"Encouraging Learning"
Yan Zhenqing of the Tang Dynasty
The lights are on at three o'clock and the chickens are on at five o'clock,
It is when men are studying.
Black-haired people do not know how to study diligently early,
White-haired people regret studying late.
Notes
⑴Update: In ancient times, the unit for calculating time at night was divided into five updates a night, with each update lasting two hours. There are three updates from 11:00 to 1:00 midnight. Rooster at dawn: The rooster crows at dawn.
⑵Black hair: youth, refers to a teenager.
⑶White head: The hair is white, which refers to old age. Fang: Talent.
Translation
The best time for boys to study is between midnight and the time when the rooster crows. When I was young, I only knew how to play and didn't know how to study hard. When I get older, I regret why I didn't know how to study hard when I was young.
Appreciation: ,
The word “persuasion” in “Encourage Learning” plays a leading role in the entire article. "Persuasion" is interpreted as "encouragement". In this poem titled "Encouraging Learning", the author encourages people to continue to study. Only in this way can they increase their knowledge, develop their talents, and cultivate noble moral character.
"The lights are on at the third watch and the chicken is on the fifth watch" means that hard-working people and diligent students are still working and studying in the middle of the night. The lights are still on at the third watch, and they turn off the lights and lie down for a short rest. , the rooster crows at the fifth watch, and these hard-working people have to get up and get busy again. The first sentence uses an objective phenomenon to write that it is early, which leads to the second sentence of studying diligently and getting up early. The second sentence supplements the first sentence and expresses that young people should study day and night. Only by studying hard can they serve their family and country and make contributions.
The third and fourth sentences are about not studying well when you are young, and when you are older, it is too late to learn. The words "black hair" and "white head" in the sentence are metonymic, referring to youth and old age. Through the method of comparison, it is emphasized that reading and learning should be done as early as possible, and not only when you are old and regret it. From a structural point of view, the third and fourth sentences are dual sentences. "Black hair" and "white head" echo and set off each other, leaving a deep impression on the readers.
This poem explains the profound things in a simple way, is natural and smooth, and is rich in philosophy. The core idea is that "black haired people study early, white haired people study late". As an ambitious person, you must seize the time to study, study and cultivate your character. The best time to study is between three and five o'clock, and read in the morning. And only by persevering hard year after month, can you truly learn the skills to serve the country and build a family. . From the perspective of study time, young people are advised not to waste their time, but to study hard as early as possible to avoid regrets in the future. The poet conceived from the perspective of the meaning, role and attitude of learning, and hoped that people would pay attention to acquired learning in order to strengthen their own behavioral cultivation.
About the author:
Yan Zhenqing (709-August 23, 784), courtesy name Qingchen, nicknamed Xianmenzi, nicknamed Yingfang, was born in Jingzhao Wannian (now Xi'an, Shaanxi), his ancestral home is Langya Linyi (now Linyi, Shandong), the fifth descendant of Yan Shigu [2] and the younger brother of Yan Gaoqing, a famous official and outstanding calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty.
In the 22nd year of Kaiyuan (734), Yan Zhenqing ascended to the rank of Jinshi. He was appointed as the supervisory censor four times and moved to the palace to serve as the censor. Because he was rejected by the powerful minister Yang Guozhong, he was demoted to the prefect of Pingyuan and was known as "Yan Pingyuan". During the Anshi Rebellion. Rebels versus rebels. After Suzong of the Tang Dynasty came to the throne, he paid homage to the minister of the Ministry of Industry and the imperial censor to recruit envoys for Hebei. When he arrived at Fengxiang, he was awarded the title of Minister of the Ministry of Constitution, and later moved to the imperial censor. During the Tang Dynasty, he became the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, the Crown Prince and the Grand Master, and was granted the title of Duke of Lu County, and was known as "Gong Yan Lu". In the first year of Xingyuan (784), he was framed by Prime Minister Lu Qi and sent to the rebel general Li Xilie's ministry to inform him. He sternly resisted the thieves and was eventually hanged.
Yan Zhenqing has exquisite calligraphy and is good at running and regular script. He created the "Yan style" regular script and is known as the "Four Masters of Regular Script" together with Zhao Mengfu, Liu Gongquan and Ouyang Xun. It is also called "Yan Liu" together with Liu Gongquan, and is also known as "Yan Jin Liu Gu". He was good at poetry and prose, and had many works, including "Yunhai Jingyuan", "Liyue Collection", "Wuxing Collection", "Luling Collection" and "Linchuan Collection", all of which are lost. The Song Dynasty people compiled "Yan Lu Gong Ji".