Fu emphasizes literary grace and rhythm, and has the qualities of poetry and prose. It is characterized by "the collection of prose and the use of objects to describe aspirations", focusing on describing scenes and expressing emotions through scenes. This is what I recommend to everyone to appreciate Dongfang Shuo's "An Answer to a Guest". Let's take a look.
, the benefits will be passed down to future generations. Today’s officials practice the skills of the previous kings, admire the righteousness of the saints, and recite the words of hundreds of poems and books, which are incomparable, and they are written on bamboo and silk; You understand very well; you think you are unparalleled in the world, and you can be said to be knowledgeable and wise. However, you have devoted yourself to serving the Holy Emperor for decades, and your official position is no more than a minister, and your position is no more than a halberd. What's the reason for this?"
Mr. Dongfang sighed, looked up and said, "That's why I can't do it at this time. At this time, how can it be the same? During the time of Su Qin and Zhang Yi, the Zhou Dynasty was in great trouble. The princes were not in power, fighting for power, and fighting for power. They formed twelve kingdoms. There were no male and female soldiers who were strong. If you die, you will be able to do it. If you are in an honorable position, you will be filled with treasures inside, and you will have treasures outside, and your descendants will enjoy it forever. This is not the case today. When you think about it outside, you are content with covering the bowl; the world is equal and is one family, moving and doing things is like the palm of luck. How can there be any difference between the virtuous and the unworthy? Follow the way of heaven and follow the laws of the earth, and nothing will be out of place; so Sui. If you use it, you will be safe, if you move it, you will suffer; if you respect it, you will be a general, if you humble it, you will be a prisoner; if you resist, you will be above the blue clouds, if you suppress it, you will be below the abyss; if you use it, you will be a tiger, if you don't use it, you will be a rat; although you will be exhausted The world is so vast, and so many scholars and people are trying their best to talk about it, and there are countless people who work hard to achieve it. They are trapped in food and clothing, and may lose their homes. And living in this world, there has never been a story, how dare you look at the minister! It is said: "There is no harm in the world, although there are saints, they have no talents; if the superiors and inferiors are harmonious, although there are sages, they have no merits." Therefore, it is said. : Times change and things change.
"Although, it’s okay not to cultivate yourself! "Poetry" says: "Drums and bells are heard in the palace, and the sound is heard outside." ’ ‘The crane’s cry is heard in the sky. If you can cultivate yourself, there is no need to be disgraced! Taigong's body is benevolent and righteous, and there are two out of seventy, but it is used in civil and military affairs, and it is believed to be true. Feng Yuqi, seven hundred years old. This scholar is prolific day and night, cultivates knowledge and practices quickly, and does not dare to be lazy. It's like a wagtail, flying and singing. It is said: "Heaven does not stop its winter because of man's aversion to cold; the earth does not stop its breadth because of man's danger; a gentleman does not change his course because of the evil of villains." ’ ‘Heaven has its constant state, the earth has its constant shape, and a gentleman has his constant conduct; a gentleman’s way is constant, and a villain’s merit is calculated. "The poem goes: 'If etiquette and justice are not wrong, how can we be compassionate to others?' When the water is clear, there will be no fish, and when people observe it, there will be no disciples; the crown is with a bow in front, so it obscures the light; the hair is deaf, so it blocks the intelligence. It is the righteousness of knowing something but not seeing it, being wise but not hearing it, promoting great virtues, and pardoning small faults. It is the righteousness of one person to be honest in vain, so that he can get it; to be good and gentle, so that he can seek it; to forgive it. , so that you can find it yourself. The teachings of the saints are like this, and if you want to get it by yourself, you will be quick and broad.
"In this world, even if you don't use it, you will still have no disciples, and you will live alone." Observe Mount Xu from the top, inspect the public servants from the bottom, follow Fan Li in planning, and be loyal to Zixu. Peace in the world means supporting each other with righteousness. It is appropriate to be widowed and have few disciples. Why do you doubt Yu Zai? If the Yan Dynasty uses Le Yi, the Qin Dynasty appoints Li Si, and Li Shi feeds his subordinates, saying that the movement is like a stream, and the curves are like a ring; whatever you want will be obtained, and the achievements are like mountains and mountains; the sea will be stable, and the country will be safe; this is what happens at the right time. , why should I blame you? As the saying goes: "Use a pipe to peer into the sky, use a ligament to measure the sea, and use a banquet to ring the bell." How can we understand its meaning, examine its literature and science, and pronounce its sounds? Still looking at it, it's like a shrew attacking a dog, or a dolphin attacking a tiger, and then it's all over the place, so what's the point? Now the following is a fool and not a wise man. Although he wants to avoid being trapped, he has no choice but to do so. This is enough to show that he does not know how to adapt and is finally confused by the great road. "
Translation
Some people questioned Dongfang Shuo: "Once Su Qin and Zhang Yi meet the Lord of Wancheng, they will be able to occupy the position of prime minister and benefit future generations. Now you practice the art of the ancient kings, admire the righteousness of the saints, and recite the "Book of Songs", "Shangshu", and countless classics from hundreds of schools of thought. They even write them on bamboo and silk, so that their lips become rotten and their teeth fall off. They are so familiar that they cannot be forgotten. The effect of being eager to learn and enjoy Taoism is very obvious; thinking that one's intelligence is unparalleled in the world can be said to be well-informed and strong in debate. However, he tried his best to serve the wise monarch for a long time, but the result was that he was no longer a minister, and his position was no more than a halberd. , I'm afraid there is still some shortcomings in moral character, right? Even my brothers have no place to live. What's the reason?" Dongfang Shuo sighed, raised his head and responded: "This is not something you can fully understand at this time. , how can we generalize? Think about the era when Su Qin and Zhang Yi lived. The Zhou Dynasty was in decline, the princes were not in power, fighting for power, fighting each other, and merged into twelve kingdoms. It was difficult to distinguish between male and female. Therefore, the trend of lobbying is prevalent in the world. They are in an honorable position, filled with treasures inside, and have granaries outside, which will benefit future generations, and their descendants will enjoy it forever. This is not the case today: the virtues of the Holy Lord spread, the world is shocked, and the princes are connected all over the world. Like a belt, the world is as stable as an upturned spittoon. Every move is under control. How to distinguish the virtuous and the unworthy? Follow the way of heaven and follow the laws of the earth, so comfort him and give him peace. Just painful.
