Chapter 21 Do not read Wang Wei

One of the most touching themes of Chinese painting is to write the relationship between man and nature as a very poetic scene, or the sunset at the ferry, or the solitary smoke in the ruins, or the fishing fire in the river, or the houses in Gepu, the chaimen coiled by the Qingxi, the red Mountain windows covered by trees, boatmen in foggy dawn, mule drivers in snowy nights, etc. Why is this touching?Why do we think these pictures are beautiful and full of meaning, and what is the meaning?Why is it fascinating to read "Qingxi is more than a thousand feet, and there is a priest among them", but it becomes a joke when it is changed to "Qingxi is two thousand feet, and there are two Taoists among them"?Instead of seeking boring answers, it is better to continue to appreciate the intentions of the ancients.The most typical landscape picture, I think it is in half of Wang Wei's poem:

"If you don't know Xiangji Temple, you can reach Yunfeng for several miles. There are no paths in the ancient trees, and where is the bell in the deep mountains?" Landscape poetry and landscape painting originated in the Six Dynasties and revived in the Tang Dynasty.Different from the chaos of the Six Dynasties, Wang Wei’s era can still be called the prosperous Tang Dynasty despite the Anshi Rebellion. Dim, isn't it somewhat strange? Like many Confucian scholars, Wang Wei also worked hard when he was young. From the time he was recruited by Zhang Jiuling, he made Supplements to the Right, and when Jiuling was demoted to the south, Wang Wei's understanding of politics was just two or three years later. Interest, like the enthusiasm of young people, quickly cools down.But political setbacks were not enough to explain his later position. He and a group of scholars at that time hated the social mission they were given from the bottom of their hearts, and lost interest in political and ethical life. The picture of the world is so boring that it is not worth yearning for.

Wang Wei's own utopia is not so much in the real mountains and rivers, but in his imagination.He retired several times and came back again. He hates the hustle and bustle of people, and he can't stand poverty and loneliness. He claims to be an upright person, but he doesn't offend every big person, no matter whether that person is Li Linfu, Li Fuguo, or An Lu. Mountain.In his own words, there is no need to care about the floating clouds in the world, so he is empty-handed and absent-minded, and he is relieved of the old moral responsibilities, and he is not tired of etiquette. He criticized some predecessors who had similar interests but maintained integrity, or in other words, used criticism to defend himself.Xu You, who washed his ears, did not understand the Tao, and Tao Qian, who explained the seal, forgot to keep the big and keep the small. As for Ji Kang's struggle, in Wang Wei's view, it was even more meaningless. There is a difference, long forests and abundant grass, how is it different from the gates of government offices?" There is no difference between good and evil in human affairs, and it doesn't matter where they come from.

Thorough cynicism and a beautiful yearning for a reasonable life are combined in this way.In later generations, it became even more obvious that a person could be a realist with peace of mind as long as he imagined himself an idealist.The thoughts of mountains and forests have always been the invisible grass of scholar-bureaucrats. Almost no one, not every chance, just draws mountains and waters. If you only look at those poems, you will wonder how ancient China could find people who were willing to be officials. , not to mention breaking your head for it. The mountains and fields in Wang Wei's imagination can cleanse people and make them restless. They are also friendly props and give meaning to emptiness.Wang Wei studied Buddhism and learned nothing.Interestingly, he, and a large number of people later, pulled the concept of emptiness from philosophy to real life. This is certainly not a mistake, but it is also enough to be a trick.

Wang Wei's paintings have not been handed down, and the few paintings handed down from generation to generation are not credible.It is said that he likes to paint "snow scenes, sword pavilions, plank roads, mules, Xiaoxing, fishing, snow crossings, village ruins".In the bleak environment, human activities seem to return to the original, forming a separate relationship with nature, and the two sides perform a pantomime. Is there anything better than this?The power of genius is like this. The quiet world Wang Wei described cannot be created by God. "Sitting alone in a secluded grove, playing the qin and singing again. People in the deep forest don't know, but the bright moon comes to shine." Self-pity and self-pity are like this, who wouldn't want to recite?I love Wang Wei's poems, and I envy his life. To borrow the commentary of the Song people, it is rich and noble, mountains and forests, which are both interesting.It seems that there is no need for the heroes of Yunxia and the friends of birds and beasts, even in the human relationship, you can also embrace the thoughts of the world. One of the ways is to read Wang Wei's poems.

In another poem, Wang Wei wrote: "Seeing Taihang every day and night, I can't go to ponder. I ask you why, and the world is the baby of me." Lin, to look forward to one of the bright moon.After all, Wang Wei is a man with lofty aspirations. Later generations without Wang Wei's ambitions will be a hundred times worse than words. When he came and moved, he painted a big mountain and put a crown in the middle of it. The person who looks like a gentleman said this is me, this is my heart Department also.There is light in the bright moon, why would you rather shine on this thing?