Introduction to the work
"The Inscription on the Humble Room" is selected from the 608th volume of "The Complete Tang Dynasty" and was written by Liu Yuxi. "Inscriptions" are originally some praising or warning words engraved on metal utensils and inscriptions in ancient times to describe life events. They are mostly used to praise virtues, pay homage to ancestors, and warn others. Later, it gradually developed into an independent style of writing, which generally uses rhyme. Due to the unique historical origin of this style of writing, this style of writing has the characteristics of short chapters, simple text, and profound meaning. According to the classification of ancient literary styles, "Inscription" is a practical text. If you understand the meaning of the inscription, you will also understand the meaning of the title, which is to describe the humble room and praise the Analects of Confucius through the humble room. In fact, it is to use the name of the shabby room to break the confusion and enlightenment, and to attract people. This is the real meaning of the author. It expresses the author's reclusive life attitude and outlook on life by using objects to express his aspirations. This point is quite similar to "Ai Lian Shuo" (Zhou Dunyi). The humble house here was built by Liu Yuxi when he was the governor of Hezhou in the fourth year of Changqing.
The humble house
Selected from the "Complete Collection of Tang Dynasty", the humble house here was built by Liu Yuxi when he was the governor of Hezhou in the fourth year of Changqing. After the house was established, Liu Yuxi specially wrote the "Inscription on the Humble House", which was written and composed by the calligrapher Liu Gongquan into a stele and built next to the city. Later, due to war and looting, all the houses and monuments were destroyed. The existing shabby house was rebuilt by Song Siren, the magistrate of the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty. In 1902, Jin Baofu of Lingnan added an inscription on the shabby house to the side of the monument.
Original text of the work
The mountain is not high (1), but it is famous if there are immortals (2). If the water is not deep, if there is a dragon, it will be alive (3). This is a humble house (4), but I am virtuous and happy (5). The (6) steps above the moss marks are green, and the grass color is as green as the curtain. There are scholars (7) when talking and laughing, but there are no white people (8) when communicating. You can tune Suqin (9) and read the Golden Sutra (10). No silk and bamboo (11), (12) messy ears (13), no case (14), no shape (15). Nanyang (16) Zhugelu, Xishuzi Yunting (17). Confucius said: "Why is there such a thing (18)?"
Translation of the work
It doesn't matter how high the mountain is, as long as there are gods, it will be famous. It doesn't matter how deep the water is, as long as there is a dragon, there will be spiritual energy. This is a simple house, but I don't think it is simple because of my noble moral character. The moss marks are green and grow to the steps; the green grass is reflected in the curtains. The people chatting and laughing (with me here) are all knowledgeable and noble people, and there are no people with shallow knowledge. (Normally) You can play the unmodified guqin and read Buddhist scriptures. There is no (noisy) orchestral music to disturb the ears, (nor) (complex) official documents to tire the body. (My humble house is really comparable to) Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage in Nanyang, and the Xuanting of Yangziyun in Xishu. Confucius said: "(Since a gentleman lives in it), why is it so simple?"
Notes on the work
Text notes
Title: Selected from "The Complete Works" Tang Wen" Volume 608. shabby house: a simple house. Inscriptions: In ancient times, words engraved on objects to warn oneself or describe merits and virtues were often written in rhyme. Later it developed into a literary style.
(1) In: verb, to be.
(2) Name: famous, used as a verb here.
(3) Ling: There is aura.
(4) This is a simple house: This is a simple house. S: This. Is: judgment verb. shabby house: a simple house.
(5) Weiwu Dexin: It’s just that my (the person who lives in the house) has good moral character (I don’t feel simple anymore) Wei: Only. I, I, here refer to the person who lives in the house himself. Xin: Fragrance, often used in ancient times to describe people's noble moral character.
〔6〕Part 1: verb, grow to, spread to.
(7) Hongru: That is, a great scholar, here refers to a learned person.
(8) Bai Ding: Originally refers to common people, here refers to people with little knowledge.
