Zheng Banqiao (1693-1765), also known as Banqiao Taoist, was a Qing Dynasty official, scholar, calligrapher and painter. He was also a very unique poet and one of the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou". . His poems, calligraphy and paintings are all unique and unique, and he is known as the "Three Wonders" in the world. He is good at painting orchids, bamboos, stones, pine, chrysanthemums, etc., among which bamboo painting is the most outstanding. Zheng Banqiao has many painting theory, calligraphy theory, and inscriptions, which contain rich literary and artistic aesthetic thoughts on painting, calligraphy, etc. At the same time, he also wrote many family letters to his relatives, and these family letters also contained profound principles of life.
In the first year of Qianlong's reign, Zheng Banqiao went to Beijing to take the examination and passed the Jinshi examination. In the fifth year of Qianlong's reign, he took a boat from Xinghua to the north along the canal to prepare to become an official in Beijing. During his trip to Beijing, he wrote this letter to his cousin, mainly to reflect deeply on his arrogant behavior when he was young.
"Send Mo to My Brother in the Boat in Huai'an"
If people are cute, I can accept them; if people are detestable, I can also be detested. Throughout his life, Dongpo felt that there were no bad people in the world, and it was his best interest. Brother Fool has been abusive and rude all his life, but if a person has a talent or a skill, and every line or word is beautiful, he can't help but praise him. Thousands of gold in the basket are scattered away, because you love others. As for places where there is a lack of security and danger, people can often help. He likes to scold people, especially scholars. If you think about it carefully, the scholar is suffering from the disease, but he can't push it away. If he can push it away, he is no longer a scholar. And it is also an injustice to criticize talented people. And who in this world is able to push the boundaries? When you are old and alone, you should be careful with your words. It is good to love others, but it is not good to curse others. Dongpo suffered from this disease, what happened to Banqiao! My brother also advised me all the time.
Huai'an: Today's Huai'an, Jiangsu. Mo: That is Zheng Mo, also named Wuqiao, cousin of Zheng Banqiao.
Tut tut (zé): a sound of praise.
Tuó: pocket.
Queqi (è): Difficulty. 欹(qī) 伟: Danger.
To push the profile: to get rid of. This refers to thinking in a conservative way.
Old and orphaned: The author was forty-nine years old at this time. Ten years ago (the ninth year of Yongzheng's reign), his wife Xu died of illness, so he is said to be "old and orphaned."
Talking too much: not being virtuous, but liking to hurt others.
Reading at home
This letter was written by Zheng Banqiao when he was an official in Beijing. He was already 48 years old at the time, 25 years older than his cousin. However, he still frankly reflected on his shortcomings to his cousin, reviewed his words and deeds, and pointed out his shortcomings without hesitation, instead of just talking about his own advantages. There is a sentence in the letter: "I like to scold people, especially scholars." This is not because he is jealous of their talents or that literati look down on each other, but because as a scholar, Zheng Banqiao has seen a lot and thoroughly about the ugliness of such literati. , so I said this to express my resentment towards those literati who are narrow-minded and short-sighted. Regarding this "advocate" self-awareness, he also has a famous couplet: "How easy it is to praise even if you are far behind, and how easy it is to criticize even if you are deeply in the woods!"
Zheng Banqiao used his own personal experience as evidence, and related to Su Dongpo's life. Make a comparison with your circumstances and realize that "loving others is a benefit, but scolding others is a disadvantage." Swearing is an expression of extremely disgusting emotions and a natural expression of feelings when the status quo cannot be changed. He warned his younger brother to always supervise himself to avoid making mistakes in words.
Zheng Banqiao once criticized himself in his "Preface" for "talking too much, being too conceited, and scolding unscrupulously. All the ancestors looked sideways and were careful not to interact with each other." This letter is also a reflection on his being too conceited and likes curse. Of course, this book focuses on being kind to others and treating them with virtue. When getting along with others, one should not be sharp and thorny. We should see more of the strengths of others and see more of the weaknesses of ourselves, be strict with ourselves and be lenient to others. Only in this way can interpersonal relationships be handled well. The author's original intention was to warn himself and to teach his younger brother to take this as a lesson. In this family letter, we can see the other side of Zheng Banqiao's thoughts and behavior, who was famous for his wild and unruly temper, laughter and scolding. Of course, the principles in the family letter still have great reference value for how we treat others, ourselves, and how we behave today.
In the letter "Jiaoshan Shuangfeng Pavilion to his brother-in-law" written to his cousin, Zheng Banqiao talked about the principle of being kind in life by buying a cemetery.
"Jiaoshan Shuangfeng Pavilion Dedicated to Brother Mo"
There is a cemetery plot in Haojiazhuang, priced at twelve taels. The late emperor once wanted to buy it, because there was a solitary tomb without an owner. , must be removed.
The late emperor said, "What a shame! How can anyone dig someone's grave to erect his own?" Then he left. But if my family doesn't buy it, someone else will buy it, and the tomb will still be unprotected. I intend to write to Cousin Hao to inquire about the whereabouts of this place. If it is not sold, I will seal it for twelve gold coins and buy it for my wife and I to bury. To leave this solitary grave as a companion for Niu Mian, and to carve stones to show to his descendants, it will never be abandoned. Isn't this a deep and profound sign of the loyalty of our ancestors? I can't believe what my husband said. Our intentions must be poured out and stored in thick water all the time. Even if there is bad feng shui, it will become a good place. This theory is absolutely credible. Later generations of descendants will also pay homage to this tomb during the Qingming Festival. They will eat wine, chickens, rice bowls, and paper money for hundreds of miles, as an example. My brother sent it on June 10, the thirteenth year of Yongzheng's reign.
Niu Mian: Also known as "Niu Mian Blessed Land", it means a good burial place after death, which means a geomantic treasure land.
Kanyujia: refers to Feng Shui master.
Go and pour to save thick: pour: thin. Hou: kind. To remove the excess and keep the thick means to remove the superficial and to be kind.
Reading letters from home
In his letter, Zheng Banqiao talked about the purchase of a cemetery, and talked about the principle that a person should "pouring water and preserving wealth". When people build a house or choose a cemetery, they all hope to have good Feng Shui. But Zheng Banqiao believes that even if there is bad Feng Shui, as long as we are kind-hearted, loyal and honest, it will become good Feng Shui. His words are very insightful. Let’s imagine that the tombs of ancient emperors and generals were carefully selected. It cannot be said that the feng shui is not good, but they still cannot escape the frequent visits of tomb robbers. On the contrary, the common people can rest in peace. Therefore, the so-called good and bad places actually have nothing to do with Feng Shui. As long as people are upright and kind during life, but only seek to have a clear conscience, then they will be at ease after death.
Zheng Banqiao's poems, calligraphy and paintings are "three unique things", and among the "three unique things" there are also "three truths": true energy, true secrets and true interest. These "truths" of his are also well reflected in this family letter, as he himself said: "Our intentions must be poured out and preserved." He warned his descendants to pay tribute to their ancestors when they visit their graves. There are offerings on the solitary grave next to it, just like his poems and paintings, but I want the word "true"! The content of this family letter is very targeted. It not only talks about family affairs, but also makes sense. The writing is concise, fresh, and has no sense of artificiality. It makes people feel the unique personality charm of this "weirdo" from ordinary things.