Translation and appreciation of a letter to Ouyang Sheren

A Letter to Ouyang Sheren is a thank-you letter written by Ceng Gong, a writer in Song Dynasty, to Ouyang Xiu, a teacher. This paper analyzes the function and circulation conditions of inscriptions. This paper expounds the social significance of "making a statement", expounds the proposition of "writing carries Tao", and expresses the praise and pursuit of moral articles. The structure of the article is rigorous and natural. The following is the translation and appreciation of the letter to Mr. Ouyang Sheren that I brought to you. Welcome to reading.

Ceng Gong's Letter to Mr. Ouyang Scheeren

Back in Qiu Ren, I received an approval letter and wrote an inscription for my late father's tombstone. Reading repeatedly makes me feel ashamed. Fu Ming (1) aspires to the world, and his righteousness is close to history, but there are also some people who are different from history. History is good and evil, those who remember it and those who cover the past have the beauty of merit and fear the ignorance of future generations. Or in the temple, or in the grave, there is none. If you are evil, what is in the inscription? This is different from history. His words made the dead have no regrets, and the living had to be lax. Although good people like watching and preaching, they are brave enough to stand on their own feet; The wicked are afraid of shame if they have no discipline. As for the general material (2), it is enough to be knowledgeable, loyal and good at words and deeds. The way of warning is not close to history, but will it be safe?

And the decline of this world, people's descendants, eager to praise their loved ones rather than reason. Therefore, although there are many wicked people, all of them should pay attention to the inscription to boast about future generations. The speaker refused to do it, but also took what his children and grandchildren asked and wrote about its evil, which was not allowed by human feelings, so the inscription was untrue. Later, those who made inscriptions often looked at their own people. If you trust non-humans, then this book is not public and yes, it is not enough to spread around the world. Therefore, for thousands of years, as for the people in the hutongs, Dr. Gong Qing has inscriptions and less biographies. It's not because of him, it's inhuman and the book is unfair.

But who can be fair and honest for others? Those who are immoral and can write have no idea. Cover up a virtue with a villain, you won't be moved, but you can distinguish it from others. And people's trip, love without showing traces, intentional rape and external comfort, good and evil hanging each other but not real, real than name, name in real luxury. Jude employs people, not animals, can distinguish evil without confusion, and discuss it without bias? It is fair not to be confused or eccentric. And if his words don't work, the world won't spread, so he won in his article. Therefore, those who can write without animal morality have no ideas, so why not?

However, those who have morality and can write articles have existed for decades or hundreds of years. It's so difficult to spread, so difficult to meet. Mr. Ruo's moral articles have existed for hundreds of years. The words and deeds of our ancestor Zhuo Zhuo ⑥ are remembered by chance, and their public rights are undoubtedly passed down from generation to generation. Scholars all over the world often know nothing about the stories of the ancients in biographies, and their descendants are also embarrassed. Does it taste good？ His pursuit of Zude and thinking about what he passed on let him know that Mr. Zhu gave Gong Er and his III a gift. How should we handle our feelings and reports?

Restraint to think, if Gong is shallow and dull, and Mr. Jin enters it, whether the ancestors' chariots are blocked and Mr. Jin shows it, then the most famous hero in the world will not be born. Who doesn't want to enter the door? Who doesn't expect to be in this world? Who doesn't do good, who deserves to be afraid of evil? Who doesn't want to teach their children and grandchildren? As descendants, who doesn't want to spoil and honor their fathers and ancestors? This number one beauty belongs to a gentleman who admires humiliation and dares to go deep into it. Do you dare to add details to what you told the clan? I'm ashamed not to declare it. Goodbye, Gong.

To annotate ...

(1) Inscription: words describing facts, merits and demerits, etc. On the object.

General material: a versatile person.

3 Le: Engraving.

4 livestock: accumulation.

The best of both worlds: both are good, just as good.

⑥ Zhuo Zhuo: Outstanding.

⑦ á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á á 1

8: Frustration.

Pet-name ruby Wei Kui: high.

translate

Ceng Gong kowtowed and bowed down, scheeren said:

Last autumn, the person I sent came back. Thank you for writing to my grandfather and writing a tombstone. I watched it again and again, and I was really ashamed.

When it comes to inscriptions, they are known to later generations because their meanings are close to historical biographies, but they are different from historical biographies. Because historical biographies record people's good and evil one by one, and the inscriptions are probably ancient people with outstanding merits, talents and moral aspirations, fearing that the world will not know, so we must set up inscriptions to show ourselves, some in temples and some in tombs, with the same intention. If that's a villain, what's there to carve? This is the difference between inscriptions and historical biographies. The inscription is written to make the dead regret and the living pay tribute. People who do good like to pass on their good deeds and words to future generations, and they actively build their own achievements; When the wicked have nothing to remember, they feel ashamed and afraid. As for those who are learned, knowledgeable, loyal, heroic and virtuous, their good words and deeds can be reflected in the inscriptions, which is enough to become a model for future generations. The warning function of the inscription is not very similar to that of historical biography, so what is similar to it?

