Original Letter from Ren An (Excerpt)
Taishi Gong Niu Ma left Sima Qian and said goodbye.
Shao Qing's first step: those who refuse to give books insult others, teach people to be careful about what they receive, and praise sages and scholars for their service. They are diligent, and if they expect their servants not to be teachers, they will listen to vulgar people. Servants must dare to do so. Although I stopped talking, I also tasted the legacy of the old man. Gu thinks that he is physically disabled and filthy, especially when he moves, and he wants to gain benefits, so he is depressed and has nothing to say. As the saying goes, "Who did it? What makes you listen? " Guy Zhong Ziqi died, and Boya never played the piano again. What is this? Scholars are bosom friends, and women are self-respecting. If the servant's quality has been lacking, although he obeys harmony materially, if it doesn't work, you can't be proud of it externally, but you can smile and nod.
Answer the words in the book. Huidong came from above and forced the base. When you meet someone who hates you, you are never tired. Today, Shao Qing is in trouble, involved in October, forcing winter, and his servants are in harmony, so he is afraid of death. It is the servant who can't let go of his anger at dawn, but the long-dead soul has endless personal hatred. Please remain humble in Chen Gu. Don't row without reporting.
The servant hears it, the self-cultivation is wise, the love is benevolent, the righteous is brave, and the famous is extremely good. Only when scholars have these five things can they be entrusted to the world and included in the forest of gentlemen. Therefore, it never rains but it pours. No arrogance, no rashness, no sorrow, no shame before ugliness, and more shame than castration. There are countless people at large, and they are never far away. Yesterday and Yong Qu Zai, Confucius adapted to Chen; Shang Yang was chilling because of his fine sword; The same child participated in the ride, and the silk changed color; It has been a shame since ancient times. A good man is a matter of official position, so it hurts. What a generous man! Although there are fewer Koreans now, how can we make the knife and saw recommend the world? Servants rely on their ancestors' career and have to be punished for more than 20 years. Therefore, self-reliance: on top of it, you can't be faithful, and you have a reputation for being resourceful and self-aware; Secondly, we can't fill vacancies, we can't recruit talents, and we can't show the people in the rock; In addition, you can't prepare military commanders to attack the city [field] and have the right to cut the flag; Next, you can't work hard for years, be respectful and generous to officials, and think that the clan makes friends with them. None of the four works, and obviously there is no short-term effect. The township doctor and the servant doctor also tasted the toilet and finally discussed it with the foreign hospital. I don't think about it at this time, but I have lost the appearance of a slave. I want to print my first letter to discuss right and wrong, which is not only contempt for the court, but also humiliation for the wicked in the world! Ha ha! Ha ha! If you are a servant, what can you say? What are you talking about?
And the end of the story is not clear. There are only a few servants, and the local accent has no reputation. Fortunately, their ancestors let them in and out of Zhou Wei. Servants think why they look up to the sky, so they never know what guests know, forget things at home, and think about exhausting their unscrupulous material strength day and night, trying to please their loved ones and flatter their masters. This is a big fallacy, otherwise. Fu Cha and Li Ling both live under the door. They are not in love with each other. They have different tastes and interests. They have never tasted wine or received hospitality. But the servant thinks he is a strange man, filial, trustworthy with scholars, honest financially and upright. He had to give in, be humble and frugal, and always think about the urgency of benefiting the country. Its stock has also accumulated, and I think it has the wind of a national scholar. Strangely, my wife and I ignored my life plan and went to public office. Today is a bad move, but ministers who spend their lives protecting their wives will be short-lived and their servants will be heartbroken. Moreover, Li Ling's foot soldiers were less than 5,000, and he lived in Wang Ting, where he was a teacher of hundreds of millions. He was killed by Khan Lien Chan for more than ten days. Lu did not heal the wounded and rescue the dying, but the ruler of Qiu was afraid of salty shock. He was told about the taxation of the wise king and the man who led the bow. A country attacked it and turned to fight thousands of miles. The vector is exhausted and the reinforcements have not arrived. The casualties of foot soldiers are like a