(9) Tiaosu Qin: Play the Qin without decoration. Key: Play. Plain Qin: A Qin without any decoration.
(10) Golden Sutra: refers to Buddhist scriptures.
(11) Silk and bamboo: the general name for musical instruments such as qin, zither, xiao, flute, etc. "Si" refers to string instruments, and "bamboo" refers to wind instruments. This refers to the sound of playing music.
(12): Particle, no real meaning. Used between subject and predicate to cancel the independence of the sentence.
(13) Disturbing the ears: Disturbing the ears (using usage). Chaos: to disturb...
(14) Official documents (dú): official documents.
(15) Labor form: to make the body tired (useful usage). Lao: To make... tired. Shape, form, body.
(16) Nanyang: Place name, west of today’s Nanyang City, Henan Province. Before Zhuge Liang came out of the mountain, he lived in seclusion and farmed in Wollongong, Nanyang.
(17) Zhuge Lu in Nanyang, and Ziyun Pavilion in Western Shu: There is Zhuge Liang’s thatched cottage in Nanyang, and there is a pavilion like Yangzi Yun in Western Shu. These two sentences mean that Zhuge Lu and Ziyunting are both simple and simple, but because the people who live there are famous, they are admired by people. Zhuge Liang, courtesy name Kongming, was the prime minister of the Shu Han Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period. He was a famous politician and military strategist. Before becoming an official, he lived in seclusion in Longzhong Mountain in Nanyang County. Yang Xiong, courtesy name Ziyun, was a writer in the Western Han Dynasty and a native of Chengdu, Shu County. Hut, a simple little house.
(18) What’s so shabby: What’s so shabby? It is: Particle, a sign of the preposition of the object, with no real meaning. The whole sentence means "what's wrong". See "The Analects of Confucius·Zihan": "Confucius wanted to live in the Nine Barbarians, or he said: 'What is so shabby about?' Confucius said: 'How can a gentleman live in such a shabby place?'" Confucius believed that although the Nine Barbarians were shabby, But if a gentleman lives there, it will no longer be shabby. This article only uses "he shaozhiyou", which also means "a gentleman's residence". The words of Confucius are quoted here to prove that "a humble house" means that "if a virtuous person lives in it, then the humble house is not shabby." It echoes the previous article "This is a shabby house, but I am virtuous." The word "shabby" is completely turned over, reaching the point of "not shabby" The most perfect state of "humble", this is the finishing touch of the full text. It highlights the author's noble and proud sentiments and his taste of living in poverty and enjoying happiness.
The word has multiple meanings
1. :
① Used between subject and predicate, canceling the independence of the sentence, not translated: Wusi Zhuzhi Chaoer
② A sign of preposition of the object, not translated: He Wuzhi Yes
2. Coming and going:
① Indicates people who are in contact: There is no white ding in the coming and going
② Indicates people who are coming and going: among them, "Peach Blossom Spring" Note")
Using parts of speech
1. Ling: the noun is used as a verb to show supernatural powers. Example: If the water is not deep, there will be a dragon.
2 .Xin: The noun is used as a verb, with fragrance. Example: This is a humble house, but I am virtuous.
3. Chaos: The verb is used as a verb to cause... to be disturbed. Example: There is no silk bamboo. Zhichaoer
4. Lao: The verb is used as a causative verb to make... feel tired. Example: Uncategorized Lao form
Interpretation
(1 ) Mountains are not famous because they are high, but they are famous when there are immortals. Water is not famous when there are dragons.
The dragon becomes a magical water. Weiwu Dexin.
Translation: This is a simple house, but it doesn’t feel simple because of my noble character.
This. Wei, I. Virtue, fragrance, here refers to high moral character.
(3) The moss on the steps is green, and the grass is green. .
Translation: The moss is green and grows to the steps; the green grass is reflected in the curtains.
It grows to the top.
< p>(4) There are scholars who talk and laugh, but there are no white people who communicate with each other.Translation: Those who talk and laugh with me are knowledgeable people, and those who interact with me are ignorant.
