's more, the length of human life depends on fate, and in the end everything comes to nothing. The ancients said: "Death and life are also big things!" How can we not feel sad?
Whenever I see the reasons why the predecessors lamented, (what I lamented) is as consistent as a contract, I always sigh and lament in front of (their) articles, but I don’t understand it in my heart. Why is this happening. (I) Then I realized that it is absurd to treat life and death equally, and it is a fabrication to treat longevity and short life equally. It's really sad that future generations will look at today the same way today's people look at the past! So I took note of the people who attended the meeting and copied their poems. Although the circumstances are different in different times, people's sentiments are the same. Readers of future generations will also feel the important matter of life and death when reading this collection of poems.