Chapter 18 Shi Xian Tang

I have never heard the name of Shi Xian Tang, nor is it on our schedule.On our way from Kyoto to Arashiyama, the car suddenly stopped in front of a garden. The owner said that this is the famous Shixian Hall. The gate is made of bamboo poles, and beside the gate stands a stone tablet with three Chinese characters engraved on it: Shixiantang.There is a plaque on the door, with three Chinese characters written horizontally: Xiaoyoudong.We seemed to have returned to our motherland all of a sudden, visiting a famous garden in the Suzhou area of ​​the south of the Yangtze River.After we came to Japan, we never felt like we were in a foreign land.When I came here today, the psychological distance disappeared even more.

The entrance is stone steps, and at the end of the steps is a wooden structure house, which is similar to houses in other places in Japan.The whole garden is not big, but the house is tidy and compact. There are small bridges and flowing water in the courtyard, winding paths, flowers on the branches, ripples in the water, birdsong in the forest, and the sound of cicadas, all of which brought us into a A quiet wonderland. Everything in the small garden deepens the impression we got in front of the gate: the whole garden is full of strong Chinese flavor.We see plaques with Chinese characters everywhere, hall names, hall names, and building names, all of which are Chinese characters, such as Xiaoyue Tower, Wanyue Pavilion, Yuexuan, and Laomeiguan, all of which are kind and familiar to us. , Feelings of homeland spontaneously rose in my heart.

The founder of the garden was Ishikawa Jozan who was born in 1583 in the 11th year of Tensho more than 400 years ago.He is a famous literati and calligrapher. He has been deeply influenced by Chinese culture and can write Chinese poems.This is where he lived in seclusion in his later years.According to the "Shixiantang Ji" written by Lin Luoshan in the 20th year of Kanei, 1643 Gregorian calendar, Ishikawa entered the officialdom at an early age, and at the age of fifty-six, he resigned from office and built the Shixiantang. The old mother who is an official is to support her, and those who play in Yiyang have been around for a long time. As for the breath of the mouth of the cup, and the spirit of throwing Maoyi, I came to Luoyang to meet each other at the edge of the Yicheng Temple at the foot of Tailu, cutting down evil trees, Austria Grass, dredging, searching the foot of the mountain, Xinken Hall, revealing the small shadows of thirty-six generations of Chinese poets on the wall, writing each of their poems on the side, called Shixiantang." This is the source of Shixiantang. .Thirty-six poets are headed by Song Dynasty Chen Yuyi, followed by Song Huang Tingjian, Song Ouyang Xiu, Song Meiyaochen, Song Linbu, Tang Hanshan, Tang Dumu, Tang Lihe, Tang Liu Yuxi, Tang Hanyu, Tang Wei Yingwu, Tang Chuguangxi, Tang Gaoshi, Tang Wangwei, Tang Libai, Du Shenyan of Tang Dynasty, Xie Lingyun of Jin Dynasty, Suwu of Han Dynasty, Taoqian of Jin Dynasty, Baozhao of Song Dynasty, Chen Ziang of Tang Dynasty, Dufu of Tang Dynasty, Meng Haoran of Tang Dynasty, Cen Shen of Tang Dynasty, Wang Changling of Tang Dynasty, Liu Changqing of Tang Dynasty, Liu Zongyuan of Tang Dynasty, Bai Juyi of Tang Dynasty, Lutong of Tang Dynasty, Li Shangyin of Tang Dynasty, Lingche Tang of Tang Dynasty , Song Shaoyong, Song Su Shunqin, Song Sushi, Song Chen Shidao, Song Zengji.The criteria for selection seem unclear. Among them are hermit poems, monk poems, Confucian poems, and official poems.Thirty-six poets are all famous poets in China, which shows the great influence of Chinese poetry on him and the depth of his immersion in Chinese culture.In the other halls of Shixiantang, you can also see the three characters of "Zhu Zi's Family Instructions", "Fu Lu Shou" and two big Chinese characters "Ji Sao" written by Ishikawa.Ishikawa has a deep knowledge of Chinese poetry and loves Chinese Confucianism.From the whole atmosphere of Shixiantang, we can see his deep understanding and love for Chinese culture.I believe that all the Chinese who visit here today will have a sense of kindness and warmth, and will naturally think of the long history of cultural relations between China and Japan, and the deep and profound friendship between the two peoples.There is no way to return to the sky, and there is skill in shrinking the earth. Shixiantang seems to have brought me back to the motherland all at once, and I can't help feeling nostalgic for the past.

However, in a flash, I found that no matter how much Shixiantang touched my heart, it was not Shixiantang itself that really touched my soul, but a group of female middle school students who were only fourteen or fifteen years old. The uniforms of middle school students are neat, simple and generous, with a calm demeanor.I don't know much about Japanese middle school students.It is said that during the summer vacation, both male and female elementary and middle school students will go out to travel, visit various places in the motherland, and get to know the motherland.My visit to Japan this time was probably during the summer vacation. At all the stations I passed, I saw groups of elementary school students sitting on the ground or standing there, waiting for the train. They were lively but not noisy, neat and tidy. Without being rigid, it leaves a deep impression.In Shixiantang, we also met them.Because I was used to it, I didn't mind much at first.However, when I looked up, I saw a girl smiling at us.I also smiled back.Unexpectedly, she came forward and shook hands with me.I don't know Japanese; I guessed that Japanese middle school students are all learning English, so I tried to talk to her in English:

"Do you speak English?" "Yes, Ido." "How do you do?" "Well, thank you!" "What are you doing here?" "Wearing traveling during summer vacation." "May I ask, what is your name?" "Mynameis—" She said a Japanese name, but I didn't catch it clearly, and I didn't ask further.Because, I think, it doesn't matter if people know each other, if they know each other well, their names don't matter.As long as I know that standing in front of me is a Japanese girl, that's enough. We stood there and chatted for a few words. This little girl and her group of little friends were all smiling and unrestrained, with a ray of innocence in their eyes, as if they had no fear and no doubts. , generous, open and frank, it seems that standing in front of him is not a foreigner, but his own relatives.We seem to have known each other for a long time, and this time we meet again after a long absence.I believe that none of this group of little girls has ever been to China. Why are they not unfamiliar with China? Could it be that this Shixiantang filled with the fragrance of Chinese culture has played a role invisibly and subtly? , will it make the hearts of the Chinese and Japanese people more accessible? I cannot answer.In terms of age, I am several times older than them, and I still use a third language to communicate ideas.But none of this has been an obstacle to our mutual understanding.It is only now that I seem to have truly touched the heart of the Japanese people. I have a much deeper and more specific understanding of the heart of Japan than I did when I gave a lecture at Waseda University.I feel extremely relieved. "We are both from the East, why should we have known each other before?" I didn't even care much about whether we could meet again in the future.There are thousands of girls in Japan, any one of them can represent the heart of the Japanese people, so why bother to remember this one girl?