This article was written in the sixth year of Qingli (1046). Fan Zhongyan lived in the era of internal and external troubles in the Northern Song Dynasty. Internal class conflicts became increasingly prominent, and externally the Khitan and Xixia were eyeing him. In order to consolidate power and improve this situation, the political group headed by Fan Zhongyan began to carry out reforms, which later generations called the "Qingli New Deal."
However, the reform offended the interests of the conservatives of the feudal big landlord class and was strongly opposed by them. The emperor's determination to reform was not firm. Under the pressure of the conservative bureaucracy headed by the Queen Mother, the reform ended in failure.
After the failure of the "Qingli New Deal", Fan Zhongyan offended Prime Minister Lu Yijian, and Fan Zhongyan was demoted to Dengzhou, Henan. This article was written in Dengzhou, not Yueyang Tower.
According to the custom of people in the Song Dynasty, when writing articles such as "notes" and prose, one does not necessarily have to be in the place. The main purpose is to record things, describe scenes, and remember people through such articles to express the author's feelings. To express feelings or opinions through scenes, express one's ambitions through objects.
In ancient times, when inviting people to take notes, they usually attached a sample of what was being recorded, that is, a picture scroll or related documents, for reference by the person taking notes. Although Teng Zijing was demoted to Yuezhou, he completed three political achievements during his tenure, hoping to gain the court's understanding.
The reconstruction of Yueyang Tower is one of them, which was completed in the fifth year of Qingli (1045). In order to increase the popularity of his political achievements, Teng Zijing gave Fan Zhongyan "Dongting Late Autumn Picture" and asked him to write two records, one is "Yueyang Tower" and the other is "Yanhong Diji". The content described in "The Story of Yueyang Tower" can be found in real objects, but there is no trace in "The Story of Yanhongdi".
However, in "The Story of Yanhongdi", Fan Zhongyan also described Yanhongdi in a detailed and detailed manner, which is no less impressive than Yueyang Tower. Therefore, it triggered a controversy among a few scholars about whether Fan Zhongyan had been to Yueyang Tower when he wrote "Yueyang Tower".
Extended information:
Original text of Yueyang Tower
Song Dynasty: Fan Zhongyan
In the spring of the fourth year of Qingli, Teng Zijing was relegated to Baling County. In the next year, the government will be harmonious and people will be harmonious, and everything will be prosperous. Then the Yueyang Tower was rebuilt, its old structure was added, and poems by Tang Xian and modern people were engraved on it. It belongs to me to write down to record it. (Gu Tong: Ju)
I watched my husband Baling Shengsheng in a lake in Dongting. It carries distant mountains and swallows up the Yangtze River, which is a vast and boundless river. The sun shines brightly in the evening, and the scenery is endless. This is the grand view of Yueyang Tower, which has been described by predecessors. However, it is connected to Wu Gorge in the north and Xiaoxiang in the South Pole. Many immigrants and poets will come here, and the feeling of looking at the things is the same.
If the rain is falling, the moon is not open, the wind is howling, and the turbid waves are emptying. ; The sun and stars are shining faintly, and the mountains are hidden; the business trip cannot be carried out, and the rafts are toppled and destroyed; the dusk is dim, and the tigers roar and the apes crow. When climbing the tower, there are those who are nostalgic for their country, worried about slander and fear of ridicule, their eyes are full of desolation, and they feel extremely sad. (Yin Yao's first work: Yin Yao; Xin Yu Tong: Fei Yu)
As if spring and the scenery are bright, the waves are calm, the sky above and below is bright, a vast expanse of blue; sand gulls gather, brocade scales swim, and the shore is full of orchids. , lush and green. Or when the long smoke disappears, the bright moon shines thousands of miles away, the floating light leaps into the gold, the silent shadow sinks into the jade, and the fishermen answer each other's songs, how wonderful is this joy! When you climb the tower, you will feel relaxed and happy, forgetting your favors and disgrace together, drinking wine in the wind, and you will be overjoyed.
Sigh! I try to seek the benevolent heart of the ancients, or do it differently from the two, why? Don't be happy with things, don't be sad with yourself; if you live high in a temple, you worry about its people; if you live far away in the rivers and lakes, you worry about your king. It means that you are worried when you advance, and you are also worried when you retreat. But when will you be happy? It must be said: "Be worried about the world's worries first, and be happy after the world's happiness." Alas! People from Weisi, who can I return to?
It was September 15th, six years ago.
Translation:
In the spring of the fourth year of Qingli, Teng Zijing was demoted to Baling County as the prefect. In the second year, political affairs went smoothly, the people were happy, and all kinds of neglected projects were started. So the Yueyang Tower was rebuilt, expanded to its original size, and poems and poems by famous Tang Dynasty figures and contemporary people were engraved on it. I was asked to write an article to describe this incident.
I saw the beautiful scenery of Baling County, all on Dongting Lake. It connects the mountains in the distance and handles the water of the Yangtze River. It is vast and boundless. It can be cloudy or sunny throughout the day, and the weather is ever-changing. This is the majestic scene of Yueyang Tower. The previous accounts are (already) very detailed.
Nonetheless, it leads to the Wu Gorge in the north and to the Xiaoshui and Xiangshui rivers in the south. Most of the demoted officials and visiting poets gather here, (they) are triggered by watching the natural scenery. The feelings will probably be different, right?
Like the continuous rain, which does not clear up for several months, the cold wind roars, and the turbid waves rush into the sky; the sun and stars hide their brilliance, and the mountains disappear into shape; businessmen and travelers (first translation: 行商) and merchants) could not pass, the masts of the ships fell down, and the oars were broken.
The sky is dark in the evening, tigers are roaring, and apes are crying. When you climb up this building, you will feel like leaving the capital, missing your hometown, worrying about others saying bad things, and fearing criticism. Accusations, eyes full of depressing scenes, feelings of extreme sadness.
When the spring breeze is warm and the sun is shining, the lake surface is calm and there are no stormy waves. The sky and lake light are connected, and it is green and vast. The gulls on the sandbank sometimes fly and sometimes stop, and beautiful fish swim by. Swimming away, the herbs on the shore and the orchids on the islet are lush and green.
Sometimes the large smoke dissipates completely, the bright moonlight pours out thousands of miles, the fluctuating light shines golden, the quiet moon image sinks into the water, and the fisherman’s song rings out between you and me, this is The fun is endless! (At this time) When you climb this building, you will feel open-minded and happy. You will forget the glory and humiliation. Holding the wine glass and blowing the breeze, you will be really happy.
Alas! I once explored the thoughts and feelings of people with noble moral character in ancient times. They may be different from the moods of the two people (above). Why is this? (Because) one does not feel happy or sad based on the quality of external objects and one's own gains and losses.
When I am an official in the court, I worry about the people; when I am not an official in the world, I worry about the monarch. In this way, I am worried about being an official in the imperial court, and I am also worried about being in a remote world.
In this case, when will they feel happy? They will definitely say: "Be worried before the world is worried, and be happy after the world is happy." well! Without such people, who should I go with?
Written on September 15th, the sixth year of Qingli.