product. However, when Li Ling called the army, all the soldiers could not afford it. They bowed and wept, drew blood and wept, lost their breath and killed each other in the north. Before the grave robbery was over, there was a report that Han Gongqing's vassals had been given a life. A few days later, the mausoleum was defeated by the book, and the king refused to eat it, so he listened. The minister was afraid and didn't know what to say. I didn't expect my servant to be humble, but I saw the sorrow of the Lord and I really wanted to help him. I thought that although Li Lingshu and the scholar-officials were famous in ancient times, they were extremely generous and could win people's right to die. Although he lost, but according to his intention, he wants to get what he deserves and report it to Han. There's nothing we can do. It has destroyed enough to make the world full of violence. Servants want to be honest, but they can't. When you are comfortable, you will be asked to ask questions, that is, you will use this to refer to Gong Ling, and you will want to fill in the words with Zhu Guang's meaning. Failing to make it clear, the wise master didn't know much, thinking that the servant was in the second division, but he was lobbying for Li Ling, so he went on to reason. The loyalty of boxing can't be listed by itself in the end, because if it is falsely accused, the chess pieces will be discussed by officials. If the family is poor, there is not enough money to redeem themselves, and it is impossible to save friends. Near left, near right is not a word. I am not a wooden stone, and I am deeply embarrassed to be alone with the judges. Who can tell me! Shao Qing saw this with his own eyes. Is the servant's behavior evil? Since Li Ling was born, there is sound at home, and the servants have turned into silkworm houses, which makes the world laugh. Sad husband! Sad husband!
It is not easy. This is a layman's word. Fu Dan's book, literary and historical ephemeris are almost between divination and blessing, which strengthens the teasing of the Lord, advocates the superiority of livestock and despises vulgarity. If a servant is punished, what's the difference between nine Niu Yi hairs? However, this world is not compared with people who can die. They think that lack of wisdom is a heinous crime and cannot be exempted from customs, so they will die. What is this? It is the result of self-establishment. People are inherently mortal, and death is heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather, so it is different. Don't humiliate yourself first, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, and finally, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, later, it will not be humiliated. It is said that "punishment is not a doctor", and this statement cannot be ignored. The tiger is in the deep mountains, and all animals are surprised. It wags its tail in the threshold for food, and the threat is increasing. Therefore, it is wrong for scholars to seek for prisons, and it is also wrong to log for officials. Today, making friends with brothers, suffering from wooden ropes, attacking flesh and blood, suffering from lists, living in the wall. When I see the jailer at this time, I will be worried. who is it? So is the trend of accumulating prestige. At this point, the so-called strong face is strong and expensive! And Xibo, Bo also, detained; Li Si, Xiang Ye, five punishments; Huaiyin, forced by Chen; Peng Yue and Zhang 'ao Nanxiang are orphans, and they are guilty of imprisonment. Crimson Hou Zhu Lu, right pour five bo, imprisoned in the room; General Stephy, also, took off his clothes; Ji Bu is a slave of Zhujiajian; Irrigate the husband's humiliating room. This person is all among the princes and princes, and he has heard about neighboring countries. His crimes are too numerous to mention, and he cannot attract his own wealth. In the dust, the ancient and the modern are integrated, and it does not disgrace the mission! From this point of view, courage and fear, potential also; Force, shape also. It's strange to judge! Besides, people can't get rid of money and ink, but it's just to attract festivals, so it's not far away! Almost for this reason, ancient people severely punished doctors. My wife loves life and hates death. She misses her relatives and cares about her wife. If she dares to do what is right, she must do it. Unfortunately, this servant has lost two relatives, no brothers' relatives, and he is single and isolated. How can Shao Qing take his servant as his wife? And the brave don't have to die, and there is nothing to be ashamed of! Although servants are afraid of living, they are quite aware of the difference between going and not going. How can he be ashamed of himself? What's more, the husband and wife can make decisions, if the servant has to! Therefore, those people who linger on, believe in pollution, hate endless selfishness, are despicable, and have poor literary talent.
