Full-text Translation and Annotations of Dongyang Ma Xusheng

The translation and notes sent to Dongyang Mayuan are as follows:

Original translation:

I liked reading when I was a child. Because my family is poor, I can't get books to read, so I often borrow books from people who have books, copy them with my own pen, and count the days and return them on time. It's very cold in winter, and the ink in the inkstone pool has become solid ice, so my fingers can't bend and straighten, and I still dare not relax and copy books.

Run to return the book after copying, and dare not exceed the agreed time limit slightly. Because of this, many people are willing to lend me books, so I can read books widely. As an adult, I admire the theory of ancient sages even more. Later, I was worried that no masters or celebrities would associate with me. Once I ran a hundred miles away and asked the local moral and learned predecessors with scriptures.

This senior has a high moral reputation, and his study is packed with students who ask him for advice, but he never speaks tactfully and has a gentle face. I stood by and waited, asking questions, asking truth, bending over and asking with my ears sideways; Sometimes when I meet his reprimand, my attitude becomes more respectful and my behavior becomes more considerate, and I dare not say a word in return; He was happy and went to consult again.

So although I am stupid, I can finally gain something. When I was a teacher studying, I carried a book box and dragged my shoes in the old valley in the mountains. The cold wind is fierce in the deep winter, and the snow is several feet thick, so my feet and skin are frozen and cracked. When I arrived at the library, my limbs were stiff and I couldn't move. The waiter brought me hot water to wash my hands and warm my feet, and wrapped me in a quilt.

It took a long time to warm up. I live in a hotel. I only ate two meals a day, and there was nothing fresh, fat and delicious to enjoy. The classmates who live with me are all dressed in gorgeous clothes, wearing red tassels and jewels, with white jade rings around their waists, knives in their left hands and sachets in their right hands. They look radiant and like immortals.

Although I live among them in rags, I don't envy them, because I have enough happiness in my heart, and I am not worse than others in food and clothing. This is probably the case with my diligence and hard work when I was studying.

Now, although I am old and have not achieved anything, I am fortunate to be an official in the DPRK. Thanks to the brilliance of the son of heaven, I follow behind the officials and sit beside them every day, ready to answer their questions. Even if the surnames and names of officials are noble, some people in the world call them wrong, and their talents are far superior to mine.

Now you students are studying in imperial academy, enjoying the meals provided by the imperial court every day, and enjoying the leather cloth provided by your parents every year, and there is no fear of freezing and hunger; Sitting under a tall house reading poetry books, there is no longer the hard work of running around and studying. With the instructor in imperial academy as your teacher, there will be no more questions that you don't tell, and there will be no result of seeking answers.

All the books you should have are concentrated here, and you don't have to copy them yourself like me anymore. You have to borrow it from others to see the situation of the book. Among the students in imperial academy, if there are people who are not diligent in their studies and have poor moral cultivation, it is not that they are less gifted than others, but that they are not as attentive to their studies as I am. What's wrong with others?

Ma from Dongyang studied in imperial academy for two years, and his peers rated him as having both ability and political integrity. When I was in court in Kyoto, Ma Sheng met me as the son of a fellow countryman and wrote a long letter as a gift to meet my elders for the first time, which was very eloquent. When discussing the debate with Ma Sheng, Ma Sheng spoke with a modest attitude and an approachable face.

Ma Sheng said that when he was young, he studied hard. Only such students can be called good students! Ma Sheng is going back to his hometown to meet his relatives, so I wrote down the difficulties in studying and told my younger generation.

Saying that I encourage fellow villagers to study hard is exactly what I want; If I distort my original intention, brag about my good luck and be conceited in front of my fellow villagers, how can I understand my mind?

Precautions:

1, Dongyang: Now Dongyang County, Zhejiang Province, which belonged to Jinhua Prefecture with Qianxi at that time. Ma Sheng: Tai's student's surname is Ma, which is Ma Junze in the article. Foreword: Stylistic names include book foreword and gift foreword. This article is a preface to the gift.

2. Yu: me. Academically: I like reading.

3. borrow: borrow.

4. Fu Zhi Zhi: that is, "Fu Zhi Zhi", who never slacks off or relaxes his studies. Christopher, no. It refers to copying books.

5.Go: Run, here means "hurry up".

6. overdue: beyond the agreed time limit.

7. I have arrived. Coronation: When an ancient man reached the age of 20, he held a coronation ceremony, tied his hair and wore a hat to show his manhood.

8. The way of sages: refers to the way of Confucius and Mencius. Song Lian is a neo-Confucian, advocating benevolence, righteousness and morality, so he is highly respected.

9. Master: A knowledgeable teacher. Travel: making friends.

10, taste: Zeng. Trend: Go.