When the world is in decline, people who are descendants just want to praise their dead relatives and ignore some things. Therefore, even the wicked should erect a monument to boast to future generations. The person who wrote the inscription can't refuse not to do it, and because of the repeated demands of the descendants of the deceased, it is difficult to have a human touch if you directly write the evil deeds of the deceased, so the inscription began to appear false words. Later generations should write inscriptions for the deceased and observe the author's character. If the person who asks for help is improper, then the inscription he wrote will be unfair and incorrect, and it will not win the world and spread to future generations. Therefore, for thousands of years, although there have been inscriptions since the death of Dr. Gong Qing and Wang Lixiang, few of them have been circulated in the world. There is no other reason here, just because the inscription written by the inappropriate person is unfair and incorrect.

In this way, what kind of people can be completely fair and correct? I said, it is impossible without virtuous and talented people. Because virtuous people will not accept the demands of the wicked and write inscriptions, they can also be distinguished from ordinary people. And people's character, there are good deeds but no good deeds, there are evil deeds but good appearances, there are differences between good deeds and evil deeds that are difficult to accurately refer to, some are actually greater than reputation, and some are exaggerated. It's like employing people. If you are not a virtuous person, how can you distinguish clearly and not be confused? How can we talk about fairness without favoritism? It is just and realistic to get rid of chaos and partiality. However, if the wording of the inscription is not exquisite, it still cannot be circulated in the world, so his article must be good. Therefore, people who are not virtuous and devoted to articles can't write inscriptions, can they?

However, virtuous people and people who are good at writing articles sometimes appear at the same time, but maybe sometimes there is only one in decades or even hundreds of years. Therefore, the spread of inscriptions is so difficult; And it is doubly difficult to meet the ideal author. Mr. Xiang's moral articles are really hundreds of years old. My ancestors had noble words and deeds, and I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Wang and write a just and correct inscription for them. There is no doubt that it will spread to present and future generations. Scholars in the world often shed tears unconsciously when they read the deeds of the ancients contained in biographies and see touching places, let alone the descendants of the deceased. Besides, it is me, Ceng Gong. Looking back on the virtues of my ancestors, I think that the inscription can be passed down to the next generation, and I also know that an inscription by my husband will benefit me for three generations. How can I express this gratitude and gratitude?

I further thought of people with shallow knowledge and poor talent like me, and my husband promoted and encouraged me. My ancestor died of poverty and sorrow, and my husband wrote an inscription to show him off. So who among the handsome and heroic people in the world doesn't want to bow down at your door? Those who live in seclusion in the mountains and retire in poverty, who doesn't want their reputation to spread all over the world? Who doesn't want to do good, who is not ashamed to do evil? Who doesn't want to educate their children and grandchildren when they are fathers and grandfathers? Son, who doesn't want to honor his father and ancestors? All these virtues should be attributed to Yu Xiansheng. I am honored to receive your gift. I take the liberty to tell you why I am grateful. How can I study and investigate my family lineage mentioned in the letter without listening to your teachings?

I'd love to. I can't finish my book. We'll meet again, Ceng Gong.

background

Ceng Gong appreciated Ouyang Xiu's moral articles very much, and once compared him with Han Yu in the Tang Dynasty. Since the age of twenty, he has established a close relationship with Ouyang Xiu. /kloc-in the summer of 0/046 (the sixth year of Song Renzong), Ceng Gong wrote to ask Ouyang Xiu to write a tombstone inscription for his late grandfather Zeng Zhiyao. At that time, Ouyang Xiu wrote the inscription of Tombstone, which was an idea given by a doctor in Shangshu. Ceng Gong wrote this letter to thank him. This letter was written in A.D. 1047 (the seventh year of the Qing Dynasty), and the author was 29 years old.

Make an appreciative comment

This is a unique thank-you letter, without the usual politeness or vague praise. But through the analysis of the function and circulation conditions of inscriptions. This paper expounds the social significance of "making a statement", expounds the proposition of "writing carries Tao", and expresses the praise and pursuit of moral articles. The structure of the article is rigorous, and the cohesion and integration are very natural.

The first paragraph (inheritance part) first explains the origin of writing this letter and the general feeling after reading the tombstone. Then it describes the significance of writing the inscription of Twilight. First put forward the argument that "the inscription is written in the world, and its meaning is close to history", and then compare the similarities and differences between the inscription and history. Say the difference first, then say the same. With the help of the comparison between the inscription and history, this paragraph profoundly expounds the warning function of the inscription.

The second paragraph talks about the "two disadvantages" of this inscription, which is untrue at first; The second is "less coverage by communicators."

The third paragraph emphasizes that the quality of the speaker is the fundamental condition to correct the current disadvantages. The author puts forward that "the speaker" must be "a person with morality and ability to write". The author puts forward this argument in general in this paragraph, and then points out "animal morality" and "capable articles". Finally, I always say: people who can write without animal morality have no idea, so why not! The second and third paragraphs are "turning" and the last two paragraphs are "closing". From the speaker's point of view, it comes down to Ouyang Xiu, who is famous for his "animal morality and writing ability" and deeply thanks Ouyang Xiu for his kindness in the inscription. Echo with the beginning of the article. Among the eight masters in Tang and Song Dynasties, Ceng Gong paid the most attention to composing music. In the above, readers can see this feature of Ceng Gong's article, which is very cautious in structure and interlocking in content, connecting the past with the future, like flowing water. This article can be regarded as a model of Ceng Gong's articles in this field.