Translation of the text into Preface to Lanting Collection in Vernacular.

In the ninth year of Yonghe, on the fourth day of March in late spring, we had a drink in Lanting, Shanyin County, Huiji (another explanation: the water in the north of the mountain is called cloudy in the south, which can be considered as the north of Huiji Mountain). All the respected people here attended the meeting, and all the young and old people gathered together. Lanting is surrounded by mountains, with lush trees and dense bamboo rafts. There is also a clear and swift stream, like a green ribbon set off around. This stream is a winding stream, which is located on its side. Even without the grand occasion of orchestral ensemble, just drinking and writing poems is enough to make people speak freely. On this day, Enigma is sunny and breezy, and it can look up at the vast universe, bend down, inspect a variety of things, enjoy the overall situation, open your mind and try your best to see and hear. It can really be said that it is a great pleasure in life.

People are close to each other and spend their lives between stadiums. Some people like introspection and are satisfied with an interview in a room; Some people depend on external things and live a bohemian life. Although their internal or external choices are very different, and their quiet and active personalities are also different, when they encounter gratifying things, they will be complacent, feel happy and self-sufficient, and forget the coming of aging. When you are tired of what you have got and things change, you will inevitably feel infinite emotion. The joy gained in the past will soon become a historical relic, and people can't help but feel sorry for it. What's more, people's life span depends on nature, and it will eventually come down to exhaustion! The ancients said, "Life and death are important things." How can this not make people sad!

Whenever I see the feelings expressed by my predecessors, I will inevitably sigh in front of their articles, but I can't figure out what is going on. Of course, I know it is wrong to confuse death with life, and it is absurd to equate long life with early death. Future generations look at today's people just like today's people look at their predecessors. This is the sad thing. So I will list the names of the participants and record their poems. Although times are different and actions are different, the motives that trigger people's feelings will undoubtedly be the same. Later generations will probably feel the same way when they read these poems.