Original poem
My retreat in Zhongnanshan
Author Wang Wei, Tang Dynasty
After middle age, I have a strong kind heart, and I didn't settle down at the edge of Mount Zhongnan until my later years.
Come and go alone, in beauty, that is everything to me.
Sometimes go to the end of the water to seek the source, or sit and watch the ever-changing clouds rise.
Occasionally I met a village elder in the Woods, and I chatted with him until I often forgot to go home.
translate
After middle age, I had a strong desire to do good, and I didn't settle down in the border of Zhongnanshan until my later years. When I am interested, I often go to play alone. When I am happy, I also have a good time and indulge myself. Sometimes go to the end of the water to seek the source, or sit and watch the rising clouds change. I happened to meet a village elder in the Woods. I talked and laughed with him and often forgot to go home.
To annotate ...
(1) Middle age: Middle age. Hao: Preference. Tao: This refers to Buddhism.
(2) home: settle down. Nanshan: That's Zhong Nanshan. Chuí: edge, side and boundary; Nanshan Yellow refers to the location of Wangchuan Villa, which means the foot of Zhong Nanshan Mountain.
(3) victory: a good thing.
(4) Value: Encountered. Sao (ǒ u): An old man.
(5) Non-return period: there is no exact return time.
Make an appreciative comment
The first two sentences: "My middle-aged heart found its way, and I came to live at the foot of this mountain." Narrative poets abhor secularism and believe in Buddhism after middle age. "Late" is old age; "Nanshan Huang" refers to the location. This was originally a villa in Song Dynasty. After Wang Wei got this place, he was completely intoxicated by the beautiful and peaceful rural scenery there. In his letter "Dishes in the Mountains and Pei Xiucai", he said: "Warming up the classics under your feet, don't bother. I went to the mountain, rested in the temple and left with the monks. North involves Xuanba, and the bright moon reflects Guo; In the night, on Hua's body, you can see the ripples at the water's edge, the water waves are up or down, and the moonlight is rippling with the waves in the water. The cold mountain is far from the fire, and the forest is destroyed; Cold dogs in deep alleys bark like leopards; There was a flood of rice in the village, and the scattered bells staggered. At this time, I was sitting alone and the servants were silent. Think about it before and after, work together to write poetry, and walk slowly and steadily. "
This description can explain the leisurely feelings revealed in the second couplet of the poem, "Every lonely person is happy, and what is beautiful is everything to me". The last sentence "going alone" shows the poet's high spirits; The next sentence "self-knowledge" describes the poet's pleasure in enjoying the beautiful scenery. There are not many people who share the same interests with the poet. When his interest comes, he can only visit alone, enjoy the scenery and enjoy himself. If there is income everywhere, he knows it is in Dont Ask For Help, but he only wants to be interested.
Third, that is to say, "self-knowledge." "I'll walk until the water stops me" means to walk casually and go wherever you want, but before you know it, you come to the end of the running water and see no way out, so you sit down on the spot.
"Then sit and watch the clouds rising in Ran Ran" is an extreme expression of carefree mood. Clouds give people a sense of leisure, but also give people an unintentional impression, which is why Tao Qian said that "clouds come out of holes unintentionally" (see "going home"). Through the description of this line, arriving and sitting, the poet's leisure at this time is fully revealed. These two sentences were deeply appreciated by later poets. Yu Biyun, a close friend, said, "If you reach the end of your journey and look at Yun Qi, you will see endless wonders. Only then can you realize that the things in life are infinite and the meaning of learning is infinite. These two sentences have a wonderful effect. " This is very insightful. From an artistic point of view, these two poems are paintings in poems, and naturally they are a landscape painting. Xuanhe Huapu pointed out: "I will walk until the water checks my path, and then sit and watch the rising clouds and clouds. When I look back, behind me, the fog, when I enter them, disappears and so on, with their syntax, are all paintings."
