This poem comes from Wang Wei's "Zhongnan Farewell", the whole poem:
I was quite good at Taoism in my middle age, and in my later years I came home to the southern border of the mountains.
Every time you come or go alone, you will know your victory in vain.
Walk to a water-poor place and sit down to watch the clouds rise.
I happened to visit Lin Sou, and we talked and laughed for a long time.
The general meaning of the whole poem is: Wang Wei likes to seek Taoism after he reaches middle age. Living in Zhongnan Mountain, I walk around by myself when the mood strikes. When you reach the end of the water, sit down and watch the clouds rise and disperse. I met an old farmer in the mountains by chance. We had a great conversation and forgot to go back.
"Walking to a water-poor place, sitting and watching the clouds rise" is a famous line in this poem. I couldn't quite understand it when I was studying. After working, I became more and more aware that this state is rare. wide awake. If you can really maintain the state of mind of living a simple life all your life, and still maintain the peace of mind of "walking to the bottom of the water, sitting and watching the clouds rise" in the chaotic adult world, I can't say whether you can have worldly fame and wealth, but at least in this life. Come down and you will be happy.
Perhaps, only those who have truly seen prosperity will resolutely abandon it and move toward complete emptiness.
To understand this poem, we need to first understand Wang Wei.
Wang Wei was born in a wealthy family. He achieved great success at a young age but had great ambition to repay his failure. At the age of 21, he was awarded the title of No. 1 Scholar and became an official. However, the subsequent situation was very bumpy. First, he was demoted because he violated the emperor's taboo by dancing the "yellow lion". Later, when he was middle-aged, his family fell into decline, his wife passed away, and he had to worry about money. After the Anshi Rebellion, he was imprisoned and sentenced to death. He was his younger brother. Wang Jin rescued him from prison at the cost of losing his official position.
After experiencing so much, Wang Wei felt an essential enlightenment and an ethereal state of mind in which he let go of everything and even embroidered Buddha in Changzhai in his later years. He lived on a vegetarian diet and stayed away from dust and fatigue. He bought a villa called Wangchuan in the outskirts of the capital. The "Old Book of Tang Dynasty" said that he played the piano and composed poems all day long.
"Zhongnan Farewell" is the work of Wang Wei in his later years. At this time, he had already lived a semi-official and semi-hidden life. After spending half his life and experiencing so much, Wang Wei finally came to terms with himself. Reconciliation, knowing what he really wants.
Officialdom, fame, financial power, political struggle, what a boring thing. He just wants to be quiet and write his poems. Draw his picture, accompany your elderly mother, and recite Buddhist scriptures. It is better to walk alone in the wind and waves.
When you are happy, you will know your success. When sitting and watching the clouds rise, this is what Wang Wei, who is known as the "Poetry Buddha", has learned over his lifetime: to be alone, walk around when he is tired, and sit on the ground in a daze. It's so rare to see the clouds rise and disperse.
Perhaps, it is like this. When you experience the ups and downs, taste the joys and sorrows, and understand the world, you will understand that a life is just a bowl. Fireworks in the world.
Living a simple life, I think, is the meaning of this poem today. Why we were always the happiest when we were children, because it was simple to eat, sleep and do simple things every day. , I don't think about why I do these things, what's the use, I just like it, I just want to do it.
The above is my answer. , if you have different opinions, please leave a message in the comment area below and let’s discuss together.