The Rogue of Otherworldly Skies

  One

  The best words are those that set boundaries. With boundaries, they naturally form a high style and have famous lines. This is why the lyrics of the Five Dynasties and Northern Song are uniquely excellent.

  Two

  There is a created realm, and there is a written realm; this is why the idealistic and realistic schools are divided. However, it's quite difficult to distinguish between them. This is because the realms created by great poets must conform to nature, and the realms they write about must also be adjacent to the ideal.

  Three

  There is a realm with me, and a realm without me. Tears ask the flowers, but the flowers do not speak, and the red petals fly over the swing in autumn. (1) How can I bear to be alone in this cold spring lodge, where the cuckoo's cry echoes in the fading sunlight? (2) This is also a realm with me. Picking chrysanthemums by the east hedge, I see the southern mountain at leisure. (3) The cold waves rise and fall, and the white birds fly down slowly. (4) This is a realm without me. In the realm with me, I observe things, so both things and I are colored with my own hue. In the realm without me, things observe things, so it is unknown what is I and what is thing. Ancient people wrote words, mostly describing the realm with me, yet they did not begin to be unable to write about the realm without me, this depends on the heroic scholars who can establish themselves.

  Note:

  (1) Feng Yan yi [Magpie Treads Branch]: "How deep is the courtyard? The willow trees pile up smoke, and the curtains are countless. The jade saddle and carved stirrup are where the pleasure-seekers roam, but the high building cannot be seen from the Zhang Tai Road. On a rainy and windy evening in March, the door is closed at dusk, with no way to keep spring from departing. Tearful eyes ask the flowers, but they do not speak; the scattered red petals fly over the swing."

  (2) Qin Guan [Tà Shā Xíng]: "Misty towers and halls, moonlit river crossing, Peach Blossom Spring's gaze is cut off with no place to search. Can bear the solitary inn closing in spring chill, cuckoo's cry amidst slanting sunset. Posthouse sends plum blossoms, fish transmit silk letters, carved into this longing without repeat count. Xiang River fortunately from Xiang Mountain, for whom does it flow down to Xiao and Xiang?"

  "My cottage is located in a human settlement, yet there are no carts and horses to disturb me. I ask you, how can this be? My heart is far away, and the land itself is biased towards seclusion. I pick chrysanthemums by the eastern hedge, and see the southern mountains at leisure. The mountain air is delightful in the late afternoon, and birds fly back together. There is a true meaning here, but when I try to explain it, I forget what to say."

  (4) Yuan Hao's "Parting at Yingting Pavilion":

  Old friends part again,

  carriages stop by the river.

  The vast expanse of heaven and earth unfolds before us,

  all scenes seem to be borrowed from each other.

  Three days of north wind bring snow,

  the ultimate truth is revealed in simplicity.

  Nine mountains rise steeply,

  unyielding to any oppression.

  Cold waves rise gently,

  white birds fly down leisurely.

  People who are homesick hurry away,

  but the natural world remains carefree.

  The wine cup and zither lament,

  the dusty world is full of sorrow.

  Looking back at the people in the pavilion,

  the plain forest is as serene as a painting.

  Four

  A state of no self is obtained by men only when they are in a state of quietude. A state of self is obtained by men only at the time when, after being active, they have become quiet again. Hence one is elegant and the other is grand.

  Five

  Things in nature are mutually restrictive. However, when written about in literature and art, their relationships and restrictions must be left out. Therefore, even realists are idealists. Moreover, no matter how fictional the setting, its materials must come from nature, and its structure must also follow the laws of nature. Therefore, even idealists are realists.

  Six

  The boundary is not only the scenery, but also the realm of human emotions such as joy, anger, sorrow and pleasure. Therefore, those who can truly capture the scenery and genuine emotions are said to have a sense of boundary, otherwise they are said to lack it.

  Seven

  "Red apricot branches bursting with spring spirit (1)", with a single "bursting" character, the entire atmosphere is revealed. "Clouds break, moon comes, flowers play with shadows (2)", with a single "play" character, the entire atmosphere is revealed.

  Note:

  (1) Song Qi [Jade Pavilion Spring] (Spring scenery): "The east city gradually feels the good wind and light, the ripples on the lake welcome the guest boat. The green willows outside the misty dawn are lightly cold, the red apricot branches are noisy with spring intention. Floating life has long been resentful of few joys, willing to love a thousand pieces of gold for a slight smile. For you, I hold wine to urge the slanting sun, and also stay in the flowers to keep the late afterglow."