Wang Wei's poems and paintings are full of Zen, and he is known as "Shi Fo" in the history of literature. What do his two words mean, "I will walk until the water blocks my way, and then sit and watch the rising clouds" and "water poverty"? Climbing up, the stream finally disappeared. One possibility is that it is the birthplace of mountain springs hidden under the surface. Another possibility is the stream where the rain dries up. The climber kept walking until the water disappeared, so he just sat down and looked at the clouds rising on the mountain. It turns out that water turns into clouds, and clouds can turn into rain. There will be water in the mountain stream, so why despair?
So is the realm of life. In the course of life, no matter running love, career, study, etc. I went forward bravely, but later I found that it was a dead end, and the sadness and loss at the end of the road would inevitably appear. At this time, you might as well look aside or back, maybe there is another way to other places; Even if there is no way out, look at the sky! Although the body is desperate, the mind can still travel in space, enjoy nature freely and happily, and experience the broad and far-reaching realm of life without feeling the end of the road.
This sentence has two artistic conceptions. First, don't be disappointed when you are desperate, because that is the beginning of hope; The water in the mountains is due to rain, and a cloud means that the water is coming soon. Another realm is that it doesn't matter if it doesn't rain now, it will rain one day. The process from water poverty to cloud to rain is like a person encountering great difficulties in the process of spiritual practice, including physical obstacles, psychological obstacles and environmental obstacles. If you give up because of this, you should return your thoughts to the angle of starting your heart. The first initiation is the time to initiate bodhicitta. At the beginning, I had nothing, and I didn't understand the methods and concepts of practice. Look back at the situation then and look at the present. Didn't you walk a long way? So don't be disappointed and don't give up. This situation can also happen at every stage of life. If we look at it in this poetic context, there will be a road everywhere.
The last couplet: "One day, I met an old woodcutter, laughing and laughing, and never came back." Highlighted the word "accidental". In fact, it was not only by accident that I met this Chaucer, but also by accident that I traveled. "I will keep walking until the water blocks my way" is another accident. The word "accident" runs through the top and bottom, becoming a major feature of this trip. And because there are accidents everywhere, there are "unintentional encounters" everywhere, which show the leisure in the heart, such as the free flight of clouds and the free flow of running water. It is of great significance for readers to understand Wang Wei's thoughts to write the poet's indifferent and detached style.
This poem does not depict the specific scenery of mountains and rivers, but focuses on expressing the carefree mood of the poet when he lives in seclusion in the mountains. The first six sentences of the poem are natural and quiet, and the poet's image is like an out-of-touch master. He doesn't care about the world and regards mountains as heaven. You can enjoy the beauty of nature anytime and anywhere without deliberately exploring secluded places. The last two sentences introduce people's activities, bring life breath, and the poet's image is more amiable.
Creation background
This poem was written by Wang Wei in his later years, after the first year of Gan Yuan, Tang Suzong (758). In his later years, Wang Wei's position was not small. In fact, due to the repeated changes in the political situation, he has seen the danger of his career and wants to get rid of this disturbing world. He fasted and worshipped Buddha, carefree. After about forty years old, he began to live a secluded life.
Brief introduction of the author
Wang Wei, a poet in Tang Dynasty. The word stroke. His father was originally from Qi (now Shanxi) and later moved to Yongji West, Shanxi, becoming a Hedong native. Kaiyuan (year number of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Dynasty, 713-741) was a scholar. Tired officials give things. An Lushan rebels were hired when they were trapped in Chang 'an. After the chaos, they were demoted to Prince Zhongyun. After the official to ministers right cheng, so also known as Wang Youcheng. In his later years, he lived in Wangchuan, Lantian, and lived an honest and secluded life. Poetry is as famous as Meng Haoran and is called "Wang Meng". In the early stage, I wrote some frontier poems, but the most important one was landscape poems, which promoted hermit life and Buddhism through the description of pastoral landscapes. Exquisite objects, vivid descriptions and unique achievements. He is also proficient in music, painting and calligraphy. This is Wang Youcheng.