Hongru, a knowledgeable person, used to refer to a scholar. Hong, Tong "Hong", a commoner, here refers to a person with little knowledge. >Lianglai is a compound word with a partial meaning, and the meaning of the word is focused on "lai".
(5) It can be used to tune the plain qin and read the Golden Scripture.
Translation: It can be played without decoration. (Simple) guqin, used to read Buddhist scriptures.
Piano qin, a qin without decoration.
(6) No strings and bamboos cluttering the ears, no documents and documents cluttering the ears.
Translation: There are no noisy sounds to disturb the ears, and there are no piles of official documents to tire the body and mind.
Silk, bamboo, qin, se, Xiaoguan and other musical instruments. This refers to the sound of playing music.
Official documents from the government.
In other words, if the independence of the sentence is cancelled, it will not be translated.
Labour, making... tired. Shape, body, body
(7) Zhuge Lu in Nanyang, Yunting in Western Shuzi. Confucius said: "What a shame?"
Translation: There is Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage in Nanyang, and there is Yang Ziyun's pavilion in Western Shu.
(This sentence means that Zhuge Lu and Ziyunting are both simple, but because the owner is famous, they are admired by people.) Confucius said: "What is so simple?" (See "The Analects of Confucius·Zihan")
Nanyang, the name of the county. The place where Zhuge Liang lived in seclusion was in Longzhong, Deng County, belonging to Zhuge of Nanyang County, referring to Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu during the Three Kingdoms period and a famous politician.
Western Shu, now Sichuan. Ziyun refers to Yang Xiong, a writer in the Western Han Dynasty.
Different meanings in ancient and modern times
1. The shape of labor without case slips (shape: body. Today’s common meaning is: appearance)
2. Weiwu Dexin ( Xin: beautiful. Today’s meaning is: fragrant.)
3. Talk and laugh with Hongru (Hong: great, profound. Today’s meaning is: Hongyan, letter.)
4. None The chaotic ears of silk and bamboo (silk and bamboo: string instruments such as harp, flute, flute, etc., here refers to the sound of playing music. Today’s meaning is: silk and bamboo.)
Rhythm of the reading of the work
山/不高 , if there is an immortal, then it is named. If the water is not deep, if there is a dragon, it is spiritual. This is a humble room, but I am virtuous. Moss marks/upper steps are green, grass color/entering the curtain is green. There are scholars who talk and laugh, but there are no white people when communicating. You can tune the plain qin and read the Golden Sutra. There is no confusion of silk and bamboo, and there is no labor of writing documents. Nanyang/Zhuge Lu, Xishu/Ziyunting. Confucius said: What's wrong with it?
Appreciation of Works
"The Inscription on the Humble Room" begins with the story of the rise of mountains and rivers. The name of Confucius, the water does not need to be deep, Yuan, Li Yuan, Li Shimin rises to the prosperous Tang Dynasty! , as long as you have a fairy dragon, you can become famous.
Although the residence is simple, it is "lovable" because of the "virtue" of the owner. In other words, the humble house is naturally also because there are people with high moral qualities. If you can be famous, your reputation will spread far and wide, and you will be engraved with gold and stone to remember it. Ordinary landscapes are brought to life by immortal dragons, so of course humble houses can also be spread with fragrance by people of high moral character. This technique of leveraging strength is really wonderful and can be said to be the author's unique ingenuity. Especially the fairy dragon embellishes the landscape, which is a wonderful idea. "This is a humble house, but I am virtuous and kind." The title starts from the landscape, fairy dragons, and the author directly cuts into the theme with a sudden change of writing, laying the foundation for reading the introduction. It also points out the reason why a humble house is not poor. The reason is the word Dexin.
