王羲之·《兰亭集序》英译

Prologue to the Collection of Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion 

Wang Xizhi

At the beginning of the late spring in the ninth year of Yonghe¹, that is, the year of Guichou according to the lunar calendar, a group of learned scholars, old and young, are gathered at the Orchid Pavilion in the Shanyin County of Kuaiji Prefecture² to celebrate the festival of Xi³. Here are high mountains and lofty ridges which are overgrown with tall bamboo groves and dense forests. A clear stream with a rapidly running current that winds like a belt, shining in the bright sun, is ideal for floating wine vessels⁴. We sit by the water in proper order, sipping wine and composing poems. Though lacking musical accompaniment, each of us is inclined to pour forth his innermost feelings. It is a fine day. The sky is clear and the breeze is gentle. Looking upward, we see the great expanse of the universe. Looking downward, we see the great variety of living things. Then we look around as far as the eyes can see and feel elated, enjoying ourselves to the utmost both visually and aurally. What a delightful experience it is!

When friends get together, time flies as quickly as if a lifetime were spent in the twinkling of an eye. Some engage in intimate conversations in the room, baring their hearts to each other, others identify themselves with what they like and abandon themselves to unrestrained joy. Though people may differ in their choices or temperaments, they invariably find temporary contentment, when they come upon something that delights them. They are so happy that they even forget they will be old soon. However, one’s taste changes and soon one is bored with what one once liked. Then one cannot help but sign deeply with emotion. It saddens me to think that the happiness we are enjoying at this moment will be a bygone thing at another moment, not to mention that we are subject to the natural law and that we will eventually perish. The wise man⁵ in ancient times said, “The problem of life and death is a matter of vital importance.” Isn’t it depressing to think of that?

I have noticed whatever stirred up the emotions and feelings in the ancients also calls forth the same emotions and feelings in me, as if the ancients and I were the two halves of a deed⁶. I have been perplexed as to why the writings of the ancients always make me sign with grief, though I know that it is absurd to identify life with death and long life with early death⁷. Alas! Our descendants will look upon us just as we look upon our forefathers. So I am listing the names of the people present at this gathering and the poems they have composed. Though times will change and things will be different in the future, the cause of their emotions and feelings will be the same as ours. I hope future readers would empathize with this writing of mine.

Notes:

1) The ninth year of Yonghe was 353 A.D.

2) Shanyin County of Kuaiji Prefecture is today’s Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province.

3) The festival of Xi started in the Zhou Dynasty. It was the custom of the ancient people to pay homage to the water god and entertain themselves by the water on March the third in the lunar calendar.

4) An elegant way by which the ancients enjoyed themselves. People sat at the lower reach of a stream, composed poems and drank from the wine vessels that were floated down from the upper reach of the stream where the wine was prepared.

5) Here “the wise man” refers to Confucius.

6) In old times, a deed was cut into halves. The holder one half could claim his right when the two halves fit together properly.

7) It was the philosophy of Zhuangtse (369 B.C.-296 B.C.), who lived during the period of the Warring States and was known for his nihilistic philosophy.

（罗经国 译）

Preface to the Lanting Collection

At the beginning of the late spring in the ninth year of the Yonghe period, which corresponded to year Kuichou, we gathered at Lanting of Shanyin County in Kuaiji Prefecture to have festivities at the waterside to abate ill omens. All people of quality, both young and old, met on this occasion. The place was surrounded by sublime, high mountains clad with luxuriant forests and shapely bamboos, in addition to a limpid stream with swift rapids, which foiled each other in the whole scenic beauty. We used the sinuous brook for passing the floating cups and sat in order along its banks. Though we had not lutes or flutes for music, yet one cup of wine accompanied with the chanting of one poem was sufficient to make us air our deep feelings. That day the sky was serene, the air bracing and the wind benign. Looking up, we perceived the immensity of the universe and, looking down, we observed the great multiplicity of nature’s species, thus broadening our view, giving the reins to our minds, and feasting our eyes and ears to the full. It was indeed a great happiness.

With regard to the friendly association of people during their brief lives, it might take the form of unbosoming themselves by conversing in a room, or abandoning themselves to things they love, reveling without constraint. The choices are so widely apart, and the temperaments in terms of quiet or boisterous behaviours are most different. When people are glad of their situations and feel contentment with their temporary gains, they are unaware of the approaching old age. But when they are tired of what they pursue as their feelings change with circumstances, then they are filled with melancholy. The things which they used to court with a gay heart become stale in an instant, but not without stirring up their sentiments. Besides, their spans of life, be they long or short, are decided by Providence and converge eventually to a common finish. An ancient said, “Life and death are matters of great magnitude.” How could they not be afflicted with sorrow?

Whenever I scrutinized the causes of the ancients’ airing their sentiments, I found that they tallied exactly with each other, and did not fail to sign with grief upon perusal of their writings, though I was not clear about the reason. I know for certain that to identify life with death is fallacious and to equate longevity to brief life is nonsensical. Men in the future will look upon us mortals in the same light as we look upon men in the past. How sad it must be! Therefore, I have listed the names of the people present on the occasion and edited their writings for the benefit of our posterity. Although times and circumstances may differ from one another, the feelings underlying their unbosoming themselves are the same. The future readers are thus expected to be moved by this article.

（谢百魁 译）