Preface to the Collection of Poetry at Lan Pavilion
Wang Xizhi
It was the ninth year of Emperor Yonghe’s reign(A.D.353), which was also called Guichou according to the calculation of Chinese lunar year. On someday of the late spring, we gathered together at Lan pavilion in the Shanyin county of Kuaiji prefecture for dispelling bad luck and invoking happiness with waterside ablution. Soon, the pavilion was swarmed with the talented and the virtuous people from young to old. Here stood high hills and lofty peaks. All around were flourishing trees and erect bamboos. The clear creek, which engirdled Lan pavilion, was streaming gaily and reflecting sunshine around us. It was the engirdled creek that floated the wine cups among us to decide whose turn to poetize or drink. Although there were no melody feasts to the accompaniment of string and wind instruments as that in palaces, our wisdom was still content with sitting along the bank to poetize their helplessness and grief freely with wine. It was really a fine day with fresh air and gentle breeze.Glancing upward, we saw the empty immensity of sky. And when lowering our heads, we behold the golden prosperousness of species. All those views, which not only regaled our eyes but also opened our hearts, were totally enough to give us infinite joy and cheer.
Every day people get along with each other aimlessly, and soon their lives are flying to an end. During the twinkling life, some prefer sharing the inner feelings with bosom friends indoors. And still others prefer travelling everywhere to free themselves from formality control after committing the souls to outward objects. Though people would rather make different choices by their owns and meet different characters like peaceful or blundering, all of them will become delighted and satisfied the moment that they get what they want, only to forget that old age is just around the corner. However, when they become tired about what they have got, the movement of their sentiment will accompany the change of the outside world, and all kinds of feelings begin to well up in their hearts. There is no doubt that people will experience a pessimistic feeling after knowing the happiness has fleeted from the hands on the instant, let alone knowing the time people live is resigned to the fate and the death is inevitable for everybody in the end. The ancient once said, “Death is as important as life.” Isn't that each mortal’s sorrow?
Every time I consider why ancestors wrote poems with some kind of mixed emotions, there always dwells in me a vague understanding like the bond existing between our ideas. And lamenting the ancestors’ writings becomes unavoidable though I can not tell the inner cause always. I know it is ridiculous and insincere to equate death with life. And I also know it is affected and absurd to give equal importance to the long-lived and short-lived. Descendants view us just as we do to ancestors, and how sad it is! Hence I have to write down the names of all present at Lan pavilion and copy out their poetry. Even if times has been changing and circumstances have been going by, I still believe human emotions are similar and future readers can also explore their insights like us while appreciating this collection of poetry.