Essential Ancient Chinese Poems for High School Students: Recommended by the Ministry of Education's New Chinese Curriculum Standards

Author: / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: On the Journey to Mount Baozhen by Wang Anshi
Baozhen Mountain is also known as Huashan. The Buddhist monk Huibao first built a dwelling here and was later buried there, which is why it was later named Baozhen. The so-called Huikong Monastery today is the tomb of Bao. Five li east of the monastery lies the so-called Huashan Cave, named so because it is on the southern slope of Mount Hua. A hundred steps from the cave, there is a fallen stele on the road, its inscriptions worn away, yet still legible. It reads, "Huashan." Today, "Huashan" is pronounced as "hua" (as in "hua shi"), likely due to a mispronunciation. Below, the area is flat and spacious, with a spring flowing out from the side and many inscriptions left by travelers, known as the front cave. Six or five li further up the mountain, there is a deep, dark hole. Upon entering, it is extremely cold. When asked about its depth, even those fond of exploration could not reach the bottom, which is why it is called the back cave.
I, along with four companions, lit torches to enter. The deeper we went, the harder it became to advance, yet the more extraordinary the sights became. Some grew weary and wanted to turn back, saying, "If we don’t, the torches will run out." So we all left together. As far as I had gone, I had only reached about one-tenth of what those fond of exploration could. Yet, looking around, I saw that few had come and left records. The deeper it became, the fewer the visitors.
At that time, my strength was still enough to continue, and the torches still provided enough light. After leaving, some blamed those who wanted to turn back, and I also regretted following them and not fully enjoying the joy of exploration. Thus, I had cause for reflection.
The ancients often found meaning in the heavens, mountains, rivers, plants, insects, fish, birds, and beasts, as their deep contemplation reached everywhere. Places that are flat and close are visited by many; those that are dangerous and distant are visited by few. Yet the extraordinary and magnificent views are often found in dangerous and distant places, where few people go. Therefore, only those with determination can reach them.
Even with determination, one should not stop following others. Yet those who lack strength cannot reach them either. With both determination and strength, yet without being discouraged, one may still fail to reach the depths if there is nothing to guide them.
Even if one has the strength to reach, others may mock them, but for oneself, it is a matter of regret. Those who exhaust their efforts yet fail to reach their goal can have no regrets—who can mock them then? This is what I have learned.
Regarding the fallen stele, I also lament the loss of ancient texts and the errors in their transmission by later generations, leaving them unnamed—how can this be fully expressed? This is why scholars must deeply reflect and carefully select their sources.
The four companions: Xiao Junyu of Luling, Wang Hui of Changle, my younger brother An’guo of She, and Anshang of Wang.
Recorded on the first day of the seventh month of the Zhihe year, by Wang of Linchuan.
[Annotations]
① Baozhen Mountain: Located fifteen li north of Heshan County in Anhui Province today.
② Buddhist monk (futuo): A transliteration of Sanskrit (ancient Indian language), also translated as "futuo," "fotu," or "buddha," meaning Buddhism, Buddhist scriptures, or Buddhist monks. Here, it refers to a monk or priest. Huibao: A monk’s name, from the Zhenguan era of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. To build a dwelling (she): To construct a permanent residence. Site (zhi): Refers to the foot of the mountain. To die (su): To pass away. For this reason (yi guo): Because of this, therefore. To name (ming): To name, to give a name. Baozhen: An abbreviation of "Baozhen Shi," a respectful title for Huibao.
③ Huikong Monastery: A Buddhist temple. Monastery (yuan): Refers to a temple where monks meditate and reside. Lodge (lu): Refers to a simple dwelling. Tomb (zhong): Grave.
④ Because (yi): Because. Is (ni): Is, are. The southern slope of Mount Hua (huashan zhi yang): The southern slope of Mount Hua. Ancients called the southern side of a mountain "yang" and the northern side "yin."
⑤ Fallen on the road (pu dao): To fall onto the road. Its inscriptions (qi wen): Its inscriptions, referring to the inscriptions on the stele. Worn away (manmie): Erased or blurred. Only (du): Only, merely. Its inscriptions (qi qiwen): Its inscriptions, referring to the inscriptions on the stele. Flower (hua): The original character for "flower." There was no character for "flower" in ancient times, and "hua" was used to refer to flowers. It was not until the Jin Dynasty that the character "hua" began to be used for flowers. Thus, "hua" had two pronunciations: one as "hua" (flower) and one as "hua" (as in "hua shi"). Hua shi: Not "flower and fruit," but "ornate and simple." Probably (gai): Perhaps, likely. Mispronunciation (yin): Phonetic error. The author believed that since the stele was inscribed as "Huashan," the character "hua" should be pronounced as "hua," but it was pronounced differently at the time, likely due to a mispronunciation.
⑥ Flat and spacious (pingkuang): Flat and wide. To flow from the side (ce chu): To flow from the side. Travelers who left inscriptions (jiyou zhe): Those who came to explore and left inscriptions on the walls.
⑦ Dark and deep (yao ran): Dark and deep. It (zhi): Refers to the hole. Its (qi): Refers to the hole. Those (na): Those. To reach the end (qiong): To reach the end, to go to the limit.
⑧ Holding torches (yong huo): To hold torches. Holding (yong): To hold. To (yi): Conjunction, same as "and." It (qi): Pronoun, referring to "I and the four companions."
⑨ Weary (ai): Weary, tired. Soon (jia): Almost, nearly. To run out (jing): To run out, to be exhausted.
⑩ Where I had reached (suo zhi): Referring to the place I reached in the cave. Not enough (bu neng): Not enough, not up to. About (youshi): About, around. The left and right sides (zuoyou): Referring to the left and right walls of the cave. More (jia): Even more. At that time (fang): At that time, then. Sufficient (zuyi): Sufficient, enough. Bright (ming): To illuminate. Already (ji): Already, after. It (qi): Pronoun, referring to "I and the four companions." Some (huo): Some. To blame (jiao): To blame, to accuse. To regret following them (hui qi sui zhi): To regret following them. Not to fully enjoy (bu de): Not to fully enjoy.
? Thus (yushi): Thus. To reflect (tan): To reflect, to feel.
? Because (yi): Because. Deep thought (shensisi): Deep thought, contemplation. To select carefully (shen qu): To select carefully.
? The four companions (si ren): The four companions. This corresponds to the earlier passage, "I and the four companions lit torches to enter." Luling (lu ling): Jiujiang City, Jiangxi Province today. Xiao Junyu: Style name Junyu. Changle (changle): Changle City, Fujian Province today. Wang Hui: Style name Shenfu, a Confucian scholar, see the "Biographies of Confucian Scholars" in the Song Shi. An’guo (an’guo): Wang Anshi’s younger brother, with style name Pingfu, mentioned in the Song Shi. Anshang (anshang): Style name Chunfu, Wang Anshi’s seventh brother. The Zhihe year (zhihe nian): 1054 AD. Zhihe: The era name of Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen. Wang of Linchuan (wang zhi lin chuan): Wang of Linchuan, referring to Wang Anshi.