The original text and translation of the thirteen postscripts of Lanting are as follows:
The first postscript:
Since the Lanting postscript of Zidingwu stone carvings has died, there are countless people in the world. There are days when it decreases and there is no day when it increases, so the knowledgeable people regard it as a treasure. But it's extremely difficult to tell. There are also those whose five characters are not damaged. The original five characters are not damaged, which is especially rare. If this cover is damaged, Elder Dugu sends Yu to the north and takes it with him. Go to the north of Nanxun and come out to show you. Because he begged from Dugu, he brought it to the capital. When he comes back one day, he and Dugu will have a close relationship with each other. On September 5, the third year of the reign of Emperor Da Da, he was walking in the boat. Dugu's name is Chunpeng, and he is from Tiantai.
Translation:
Wang Xizhi’s "Lanting Preface" script has not been circulated since the Dingwu Stone Carving, and the rubbings of the Dingwu Stone Carving have only survived in the world. There are only a few of them. And as time goes by, it will only become less and less, and it is impossible to increase it. Therefore, elegant scholars who like antiques regard it as the most precious rare treasure. However, it is extremely difficult to distinguish the authenticity of these preserved treasures.
In particular, there is an undamaged version with five words in one volume. Especially this five-character undamaged version is even rarer. One thing here is the damaged version of Wuzi. It was Elder Dugu who sent me to the north and he carried it with him. When we arrived north of Nanxun, he took it out and showed it to me. I begged for it from Elder Dugu and brought it to Dadu.
If you return it someday, you can form a romantic marriage with Elder Dugu. On September 5, the third year of the reign of Emperor Da Da, I wrote it in the boat on the back of the volume. Elder Dugu’s name is Chunpeng. He is from Tiantai, Zhejiang Province.
Second Postscript:
Lanting Post was written by all the scholar-officials when the Song Dynasty did not go to the south. Now that stone carvings are dead, good people in Jiangsu often carve one stone at home, without worrying about hundreds of copies, and it is difficult to tell the real ones from the fakes. Wang Shunbo, you are the master of Yanzhi, and you are the most knowledgeable. Between the ink color, paper color, fat and thin, and slender, there is no feeling at all. Therefore, Zhu Huiweng and Ba Lanting said: "Not discussing etiquette alone is like gathering a lawsuit", which makes him laugh. However, since there are so many legends, it is not easy to determine the first and second. This volume is the best edition, with five characters missing, fat and thin winning. It is no different from the Zhao Zi solid copy collected by Wang Ziqing, and it is also the most precious stone book. It was September 16th in the third year of the lunar calendar. Zhou Cibao should be re-titled. Ziang.
Translation:
"Lanting Preface" The rubbings of Dingwu stone carvings were owned by almost everyone who was an official in the Song Dynasty before they crossed south. After the original stones of the Dingwu engraved editions disappeared, those good people in Jiangdong often engraved one engraved stone for each family. You don't need to think about it to know that this will produce hundreds of rubbings, so the authenticity has been different since then. It's hard to tell the difference.
Wang Shunbo, You Yanzhi and other gentlemen are outstanding figures among the connoisseurs. The difference between ink color, paper color, fat and thin fonts, and pen thickness can be distinguished without any difference. Therefore, Zhu Xi said in his postscript to Lanting: "It seems that it is not just the ancients' explanation of etiquette. There are different opinions and no consensus." It seems to be a ridiculing statement.
However, since there are so many engraving versions, it is not easy to determine whether it is good or bad. This volume is really an excellent edition. Five characters have been damaged by gouges, and the fatness and thinness of the handwriting are very appropriate. It is no different from the Zhao Zigu copy collected by Wang Ziqing. It is the supreme treasure among stone rubbings. On September 16, the third year of the reign of Emperor Da Da, I sailed to Baoying and wrote this inscription and postscript again. Ziang.
The third postscript:
Lanting cannot be ignored. In this world, there are fewer and fewer people dying every day, but it is difficult for those who know the truth. The person knows it and hides it, but he can't treasure it. On the 18th, I was in a boat on the Qinghe River.