Ancient people were rich and famous, but they couldn't remember. Only extraordinary people say nothing. Gaspar was arrested and played in Zhouyi; Zhong Ni wrote Spring and Autumn Annals; Qu Yuan's exile is a tribute to Li Sao. Zuo Qiu is blind and has "Mandarin"; The ruler of the revised version of Sun Tzu's Art of War; It's not Shu, but Lu Lan. Han Fei imprisoned Qin, expressing embarrassment, loneliness and anger. There are 300 poems, which is also an angry move of great sages. This person has a sense of stagnation and can't understand it, so he tells the past and thinks about new people. And if Zuo Qiuming loses his eyes and his grandson breaks his foot, then he will never be able to play. He will retire from the book and think about it. Servants can't steal, almost self-sufficient, trapped in the old news of the world, test it, and investigate the reasons for its success or failure, from Xuanyuan to here. For ten tables, twelve biographies, eight chapters, thirty families, seventy biographies and one hundred and thirty articles, I also want to learn from the changes of ancient and modern times and become a family statement. If grass is not made, it will be a disaster, if it is not made, it will die, and if it is not democratic, it will be punished. Cheng, a courtier, wrote this book, a famous mountain in Tibet, and it spread to people all over the city, so the courtier will pay the responsibility of humiliation before. Although he was killed, do you have any regrets? However, this can be said to the wise, but not to outsiders.
The negative is hard, dirty and slanderous. When a servant encounters this kind of disaster in spoken language, he smiles for his hardworking hometown and insults his ancestors. How can he go back to his parents' grave? Although always tired, but the dirt is very eye-catching! It is because the intestines go back nine times a day that you will suddenly die if you live in them, and you won't know what to do if you go out. Every time I think about my shame, I sweat profusely. I'd rather be a boudoir minister than lead myself to the evil of the cave! Therefore, we must float from the vulgar and keep pace with the times in order to get rid of its madness. Today, Shao Qing is preaching the teachings of sages and scholars, and the servant's private finger is not wrong. Although I want to carve a seal today, it is useless to explain myself, just insulting vulgar people. I want to die and then decide right or wrong. This book can't be the best, so it is a bit rough in Chen Gu. Goodbye.
Ren Anxin's Translation (Excerpt)
Taishi Gong Sima Qian once again worshipped Chen Yan in front of Shao Qing. Some time ago, you condescended to give me a letter, teaching me to be cautious and trying to recommend talents to the emperor. The letter is sincere, as if complaining that I didn't follow your advice, but took it as a rude word. I dare not do so. Please allow me to briefly state my humble opinion. I haven't replied for a long time. I hope I haven't seen the responsibility.
My ancestors didn't make meritorious deeds, and there was no Fu Dan book awarded by the emperor. It's just that Taishiling, who is in charge of the astronomical calendar of literature, history and witchcraft, has been teased by the lords, cultivated like musicians and actresses, and despised by the world. If I plead guilty and get killed, it's like nine cows losing a dime. What's the difference between it and the death of moles and ants? And the world will not treat me equally with those who died for upholding integrity, but think that I have been exhausted in wisdom and thinking, and I can't escape sin, and finally I will go to a dead end. Why? Su Ping's own position gives people this view. People always die, some people die heavier than Mount Tai, and some people die lighter than a feather, because they pursue different things. The most important thing (as an individual) is not to humiliate one's ancestors, secondly not to humiliate oneself, secondly not to humiliate others' faces, secondly not to humiliate others' words, secondly to bend over and kneel down, secondly to put on the clothes of sinners, secondly to put on instruments of torture and be beaten to death with a stick, secondly to shave off one's hair, tie a chain around one's neck, and secondly to humiliate one's skin and cut off one's limbs. The Book of Rites says, "Punishment cannot be imposed on doctors." This means that as a scholar, you have to encourage yourself in moral integrity.
