Shang Zhongyong, Northern Song Dynasty (Wang Anshi)
Fang Zhongyong, a citizen of Jinxi, was born in Ligeng. Zhongyong was born five years ago, and he didn't know any writing utensils, so he suddenly cried out for them. The father was different, so he borrowed the name from others, wrote four lines of poetry, and gave it his own name. His poems are intended to support parents and the family, and are passed on to the talents of a township. Since he is writing poems by referring to objects, his literary and scientific works are both admirable. The people of the town are strange, and their father is a little guest, or begging for him with coins. My father benefited from it, and he invited Zhongyong to visit the people in the city every day, and did not let him learn.
I have heard about it for a long time. In the Ming Dao, when my ancestors returned home, I met them at my uncle's house, twelve or three years ago. I was asked to compose a poem, which cannot be attributed to what I heard in the past. Another seven years later, he returned from Yangzhou and went to his uncle's house to ask about it. He said, "Everyone is gone." The heaven that accepts it is far better than the talented person. If he dies for everyone, then he will not be accepted by others. The heaven that accepts it is like the virtuous one. Those who do not accept it can do it for everyone. Now the heaven that does not accept it is for everyone, and those who do not accept it can do it for everyone. ?
Translation:
Fang Zhongyong, a commoner in Jinxi, has been farming for generations. When Zhongyong was five years old, he didn't know writing instruments. One day he suddenly cried for them. His father was surprised by this and lent him a neighbor's writing tool. Zhongyong immediately wrote four lines of poetry and wrote his own name on it. This poem of his, about supporting parents and establishing good relationships with people of the same clan, was sent to the entire township for viewing. From then on, he could write poems with designated items and he could finish them immediately. The poems' literary grace and truth are both worthy of appreciation. People in the county were surprised and gradually invited his father as a guest. Some people even offered money and asked Zhongyong to write poems for him. His father thought it would be profitable, so he took Zhongyong around to visit people in the same county every day and did not let Zhongyong study.
I've heard about this for a long time. During the Ming Dynasty, I followed my late father back to his hometown and met him at my uncle's house. He was twelve or thirteen years old. Let (him) compose poetry, (the poems written) can no longer match his former reputation. Another seven years later, (I) returned from Yangzhou and went to my uncle's house again. I asked about Zhongyong's situation and replied: "(Zhongyong's talent has) disappeared and he is completely like an ordinary person."
< p> Wang Anshi said: Zhongyong's ability to understand and understand is innate. His talent far exceeds that of talented people. In the end, he became an ordinary person because he did not receive the education he acquired.People like him who are naturally smart and talented have to become ordinary people without the education they have acquired. Now those people who are not born smart and are ordinary people without the education they have acquired can only become ordinary people. Already?
1. Explanation of the word
1. Subordinate: belong to
2. Shiligeng: engaged in agricultural production for generations;
3. Weiwei: never;
4. Ask for: request
5. Different: feel strange about...
6. Borrow from nearby: borrow from neighbor ;
7. With: give;
8. Book: write;
9. For: inscribe;
10. With ... means: taking ... as the content of the poem;
11. Guan: appreciate;
12. Ziyi: from now on;
13. is : this, this;
14. Just: complete;
15. Person: the place of...;
16. Slightly: gradually ;
17. Or: someone;
18. Guest: treat each other with the courtesy of guests;
19. Yiren: people from the same county;
p>
20. Begging: asking for something, here refers to spending money to ask for Zhongyong’s poems;
21. Benefiting from it: coveting this (to make a profit);
< p> 22. Pull: to climb, pull, lead;23. Huanye: visit everywhere;
24. Make: let;
25. Follow: follow;
26. Say: quite;
27. Wen: hear and hear; know
28. Minran: complete. It means that Zhongyong's talent has completely disappeared and he is the same as ordinary people.
29. Not enough: failed to meet (requirements).
30. Prince: Wang Anshi’s self-proclaimed name.
31. Tongwu: understanding and wisdom
32. Husband: The first words of the sentence are not translated.
33. Solid: originally.
34. Arts and Sciences: Literary talent and principles.
35. Profit: To benefit from....
36. Yes: Worth it.
37. Scholars: This refers to scholars with excellent knowledge.
38. Ye: visit. Huan Ye: visit everywhere.
39. Book utensils: writing tools, including pen, ink, paper, and inkstone
40. Yiyan: (feel) strange about this
41. Biqi: He
42. Xian: better than
43. Talented person: Yes Talented person
44. Since: Back
45. Jinxi: Place name, now Jinxi, Jiangxi
46. Taste: Once upon a time
2. Explanation of the sentence
1. The father is different, so he is related by being close to him.
Translation: My father felt very strange and borrowed it from a neighbor to Zhongyong.
2. Named after himself, his poems are about raising parents and bringing in the family.
Translation: And he wrote his name on the poem. His poems have the theme of supporting parents and establishing good relations with people of the same clan.
3. Since it refers to the object that is the foundation of poetry, its literary and scientific aspects are both appreciable.
Translation: From now on, as long as someone else specifies something, you can write a poem and complete it immediately. Its literary grace and truth are both admirable.
4. The people of the city are curious about him. They invite his father as a guest or beg him with coins.
Translation: His fellow villagers felt strange, and gradually he treated his father like a guest; some even offered money to obtain Zhong Yong's poems.
5. My father benefited from this, so Zhongyong paid homage to the people of the city and did not teach him.
Translation: His father thought this was profitable, so he took Zhongyong around to visit his fellow villagers every day and refused to let him study.
6. It cannot be said that it was heard in the past.
Translation: It cannot be consistent with what has been heard before.
7. Lost everyone!
Translation: Becoming a completely ordinary person.