The translation of "The Confession of the East Chamber" is as follows:
When Taifu Xi was an official in Jingkou, he sent a letter to Prime Minister Wang, hoping to find a son-in-law. The Prime Minister said to the messenger: "Go to the east wing, my sons are all there." After the disciple went to visit, he went back and said to Taifu Xi: "All the young masters of the Wang family are all talented people. I heard that you are here to propose marriage. They are all well-dressed and very happy." He was solemn, and there was only one person who was lying on the bed with his chest exposed and ignored him. "I chose this person," Xi Gong said. He sent someone to visit him and found out that he was a descendant of Prime Minister Wang, named Wang Yishao. . So he married his daughter to him.
Original text
Tafu Xi was in Jingkou and sent his disciples to write to Prime Minister Wang to ask for his son-in-law. The Prime Minister said to Xi Xin: "You go to the east chamber and choose whomever you want." After his disciples returned, Bai Xi said: "All the men in the Wang family are also worthy of praise. When I heard that I came to look for my son-in-law, I was very reserved. Only Yilang was lying on the bed with his belly open, like this. I don’t hear it.” Xi Gongyun said, “This is just right.” I visited him because he was married to his daughter.
Appreciation
This sketch actually vividly portrays Taifu Xi Jian, Prime Minister Wang Dao, the princes of the Wang family, and Wang Xizhi. The key is to spread out and then converge completely through the perspective of the disciple, so the text is particularly simple and solemn. One layer writes a letter to secretly select the person, the other layer writes a report openly explaining the selection process, and finally writes the ending of the Taifu's visit, "So I married my daughter to this person." The character's actions are described as "lying on the bed with an open belly", and the dialogue between Xi Gong is described as "just right." These three words vividly highlight Wang Xizhi's unexpected joy after matching his ideal model for choosing a son-in-law.
Notes
① Taifu Xi: Xi Jian.
② Disciples: In the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the so-called disciples were disciples.
⑧ Letter: Messenger, that is, the messenger sent by Taifu Xi.
④Reserved: Pretending to be solemn, restrained, and unnatural.
⑥Yishao: Wang Xizhi, a descendant of Wang Dao.
Source
"Shi Shuo Xin Yu·Ya Liang" by Liu Yiqing, a member of the Southern Song Dynasty and a writer during the Northern and Southern Dynasties
Inspiration
The world's reputation The son-in-law is called "East Bed", which comes from this allusion.
Choosing a son-in-law depends on talent and character. Talented people are often arrogant and uninhibited, so Xi Zhi welcomes guests openly; temperamental people are honest and steady, so Xi Zhi "does not hear". Taifu Xi can be said to have a keen eye for recognizing people. In fact, it is not just the selection of sons-in-law, but also the selection of other talents. However, many people now choose "embroidered pillows" and like well-dressed and reserved people, while turning a blind eye to those with personality. I don’t know whether the times have progressed or whether my vision has lagged behind.
About the author
Liu Yiqing (403-444), courtesy name Ji Bo, was born in Pengcheng (now Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province) [11]?, a member of the Song clan and writer in the Southern Dynasties . Liu Daolian, the nephew of Emperor Wu of the Song Dynasty and the second son of King Jing of Changsha, Liu Daolian, and his uncle, King Liu Daogui of Linchuan, had no children, so he took Liu Yiqing as his heir and became the Duke of Nanjun.
In the first year of Yongchu (420), he was granted the title of King of Linchuan and was appointed as a minister. During the Yuanjia period of Emperor Wen, he served as secretary supervisor, Danyang Yin, Shangshu Zuopushe, Zhongshu Ling, Jingzhou governor, etc. He is the author of "Book of the Later Han Dynasty", "Biographies of Xuzhou Sages", "Biographies of Famous Scholars in Jiangzuo" and "Shishuoxinyu".