Phoenix leans against the sky

  One

  The ultimate of words is in their realm. With a realm, 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 a written realm, which are the origins of the idealistic and realistic schools. 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 ideals.

  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) Can bear the lonely inn closing spring cold, cuckoo's voice in the slanted sunset. (2) There is also a realm with me. Picking chrysanthemums under the east fence, I see the southern mountain at ease. (3) Cold waves rise quietly, white birds slowly descend. (4) This is the realm without me. The realm with me observes things with my own perspective, so both things and I are colored by my own hue. The realm without me observes things from the perspective of things themselves, thus it is unknown what is I and what is things. Ancient people wrote more about the realm with me, yet they did not start to write about the realm without me, this depends on the heroic scholars who can establish their own style.

  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 Zhangtai Road. On a rainy and windy evening in March, the door is closed at dusk, with no way to keep spring from departing. Tears 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 view cut off without a place to search. Can bear the solitary inn closing in spring chill, cuckoo's cry amidst slanting sunset. Posthouse plum blossoms, fish-delivered silk letter, this sorrow has no 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 carriages or horses to disturb me. I ask you, how can this be? My heart is distant and the land is naturally biased. I pick chrysanthemums under the eastern hedge, and see the Southern Mountain at ease. The mountain air is refreshing in the evening, and birds fly back together. There is a true meaning here, but it's hard to put into words."

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

  Old friends reluctantly part, carriages stop by the river. The vast expanse of heaven and earth unfolds before us, with all scenes seemingly borrowed from each other. For three days, the north wind has brought snow, and the primordial essence has been transformed. The nine mountains are densely arrayed, their majesty unyielding to any insult. The cold waves rise gently, white birds slowly descend. Those who yearn for home grow anxious, but the natural world is inherently at leisure. Cups and bowls carry the sound of sighs, dust and earth suffice for lamentation. Turning back, I see people in the pavilion, the tranquil forest like a painting.

  Four

  A state of no self is obtained by men only in quietude. A state of self is obtained by men at the time when, though moving, they are quiet. Hence one is elegant and the other is grand.

  Five

  Things in nature are mutually restrictive. However, when they are 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 may be, 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 the character "boisterous" added, and the atmosphere is fully conveyed. "Clouds break, moon comes, flowers play with shadows (2)", with the character "play" added, and the atmosphere is fully conveyed.

  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 (Tianxianzi) (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, not divided into good or bad.

  Fine rain and fish emerge, gentle breeze and swallows slant (1).

  Why suddenly 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 suddenly 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:

  "Leaving Guo's mansion, the pillars are sparse, no village in sight. The river is calm and has few banks, the secluded trees have many late flowers. Fine rain brings out fish, gentle wind makes swallows slant. In the city, there are a hundred thousand households, but here only two or three families."

  (2) Du Fu [Out of the Pass, Five Poems] 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.

  High in the sky the bright moon is suspended,

  Orders are strict, night is quiet and still.

  A few sad notes of the horn sound,

  Brave 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 like a dream, Endless silk rain is as thin 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 clear, 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 a few 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 Migration of Swallows" (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 sorrow of parting at Ganling. 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 mournfully, the frost covers 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 off the sky's flow, palace gates lock 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 down on cool Zhou."