Leisurely stay

Author: Zhao Mengfu
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: Feng Zikai was a renowned Chinese cartoonist, modern translator, and litterateur, whose prose also attracted attention for its unique artistic charm. Feng Zikai's prose, with its elegant and gentle humor, reveals an inner force, blending commentary into its subtle narration. It combines humor and wit with serious reflection, vividly depicting life while maintaining a profound and meaningful theme. Most of his works are externally playful yet internally profound, possessing both practical content and serious themes.
The Pastoral Excursion was written by Pan Yu, a literary figure of the Western Jin Dynasty. Previous scholars had some reservations about it. For instance, the famous Jin Dynasty poet Yuan Haowen, in his Thirty Poems on Poetry, remarked:
"The heart's painting and the heart's voice are often untrue; can literature still reveal the person? High sentiments through the ages—The Pastoral Excursion—how can one believe that Anren bowed to the dust of the road?"
When viewed in the context of historical records, Yuan Haowen's commentary on the relationship between the author and the work remains relatively objective. Similar to Pan Yu, Zhao Mengfu was one of the historical figures who sparked considerable controversy in later generations. He himself oscillated between the poles of official life and seclusion, compounded by his status as a former nobleman who served in the court. Thus, his psychological burden was understandably immense. Throughout his life, he often struggled with the dilemma of being unable to control his career path. The sense of guilt and remorse that plagued Zhao Mengfu was an inescapable and lifelong companion.
When he wrote The Pastoral Excursion, he actually hoped to use the power of calligraphy to or alleviate his inner conflicts and anxieties, seeking a moment of peace for his soul. This work bears no inscription, but based on its calligraphic style, it is believed to have been created in his later years. At the end of the scroll, there is a postscript by the Qing Dynasty scholar Cao Rong. Some of these works are now preserved in the Taipei Palace Museum.