Translation:
The artistic value of "Lanting Preface" cannot be ignored. The ink rubbings that have been circulated in the world are disappearing day by day, and it is very difficult to identify and confirm them as authentic. Anything that can be identified as authentic has been collected by others. How can we not treasure it as a treasure? On the 18th, I traveled to Qinghe and wrote a postscript in the boat.
Fourth postscript:
The sound of the river is like a roar, and I hold my breath all day long. How can we solve the problem without having to play with this volume from time to time? After dozens of days, the scrolls are relaxed. The income is quite a lot. On the 22nd, it was the northern title of Pizhou.
Translation:
The rapids of the river were as loud as a roar, and no one spoke in silence on the boat all day long. If I didn't get this volume and read it and ponder it all the time, how would I be able to pass the time? I open the rewards dozens of times almost every day, and I get a lot of rewards. Inscribed in the north of Pizhou on the 22nd.
Fifth postscript:
In the past, people could become famous if they could get a few lines of ancient carvings and study them with concentration. Kuang Lanting is the proud author of Youjun, and he has learned endlessly, so there is no need to worry about being incompetent.
I recently heard that the master of North Zen in Wuzhong, the monk (named Zhengwu, nicknamed Dongping), had Dingwu Lanting Pavilion, which was kept by his master, Master Hui Yanzhao. It is impossible to borrow from it. Once you get this, you will be overjoyed. Duguzhi and Dongping are both virtuous and uncivilized. On the 23rd, we will cross Luliang to Bozhou.
Translation:
People in the past could obtain several lines of ancient inscriptions and study them with concentration, so that they could become famous in future generations. What's more, "Lanting Preface" is Wang Xizhi's proud work. If you continue to study it diligently, why worry about not surpassing others? Recently I heard that the monk (named Zhengwu, nicknamed Dongping), the master of Northern Zen in Wuzhong area, has a volume of "Dingwu Lanting", which is treasured by his master Hui Yanzhao.
I wanted to borrow it from him to watch but couldn't. Today, once I received a gift from Elder Dugu, my joy was unbearable. Compared with the monk Dongping, there are so many differences in talents and morals between Elder Dugu and Monk Dongping. On the 23rd, I was about to pass Luliang and stopped the boat. I wrote this inscription.
Sixth postscript:
It is beneficial to study calligraphy by pondering ancient Dharma texts and knowing the meaning of their writing. Youjun Shulanting has withdrawn his pen, but he used it because of its potential. It is no less than his ambition, and this is why it is so good. Supei County last night. I’ll finish the question after breakfast on the 26th.
Translation:
Learning calligraphy lies in carefully studying and appreciating the calligraphy models of the ancients, and gaining an insight into the meaning of their pens, so that you can gain something. Wang Xizhi used an old pen to write "Lanting Preface". When writing, he complied with the style and characteristics of the brush, and he did not write inconsistently with his own mind and will. This is the reason why this Dharma calligraphy can be regarded as a masterpiece. I stayed in Pei County last night and wrote the inscription after breakfast on the 26th.
Seventh Postscript:
Calligraphy requires the use of a pen, but tying letters also requires the use of labor. The character Gai Jie has been passed down from generation to generation, and it has been difficult to use the pen through the ages. The style of Youjun's character has changed from the ancient method, and its majestic and elegant style comes from nature, so it is regarded as a follower in ancient and modern times. People from the Qi and Liang Dynasties were not old-fashioned in their knotting, but they lacked a sense of elegance. This was due to the person, but the ancient method cannot be lost. On the 28th, Jeju South Waiting Gate question.
Translation:
The first priority in calligraphy is the use of the pen, and the structure of the characters also needs to be carefully arranged. Because the structure of characters will develop with the changes of the times, but the use of pen has not changed since ancient times. Wang Xizhi's brushwork and calligraphy made great changes to the ancient writing methods. The majestic beauty between his lines is completely natural, so people in the past and present regard it as a patriarchal style.
The calligraphy of people between Qi and Liang in the Southern Dynasty was not unsophisticated in terms of knots, but lacked elegance and elegance. This situation completely depends on everyone's understanding. But the ancient methods cannot be thrown away after all. Inscribed on the 28th while waiting for the gate to open in southern Jeju.