If you respect him, you can become a general, if you despise him, you can become a prisoner. To promote him is above the blue clouds, but to suppress him is below the deep springs. If you use him, you will be a tiger; if you don't use him, you will be a mouse. Although ministers want to serve loyally, how do they know when to advance or retreat? The world is vast and there are many scholars. People who try their best to lobby are like the spokes of a wheel gathering on the axle. They are too numerous to count. They are trapped in food and clothing and cannot find a way to advance. Even if Su Qin, Zhang Yi and I existed together in this world, we would not be able to become a small official like the storyteller. Do we still dare to expect to become a minister? So things change at different times.
Even so, how can we not strengthen our own cultivation? "The Book of Songs" says: "The sound of bells ringing indoors is heard outside, and the sound of cranes is heard on the high ground, and the sound is heard in the sky. If you can really cultivate yourself, why not be glory! Jiang Ziya practices benevolence and righteousness. At the age of seventy-two, he saw the use of literature and martial arts. The second king was finally able to practice his teachings and was granted the title of Qi. He continued to worship for seven hundred years. This is why the scholars worked tirelessly day and night and did not dare to slack off. Tweet. "Zuo Zhuan" said: God will not disappear because of people's fear of cold, and the earth will not stop its vastness because of people's aversion to danger. A gentleman will not change his character because of the noise of villains. The earth has its constant shape, and the gentleman has his own conduct. The Book of Songs says: If there is no fault in etiquette, why should we care about people's opinions? There is no disciple. There is a jade in front of the crown, which is used to block the sight. The silk cotton is used to plug the ears. It is to weaken the hearing. If the eyesight is sharp, there is something missing, and the hearing is sensitive, but there is something missing. To seek perfection from others, you should let them straighten themselves out. If they want to be relaxed and gentle, they should seek it out on their own. This is probably the teaching of saints. You have to work hard to get it; after you get it, you will be smart and broad.
The wise men today are so talented and have no friends, they live alone. Xu. When the world is at peace, it is natural for people to join forces with few friends, so why should you doubt me? As for Yan, I appointed Le Yi as my general, Qin appointed Li Si as my prime minister, and Li Shi. It is said that if you surrender to the King of Qi, your lobbying is like running water, and receiving advice is like turning a ring, you will get what you want, and your achievements will be like high mountains. The country will be stable, so why should you be surprised that they are in good times? If you use a tube to peer into the sky, a ladle to measure the sea, and a grass to hit a bell, how can you understand the rules, study the principles, and make sounds? From this perspective, it is just like a mouse attacking a dog or a piglet biting a tiger. It will only fail. What's the effect? ??It's impossible for a stupid person like you to criticize me without being embarrassed. This is enough to show that people who don't know how to change can't understand the truth.
Notes
[1] Su Qin and Zhang Yi: the strategists of the Warring States Period. /p>
[3]终(pronounced in the upper part): yellow silk, hanging on both sides of the crown.
[4]Sage: refers to Confucius. Yun. See "Da Dai Li Ji Zizhang Wen Entering the Official"
[5] Xu You: Yao was a hermit in the world, and he hid on the shore of Yingshui. >
[6] Jie Yu: Confucius was a hermit. He once sang wildly to ridicule Confucius and called Chu Kuang.
[7] Fan Li: Adviser to the King of Yue, he helped Gou Jian destroy the Empress Wu and retired to the Five Lakes. >
[8]Zixu: Wu Zixu, a loyal minister of King Wu's husband, was killed.
[9]Le Yi: A general of King Yan Zhao, who once defeated Qi and dominated for a while.
[10] Li Si: He was the prime minister during the reign of Qin Shihuang.
[11] Li Shiqi (sound and meaning): the counselor of Liu Bang, the founder of the Han Dynasty. It was once said that King Tian Guang of Qi returned to the Han Dynasty and went to Qi's seventy-two cities.
[13]Shrew (Yinjingqu): Ground mouse.
[14]. Difficulty: questioning
[15]. Benefit: favor
[16]Du: residence
[17 .