The tiger is in the deep mountains, which is enough to scare off all animals. Once you are put in a cage and fall into a pit, you wag your tail to eat, which is gradually caused by long-term deterrence and control. Therefore, there are such scholars who are unwilling to go in according to the situation even if they draw a circle on the ground as a prison; Even if Woodenhead was cut as a jailer, he would not answer with him because he was determined to commit suicide before being humiliated. If (a person) is tied hands and feet, put on instruments of torture, exposed skin, whipped and confined in prison, he will kowtow when he sees the jailer, and he will not dare to gasp when he sees the jailer. Why? The modality gradually caused by long-term deterrence and control of him. At this point, it is shameless to say that you have not been insulted. How can we get respect? Besides, Xibo is the leader of the governors in the western regions, but he is imprisoned. Reese was the prime minister and died in five sentences. Huaiyin Hou was named king of Chu, but he put instruments of torture on Chen; Peng Yue and Zhang Ao were both kings facing south, but they were both arrested and imprisoned. Zhou Bo, the marquis of crimson, destroyed Zhu Lu, a rebel who was worse than the five tyrants in the Spring and Autumn Period, but was imprisoned in the invitation room. Wei Qihou is a general, but he wears ochre prison clothes, wooden shackles, handcuffs and anklets; Ji Bu shaved his hair and sold it to Zhujiajian Island as a slave around his neck. The irrigator was humiliated in the living room. These people are all princes and princes, and they are very famous in neighboring countries. When they commit crimes, they can't make up their minds to commit suicide. As a result, they were imprisoned in prison. As always, where can I not be humiliated?
It can be seen that the strength of courage is determined by the situation. The reason is clear. What else is surprising? A person can't commit suicide before being punished by law, so his will gradually declines and he is depressed. When he was punished by the staff, it was too late to plan to die for honor. This is probably why the ancients did not punish doctors easily.
According to human nature, no one is not afraid of death and cares about his parents, wife and children. As for those who are inspired by righteousness, it is not the case. This is because it is necessary. Today, I am unlucky. My parents died young, and I have no relatives like brothers. I am alone, isolated from the world. What do you think of my wife and children, Shao Qing? Besides, brave people don't necessarily die for chastity. If a coward advocates chastity, under what circumstances can't he encourage himself (commit suicide)? Although I am timid, I want to live, and I know a little about risking my life and forgetting my death. Why should I be put in prison? Even domestic slaves, maids and concubines can commit suicide, not to mention that I am forced to do so. The reason why I struggled to live without revealing my true feelings and was locked up in a filthy prison without dying is because I regret that my wish has not been fully realized. If I end my life idle, my articles and writings will not be shown to future generations.
In ancient times, there were so many rich and noble people who were unknown, too many to count. Only outstanding people are praised by future generations. Zhou Wenwang was detained and went to Zhouyi for sixty-four hexagrams; Zhong Ni suffered all his life and wrote Chunqiu. Qu Yuan was exiled before he wrote Li Sao. When Zuo Qiuming was blind, he wrote Mandarin. Sun Tzu's kneecap was amputated, and Sun Tzu's art of war was compiled. Lv Buwei was exiled to Shu, and Lu Lan spread to later generations. Han Fei was imprisoned in the State of Qin and wrote Difficult Talks and Lonely Anger. Three hundred poems, mostly written by sages, express inner worries. These people are depressed and unable to realize their wishes, so they look back and hope that future people will understand their wishes. As for Zuo Qiu's blindness and Sun Bin's broken foot, he can no longer be reused, so he retired to write a book to express his inner resentment, hoping that the article could be passed down to future generations and his mind could be expressed.
I am not humble. In recent years, with the help of poor diction, I have collected lost historical documents scattered around the world, roughly researched the historical facts of predecessors' actions, combined them, explained the background of the facts, and investigated the laws of their success or failure. Since the Yellow Emperor, I have written ten tables, twelve biographies, eight books, thirty aristocratic families and seventy biographies. It is also intended to explore the relationship between nature and human society, understand the changes from ancient times to the present, and form a family statement. The drafting hasn't been finished yet, because of Li Ling's misfortune. I'm sorry that the book was not finished, so I was severely punished without expressing resentment. If I can really write this book, hide it in a famous mountain, pass it on to people who can understand me, and spread it widely in the copper capital of Dayi, then I will repay the humiliating debt, even if I am killed 10 thousand times, what regret is there? However, these can only be talked with sensible people, but it is difficult to talk with secular people.
