Wang Yucheng spoke out bravely and was not afraid of power, so he offended power many times in his life and was demoted many times. In 997, Song Zhenzong, who had just ascended the throne, recalled Wang Yufu, who had been demoted for the first time, to Beijing. However, Yu Wang is still outspoken in political affairs, and he has contradictions with Prime Ministers Zhang Qixian and Li Ling, which is unacceptable to North Korea. On New Year's Eve in 998, Yu Wang received the imperial edict of being demoted to Huangzhou. In the late spring of 999, he left Kaifeng for Huangzhou. "Huangzhou Hsinchu Building" was written during this second demotion. This Mid-Autumn Festival, when I was in a secluded place in Yu Wang, Huangzhou, I couldn't help feeling it. I wrote this article, in which I tried my best to exaggerate the pleasure of seclusion, described the cheap bamboo house with labor saving, implicitly expressed a feeling of resentment, and expressed his indifferent attitude towards life and self-sustaining sentiment after being demoted.
Huanggang, namely Huangzhou, Tang and Song Dynasties, is a suitable place for an official who is not proud of the "-3 Road". Especially in the Northern Song Dynasty, many celebrities moved here and left. For example, Su Shi. Although Huangzhou is a backcountry where officials are excluded from office, it is bordered by Dabie Mountain in the north and Yangtze River in the south. Bashui, Lifting Water and Xishui enter the river from the east and west, and there are many lakes. Huangzhou has splendid history and culture, rich humanities and natural resources, such as the Job Tower mentioned by the author and Chibi, which Su Dongpo later visited, and is known as an "ancient scenic spot and cultural paradise". So there should be many scenic spots worth remembering and feeling. Yu Wang, who stayed out of it, ignored the scenery of the great river and did not think about the lofty sentiments of the ancient times, but wrote it from the ordinary bamboo building that can be seen everywhere in Huanggang, which should have a special meaning.
In the traditional culture of China, bamboo is deeply loved by the public, especially the literati, and becomes the sustenance of metaphor and wisdom. The article starts with how many bamboos there are in Huanggang and how to build a house with broken bamboos. Why is Xiaozhulou built here? The author only said two things, that is, it is a wasteland, and it is connected with Job's house. But from the following, there are actually two more important factors: one is condescending, and the vision is wide enough to see all the scenery in Huangzhou. Second, the dilapidated and desolate objective environment just adapted to the author's melancholy and lonely thoughts and feelings. The author didn't make these two points clear, but he can understand them after reading the following article carefully. Regarding the scenery, the author used the phrase "Swallow the mountain light far away and calm the river". You can't be tangible, you can't be tangible. ".Generally, people who are in adversity and in secluded places will have complicated and chaotic ideas when they see a scene that is particularly suitable for their mood. If all kinds of scenery are described one by one, it will inevitably become mediocre and trivial. On the contrary, it is hidden at first glance, but it can often get the effect of suggestion. So the author immediately stopped with the word "indescribable".
Next, the author describes the life interest of the bamboo house all year round. Listening to rain in summer and snow in winter, you can feel the beauty of bamboo buildings in ordinary places, as if you are completely integrated with nature. It is precisely because of the leisure brought by the bamboo building that the author has all kinds of fun of playing the piano, playing chess, reciting poems and feasting. It is worth noting that this passage mainly describes all kinds of voices, which not only effectively sets off the unique scenery and feelings of Xiaozhulou, but also sets off the feeling of "seclusion" that has been said before. Whether it is the whistling rain or the gentle falling snow, it sets off the quiet and far-reaching world of Xiaozhulou.
Why does the author want to pursue this tranquil realm? This is because he is tired of the ups and downs of his career, and he is helpless to the dirty and noisy officialdom, trying to solve his troubles in a vast and quiet environment. Here, what is written on the surface is Yu Wang's detached attitude in the face of political setbacks, but in fact, what is written is his proud and upright character. He doesn't feel sorry for himself because he was demoted, nor does he go with the flow. As a result, the small bamboo building with unique charm in the author's works has actually become a symbol of demotion, while the luxurious viewing building full of melody and drama has become synonymous with high above and power degradation. Comparing the two, the author's attitude towards trade-offs is very clear.
Coincidentally, I have such deep feelings and sustenance for Xiaozhulou, so I will naturally be worried about the future fate of Xiaozhulou, and when I look back on myself, it will naturally cause the author to sigh about his political destiny.
The newly-built bamboo house in Huangzhou is a travel note describing ordinary things. The article is full of contrast, beautiful tone and poetic ambiguity, which can integrate love and scenery, so an ordinary small bamboo building has artistic life and philosophy of life.
Translation:
Huanggang is rich in bamboo, as big as a rafter. Bamboo craftsmen cut it open and cut off bamboo joints to replace pottery tiles. Every house is like this, because bamboo tiles are cheap and labor-saving.
In the northwest corner of Zicheng, the female wall was destroyed, covered with vegetation and desolate. I built two small bamboo houses on the spot, which are connected with Job House. Overlooking the upstairs, you can enjoy the mountains and flowing water on the river beach. This quiet and far-reaching scene is difficult to describe completely. There should be heavy rain in summer, if you hear the waterfall in the building; It should snow heavily in winter, and you can hear the sound of broken jade falling off the plate. It is suitable for playing the piano here, and the timbre of the piano is so ethereal and smooth; Suitable for poetry, the charm of poetry is absolutely elegant; This place is suitable for playing chess, and the sound of chess pieces is pleasant; This place is suitable for throwing pots, and the arrows clank: these are all from the Zhulou gang.
After handling my official business, I sat silently in the building, wearing a crane and a Huayang towel, rolling the Zhouyi, and burning incense to eliminate my worries. Apart from the victory of mountains and rivers, I only saw sails in the wind, birds in the sand and bamboo trees in the clouds. When the wine wakes up, the fireworks in the tea stove have been extinguished, and it is also a great pleasure to send away the sunset and welcome the bright moon.
The heights of Yun Qi and Meteor Tower are very high; Jinggan and Lichen Buildings are gorgeous, but unfortunately they are only used to hide prostitutes and place people who sing and dance. This is not what poets and poets do, and I don't agree with it.
I heard the bamboo craftsman say, "Bamboo tiles can only be used for ten years, and two layers can be used for twenty years." Alas, I was demoted to Chuzhou by the Hanlin bachelor in the last year of Zhidao B, transferred to Guangling in the army, and returned to Zhongshu Province in Ding Younian. On the eve of the Reform Movement of 1898, I received an order to surrender to Qi 'an and arrived in Qi 'an County in March of the following year. For four years, I kept running around, not knowing where I would be next year. Still afraid that the bamboo building will rot easily? I hope my successor can share my ambition and fix it well after me. Maybe this building won't rot.