At this point, it can be seen that the author wrote this essay after repeated thinking, and it was definitely not a temporary inspiration. Quatrains can be a sudden inspiration, but flawless connection is the result of daily accumulation of skills and repeated deliberation. 4-7 Sentences: This article was written out of difficulty and carved on stone, which has a strong tit-for-tat nature. Judging from the writing technique of the full text, the whole text is written in one go with the technique of "comparison", rather than as a contrast. So what exactly are the two sentences "moss marks" and "talking and laughing" talking about? Moss is still green on the stone steps, and weeds are still lush and green in the wasteland. What is the implication? I, Liu Yuxi, will never change my true character wherever I go. The people I associate with are all well-educated and learned people, and there are no uneducated people (like you). The author uses moss and weeds to describe his independent personality. This is a portrayal of integrity and a declaration of unyieldingness. "You can tune the plain qin and read the golden scriptures. There is no mess of silk and bamboo, and there is no trouble of writing documents." These two sentences also continue the "comparison" technique, but they change from analogy to reverse comparison.
If sentences 1 to 3 of this article are a kind of foreshadowing, then sentences 4 to 7 enter the real confrontation. The author uses poetic and beautiful language to show his pride and pride, and at the same time, he also mercilessly lashes out at the snobs.
Sentences 8-9
The concluding sentence quotes "Confucius said: What's so shabby?" It quotes the words of the ancients and concludes the whole article, explaining that a shabby house is "not shabby". It expressed his pursuit of the highest moral quality of the feudal ethics at that time. To standardize and demand oneself with the ethics affirmed by saints may be Liu Yuxi's highest requirement for his own moral character. Such a conclusion does not say what the content means, but combined with the meaning of the question, it is a masterstroke. Because feudal ethics take Confucian moral standards as the highest moral standard, Confucius’ affirmation also provides the best conclusion for his theory of moral character. The paper should have arguments, and quoting Confucius’ words as an argument is undoubtedly It was the best argument at the time, sufficient and irrefutable.
"The Zhuge Cottage in Nanyang, the Cloud Pavilion in Western Shu" The author uses Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage and the Xuanting in Yangziyun in Western Shu as analogies to draw out his own humble house and people as his role models, hoping that he can also do the same. Just like them, they have noble moral character, which reflects their own thoughts of treating themselves as ancient sages, and at the same time implies that a humble house is not humble. In fact, Liu Yuxi's writing has another profound meaning, that is, Zhuge Liang was living in a thatched cottage in Longzhong waiting for the Ming Dynasty to come out.
And what about Yang Xiong? But he was a man who was indifferent to fame and wealth and devoted himself to studying. Although he was a top official, his indifference to the ups and downs of official position and money was a model for future generations. Liu Yuxi quoted the meaning of these two people. What he wanted to express was: not panicking in the face of changes, unyielding in the face of danger, adhering to integrity, and being calm about honor and disgrace. I don't want to go along with the secular world, but I also want to show my ambition when I meet the enlightened master. If there is no enlightened master, I would rather settle for a mediocre ambition. This, combined with the ups and downs of Liu Yuxi's officialdom, is more in line with the actual situation.
Theme
It can be said that the theme of this short article is to express the author's noble sentiments of being indifferent, not being enslaved to material things, and being poor and happy through the description and praise of the humble house. It reflects his noble and solemn character who does not admire wealth and does not collude with the powerful.
Classic verses
The main sentence of this article: This is a humble house, but I am virtuous. Zhuge Luzi's Yunting reflects the quiet environment of the humble room: the moss marks are green on the steps, and the grass is green on the curtains.
Sentences that reflect the author's elegance in communication: There are great scholars in talking and laughing, and there are no idle people in communication.
Sentences that reflect the author’s interest in activities: You can tune the piano and read the Golden Scripture. There are no messy ears of silk and bamboo, and there is no laborious shape of case documents.
The author compares himself with famous ancient sages: Zhuge Lu in Nanyang, Yunting in Western Shu.
The finishing sentence in the whole text: Confucius said: What is so shameful? Don't forget the water in the small pond at that time. There may be a crouching dragon in the shallow place. The sentence with the same meaning is: "If the water is not deep, there will be a spirit if there is a dragon"