  (2) Zhang Xian (Tian Xian Zi) (at the time, he was a minor official in Jiahe, and due to illness, he did not attend the meeting at the prefecture):

  "The sound of water clock strikes several times as I hold my wine cup and listen; after waking up from my afternoon nap, my worries have yet to dissipate. When will spring return? As evening approaches, I gaze into the mirror, lamenting the passing of time. Memories of past events are now but empty recollections.

  On the sandy beach, birds gather at dusk; clouds part, and the moon appears, flowers swaying in its shadow. The heavy curtains and screens tightly cover the lamps; the wind is not calm, people have just quieted down, tomorrow fallen red petals will fill the path."

  Eight

  Boundaries have sizes, but they don't distinguish between good and bad.

  Fine rain brings out the fish, gentle breeze makes the swallow slant (1).

  Why not as before?

  Sunset shines on the great flag, horse neighs in the rustling wind (2).

  Precious curtains hang idle on small silver hooks (3).

  Why not as before?

  Misty loss of towers and halls, moon bewilders the ferry crossing (4).

  Also.

  Note:

  (1) Du Fu [Watering the Heart, Two Poems] One: "The old temple's gate is wide open, no village in sight afar. The river is calm with few banks, secluded trees have many late flowers. Fine rain brings out fish, gentle breeze makes swallows slant. In the city, a hundred thousand households, here only two or three families."

  (2) Du Fu [Five Poems after Leaving the Frontier] One:

  "In the morning I enter the East Gate camp, in the evening I ascend the Heyang Bridge. The setting sun shines on the great banner, horses neigh in the whistling wind. On the flat sand a million tents are arrayed, each unit displays its flag. In the middle of the sky the bright moon is suspended, strict orders make for a quiet night. A few sad notes of the horn sound, heroic warriors are sorrowful but not proud. I ask who the great general is, perhaps it's Huo Qubing or Yue Yi."

  (3) Qin Guan [Washing Creek Sand]: "A faint chill rises to the small building, The dawn shade is like a poor autumn. Light smoke and water paint a secluded screen. Free and easy, flying flowers are as light as a dream, Endless silk rain is as fine as sorrow, Precious curtains hang idle on small silver hooks."

  Qin Guan: "Treading on Sand" (see note 3).

  Nine

  Yan Zhenqing's "Shihua" says: "The people of the prosperous Tang Dynasty, only in their interest. The goat hangs its horns, no trace can be found. Therefore, its wonderful place is transparent and delicate, cannot be approached. Like the sound in the air, the color in the mind, the moon in the water, the image in the mirror, words have an end but meaning has no end." I think: The lyrics before the Northern Song Dynasty are also like this. However, what Yan Zhenqing called "interest" and Ruan Ting called "divine rhyme" are still just describing their appearance, not as good as my humble self bringing out the two characters "境界" to explore its origin.

  Ten

  Tai Bai's pureness is only surpassed by the beauty of nature. The western wind blows, and the Han dynasty's mausoleums are desolate. (1) With just eight words, he closed off the mouths of all who would later try to describe this scene. Only Fan Wen Zheng's "Fishing Village in Splendor" (2) and Xia Ying Gong's "Joyful Return of the Swallow" (3) come close to matching it, but even they do not quite reach its level.

  Note:

  (1) Li Bai [Recalling Qin Yao]: "The zither's sound is choked, Qin Yao's dream is cut off at the Qin Tower in the moonlight. The Qin Tower's moon, year after year, the willow color, the pain of parting at Baishan. On the Luyou Plain on a clear autumn day, the ancient road to Chang'an has no sound or dust. No sound or dust, the western wind's lingering rays, the Han dynasty's ruined temples."

  (2) Fan Zhongyan [A Fisherman's Pride] (Autumn Thoughts):

  The autumn scenery is different below the pass,

  The geese from Hengyang have gone, without a backward glance.

  The sounds of the frontier rise from all sides,

  In the midst of a thousand mountains, the long smoke falls with the setting sun, and the solitary city closes its gates.

  A cup of turbid wine, my home is ten thousand miles away,

  I am still young, but I have no plan to return.

  The qiang flute sounds softly, frost fills the ground.

  People are not asleep, the general's white hair, the tears of a soldier on a distant campaign.

  (3) Xia Zong [Xi Qian Ying Ling]: "Clouds disperse, moon hangs low. Curtains rolled up, not yet midnight. Cool night, silver river cuts through the sky, palace gates locked in clear autumn. Jade platform trees, golden stem dew. Phoenix brain fragrance wafts in misty smoke. Three thousand pearls and jade surround the imperial tour, water pavilion presses cool state.