Eighth Postscript:
I arrived in Jeju on the 29th and met Zhou Jingyuan, the newly appointed censor of the Xingtai Supervisory Office. He came down from the capital and drank wine in the post office. There are many people who use paper to ask for books in Jingyuan, but there are so many people begging for the remaining books that they cannot be accepted. He hurriedly boarded the boat and unhooked the rope, but he had to rest. That evening, when I arrived thirty miles north of Jeju, I re-exhibited this volume because of the title.
Translation:
Arrived in Jeju on the 29th. I met Zhou Jingyuan, who had just been awarded the official position of censor of Xingtai and came south from Dadu. We drank together in the post pavilion. There were so many people carrying papers to ask Jingyuan for calligraphy, and the people who begged me for books gathered together, which was really irresistible to me. He hurriedly boarded the ship and untied the cable and set off from the shore before he could give up. That night I arrived at a place thirty miles north of Jeju, and unfolded this volume of rubbings again, so I wrote these inscriptions.
Ninth postscript:
Dongpo's poem says: "How many people in the world learn from Du Fu, who can get his skin and bones." The same is true for those who learn from Lanting. Huang Taishi also said: "People in the world only learn the orchid pavilion face, but they want to exchange it for the mortal bones without the golden elixir." This meaning is not known to those who are not scholars of calligraphy. October 1st.
Translation:
Su Dongpo said in his poem: "How many people in the world learn from Du Fu? Who can learn his superficial and essence?" The same is true for "Lanting Preface". Huang Tingjian also said: "People in the world have only learned the surface of "Lanting Preface". They want to reborn but can't find the good medicine." The truth in this is not something that people who study calligraphy cannot understand. October 1st.
Tenth Postscript:
Although the stone carvings are generally made of one stone, the ink is often different. The covering paper has different thickness, fineness, and dryness, the ink has different shades, and the ink used has different weights. The fatness and thinness of the carving are followed by light and dark, so it is difficult to distinguish the orchid pavilion. However, those who really know calligraphy will understand it as soon as they see it. They are not between fat and thin, light and dark. On October 2nd, I passed the Anshan North Shou Zhang Book.
Translation:
Although all stone carvings have only one carved stone, the rubbings made based on the original stone are different because the paper has different thickness, thickness, dryness and wetness. The ink has different shades, and there are differences in the weight when using the ink. The thickness of the strokes on the stone carvings will change accordingly when the strokes are fat or thin.
Therefore, it is difficult to identify the authenticity of the many rubbings circulated by "Lanting Preface". But those who really know the true meaning of calligraphy will know it at a glance, because the real secret lies not in the fatness of the strokes and the depth of the strokes. Written on October 2nd after passing through Shouzhang County north of Anshan.
The Eleventh Postscript:
You Jun has a very high moral character, so his book is of divine quality. The slave boy, the son of a stinking child, writes in the early morning and boasts of his ability in the evening. It's vulgar and despicable. We parked our boat at Hupei for three days and waited for the book to be released.
Translation:
Wang Xizhi's character is very noble, so his calligraphy is among the best. Those ordinary people with low status, young children who have just learned how to hold a pen in the morning, have already begun to boast about how great they are in the evening. They are so shallow and vulgar that they are despised and looked down upon. On the third day, the ship was anchored in Hupi, waiting for the lock to be released to write.
Twelfth Postscript:
I traveled north for thirty-two days. During autumn and winter, there was more southerly wind. The boat window was sunny and warm, and I looked at the Orchid Pavilion, which was a pleasant sight. Seven Days Book.
Translation:
I took a boat and walked north for thirty-two days. In autumn and winter, the southerly wind blew frequently. The weather outside the boat window was sunny and warm, and the wind was always unfolding in front of me. What a joy it is to watch "Lanting Preface". Written in seven days.
The Thirteenth Postscript:
Lanting and Bingshe Tie are very similar.
Translation:
"Lanting Preface" and "Bingshe Tie" are very similar.