The Original Text and Appreciation of the Ancient Poetry "Dedicating the Beginning to Prosper the Masses"

Wang Wei, a writer in the Tang Dynasty, wrote The Beginning of Offering Prosperity. The full text of his ancient poems is as follows:

Habitat in the wild forest rather than drinking water.

You don't have to sit on the beam to see the princes.

It's a man's day, and brown clothes will get old.

Ren Zhicheng is short, but he is good at maintaining kindness.

I heard that a gentleman asks the party and the enemy.

I don't sell public tools, but I move for a living.

Cheap son knelt down from Chen, but he didn't explain.

I appreciate the public discussion, but I don't ask for it.

order

"Dedicate the Beginning to Prosper the People" is a poem written by the Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei to Zhang Jiuling, hoping to further develop it. The first half of this poem expresses that he would rather be poor and indifferent to seclusion in the mountains than curry favor with princes in pursuit of wealth and pleasure, and would rather be a cloth for life than humbly seek official promotion; The second half hopes that Zhang Jiuling will appoint himself, but the ideological context is still closely related to the first half. The language of the whole poem is popular and lively, and the style is high and vigorous.

To annotate ...

(1) World Bank: refers to Zhang Jiuling and Xuanzong in the Tang Dynasty. The inscription of this poem: When I worship power, I pick it up.

⑵ Jianshui: One is "flowing".

(3) Sit: Be a "food". Liang rou: Liang is rice and meat is vegetable. Refers to a good meal. "Guan Zi Xiao Kuang": "Eating must be meat and clothes must be embroidered." Tang Du Fu's Drunk Songs: "The first class is full of meat, but Mr. Wenguang is short of food."

(4) rugged: in a difficult situation, through difficulties and obstacles. "Historical Records of Yan Zhaogong's Family": "Yan is forced and arrogant, and internal strength is harmonious. It is the weakest among the rugged big countries. "

5] Ordinary people: refers to ordinary people. Biography of Liu Kui in the Book of Jin: "The eldest sons of husband and wife both live in Lu, so King Jing of Zhou was absent for three years, so he gave a banquet. "Spring and Autumn Annals" is still full of ridicule. The situation is that people sit in niches and the banquet is auspicious, so it is advisable to take it slowly. Please don't be an official and behead the marquis. "

[6] Brown cloth: coarse cloth and short coat. Han Huan Kuan's "On Salt and Iron": "The ancients didn't pick the rafters, the huts didn't cut them, the clothes were brown, the rice was covered with earth, and the hoe was made of gold."

(7) Sincerity: indeed, indeed.

(8) solid: originally.

(9) Sidelights: From eavesdropping. I heard that this is a rumor. Han Jiayi's Qu Yuan Fu: "Smell Qu Yuan and drown in Miluo." Gentleman: a person who claims that his moral articles are respected or have a high status. Xunzi Zhong Ni: "His deeds are all correct. If he is dangerous and dirty, he is called a gentleman's door. " This refers to Zhang Jiuling.

⑽ hatred: the same "hatred".

⑾ Qi Gong: This is an official rank metaphor. "Biography of Zhang Jiuling in the Old Tang Dynasty": "The official is the public instrument of the world, and morality is the first, and the old is the second."

⑿ refers to the people. Shi Cen's Selected Works "Ode to a Teacher": "A brand-new beginning was born in the wild, and the wind changed."

[13] Son: Call yourself humble. Tang Du Fu's "Twenty-two Rhymes of Wei Zuocheng": "The husband tries to listen, and the son-in-law asks Chen."

[14] Gratitude: emotional stimulation. Liu Han told Shuowen Xiu Yuan: "I am grateful for the withered voice and the people's worries."

⒂ Qu Si: bending the law. Xunzi's Confucian thought: "ambition is inevitable in private, while people in Hebei regard themselves as public."

translate

It is better to live in a forest in the wilderness than to drink the water from a mountain stream. Don't want to support yourself, bow to the ministers. This man is humble in moral integrity, and his coarse clothes are short and brown to bald. Wisdom is really short, so it is better to stick to righteousness. I heard that you are a great sage, and Renxian is not afraid of relatives and enemies. Never betray the status of a knight, all for the people. Cheap son knelt down and confessed, can you be your attendant? There are axioms in the world, and it is not my wish to be partial to others.

Distinguish and appreciate

Zhang Jiuling was a famous minister in Xuanzong period of Tang Dynasty. In 734 A.D. (the 22nd year of Kaiyuan), he accepted the command of secretariat and was appointed as the official of Xingbo the following year. Zhang Jiuling admired the poet Wang Wei very much. He was appointed secretary of China Academy of Sciences. That year, he promoted Wang Wei to the right. According to the title of the poem and the original note under the title, "When I worship correctly, I will pick up the body". This poem should have been written in 735 AD (the 23rd year of Kaiyuan). This song "Dedicating the Beginning to Prosper the People" is a work that he hopes to get further expression after his official career.

The first four sentences say that I would rather live in seclusion in the mountains than live a poor and indifferent life, and I don't want to curry favor with the prince in pursuit of wealth and enjoyment Here, drinking water flowing in streams refers to the poor life of hermits; Eating millet and meat refers to a luxurious life; Climbing a steep mountain is a metaphor for trying to please the powerful, vivid and accurate. The next four sentences further showed my intention, saying that I would rather be a cloth for a lifetime than grovel for promotion. I insist on honesty, I am not good at wit, but I can be consistent in morality and ethics. No matter whether you are an official or an official, you can't lose your personality and express the poet's own integrity.

The second half of the poem turned to hope that Zhang Jiuling would appoint himself, but it is still closely related to the first half in terms of ideological context. The poet first praised Shixing Palace with a third party listening tone. Gentleman refers to Zhang Jiuling. As a wise prime minister, he uses talents instead of forming a party for personal interests; Don't sell the official title of the country for personal gain. What he did was for the common people. Poetry naturally turned to the original intention of expressing feelings to Zhang Jiuling. The poet respectfully asked: Can someone like me be your subordinate? This problem of "kneeling down" contains Wang Wei's sincere admiration for Zhang Jiuling and his strong desire to gain his trust. However, the poet is by no means flattering each other and begging for benefits. I don't want the other person to be selfish for him. The last two sentences show this attitude: I am very grateful if I was appointed out of justice; Being hired with selfishness is not what I want. This ending not only expressed his own demands, but also took care of the above praise for Zhang Jiuling's integrity and selflessness. At the same time, it shows his character of emphasizing the whole and paying attention to the whole, which makes this poem complete in structure and aboveboard in ideological realm.

This five-character ancient poem is straightforward, healthy and hearty. The poem shows the spirit of generosity, integrity and selflessness, with popular and lively language and high-pitched and passionate style.