Besides, I have a bad reputation of being punished for crimes, and it is not easy to get along with people in society. People with low status are often criticized and laughed at. I suffered this disaster because of my speech, and even was laughed at by my neighbors. So that I humiliated my ancestors, how can I face my parents' graves again? Even if it lasts forever, the shame will only get deeper and deeper. So there is deep sorrow and pain in your heart and intestines, and you are in a trance at home. I lost something and didn't even know where to go when I went out. Whenever I think of the humiliation I have suffered, cold sweat always runs down my back and wets my clothes. I'm just a courtier. Can I live in seclusion in the mountains? So (I can only) temporarily coexist with the secular and the status quo, and express my inner grief and contradiction (by writing a book). Now Shao Qing teaches me to recommend sages and scholars. I'm afraid it's against my personal idea. Now, even if I want to whitewash myself with the actions and rhetoric of recommending sages and scholars, it's useless. I won't get secular trust, and I will only be in bring disgrace to oneself. In short, right or wrong can only be determined after death. This letter can't express my thoughts in detail, but simply express my superficial views. Goodbye.
Appreciation of Ren An's Letter (Excerpt)
Bao Ren An Shu is the first lyric long letter in the history of China classical literature, which is extremely rich in content. Sima Qian explained to Ren An why he couldn't believe it, why defending Li Ling angered Liang Wudi, why he was willing to accept castration, and what belief supported him to live tenaciously after castration.
From "the ancients lost their fame because they were rich" to "Shu Ren is hard to say", this paper further explains the reasons why they lived silently after being corrupted, so as to make up for the shortcomings of historical records. Can be divided into two layers. The first layer, from "the ancients lost their fame because they were rich" to "thinking empty words to see themselves", lists the examples of "discussing books to solve the problem" after the humiliation of the praised "strange man" in ancient times. The second layer introduces the style and purpose of Historical Records, explaining that he was "extremely punished but not sad" in order to complete Historical Records.
The diversification of rhetorical devices enriches the connotation of emotional expression. For example, the following eight overlapping sentences in King Gavin's Detention and Performance Zhouyi actually imply eight groups of contrasts, which are dual at the same time. Combined with parallelism, it not only shows the understanding of the phenomenon that outstanding people in history have worked hard after hardships, but also shows their strong will to follow their example, make progress and achieve great achievements. Magnificent momentum, people want to sigh.
The book Bao Ren An Shu is far-sighted, eloquent, generous and incisive, and it is a passionate and touching work. Among them, narration, discussion, lyricism and ambition are intertwined. With unusually rich, strong and unrestrained thoughts and feelings, the article has formed a magnificent momentum that is unparalleled throughout the ages. Sima Qian's lofty life belief and dedication to Historical Records have profound enlightenment and educational value.
Brief Introduction to the Author of Report on Ren Anshu (Excerpt)
This article is Sima Qian's reply to Ren An. Ren An, a friend of Sima Qian's, once wrote to Sima Qian in prison, asking him to use his position as a secretariat to "recommend sages as scholars". Sima Qian answered this letter to him.
As for the time of Bao Ren's writing, modern scholars Wang Guowei, Zheng and others believe that it was November in the fourth year of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (93 years ago) and Sima Qian was 53 years old. Since Wang Guowei's statement was put forward, Sima Qian's chronicle believed this statement, and Wang Guowei's Bao Shu was also adopted as the statement of four years of Taishi in Selected Works of China Literature, Selected Works of China Literature in Sui Dynasty and Selected Works of China Ancient Literature in Shanxi University. In addition, Zhang Weixiang believed that the Application for Ren An was written in February of Zheng He's third year (90 years before).