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Your impression of Tao Yuanming is not like this:
Dissatisfied with the sinister officialdom, he retired early and wrote down, "Under the eastern fence of picking chrysanthemums, leisurely see the South Mountain." ”
After only 83 days as a county order, he returned to the garden and no longer became an official, he said: "I can't bend my waist for five buckets of rice, fist and fist are evil in the township!" ”
What he longed for was "yellow hair and happy self-pleasure." ”
▲ "Wang Kui Na Sha Taoyuan Picture Scroll" Qing Wang Kui
In our opinion, his attitude towards the fame and fortune that the masses flock to is: it doesn't matter.
But I was surprised to find that such a person who seems to be "indifferent" to everything, indifferent to fame and fortune, and quiet and far-reaching, even has his "so-called" moments.
I want to ask you a question first:
When you feel like you don't have much time, what do you care about most?
At the age of fifty-one, Tao Yuanming, who was seriously ill, was worried that he would die because of this, so he left a letter to the children: "Waiting for The Alienation with Zi Yu".
What does the average father's letter to his child look like?
Tell the truth? Let the child be sensible and obedient?
Tao Yuanming is not.
He did not preach the whole thing like an elder, but like his sons' friends, he talked to his sons in vivid and sincere language, worrying about their future.
At the beginning of the chapter, he comforts the children that everyone will die, and do not be too sad about my death:
Heaven and earth are endowed with life and death; since the ancient sages, who can be exempted? Zi Xia has a saying: "Death and life have a destiny, and wealth is in heaven."
It is heaven and earth that give life to man, and if there is life, there must be death. Who can avoid death as a sage since ancient times?
Everyone dies, and so do I.
▲ "Tao YuanMing Statue" axis (partial) Ming Wang Zhongyu painting
Tao Yuanming wanted to tell the child that as long as it was a person, there was no way to avoid death, including me. Don't be too sad, too afraid of my death.
He worries about the lives of his children:
Sex is just clumsy, and things are more than a bunch. Self-esteem for oneself will be afflicted. The death of The Servant made Ru and others hungry and cold.
It was Dad's personality that was straight and clumsy, not suitable for being an official, and resigned from the government and went into hiding early, so that you were starved and frozen from a young age.
Lowering the ancient monarch's father and son, the three principles and five constants, the father's lofty set, frankly speaking his heart to his son.
He did not want the children to lose harmony after his death, and hoped that the children would cherish the feelings between the brothers:
Although Ru and others are not born, they should think of the righteousness of brothers in all parts of the world.
Although you are not born of a mother, you still want to think of the principle of "brothers in all corners of the world".
A person who may not have much time, what he cares about most, what he worries most about, is still the precious feelings between relatives.
He uses vivid stories of his ancestors to express to his children the heart of a father who expects family love and harmony:
Uncle Bao, Guan Zhong, no guess;
Returning to life, Wu Ju, Ban Jing Dao old; so that he can succeed in defeat, because of the loss of merit.
Yingchuan WonChang, a famous scholar at the end of the Han Dynasty, is in Qingzuo, eighty and final, brothers live together, as for toothless.
Jibei Feng Zhichun, Jin Shi Cao Pedestrians also, the seventh generation of the same wealth, the family has no complaints.
Guan Zhong and Uncle Bao did not suspect each other when they divided their belongings.
Although Guisheng and Wuju have failed, they can eventually turn defeat into victory.
The won-long of Yingchuan died at the age of eighty, and until his death, the brothers lived together.
In the seven generations of Jibei, the families will not be separated, and the families will not resent each other.
His way of expressing expectations is not as straightforward as the big truth, but it is more direct to people's hearts.
▲ "Tao Yuanming's Poetic Intentions" album Qing Shi Tao painting
He was also worried that because he could not grow up with his children, he could not give them a suggestion that they could refer to in the future, so he wrote:
The poem says: "The mountain rises, and the scenery stops." "Although you can't do it, your heart is still there." Ru Qi' caution, I repeat what I say!
He who has virtue is admired by all; and the virtue of integrity is obeyed by all. Even if it doesn't reach that level, you should learn from them sincerely.
I may not be able to spend time with you any longer, but I am worried about your future.
After I leave, if these stories, this letter, can convey for me the worries and exhortations that I may not have time to say later, then my regrets may be alleviated a little.
What he wrote in his letter was a normal heart for death, equality and sincerity for his children, and regret that he was about to die and could no longer accompany his loved ones.
Although the letter is only more than 400 words, I saw a father who was reluctant and hearty for his children when he knew that his limit was coming.
Unlike the previous image of a single indifferent hermit who has penetrated deeply into our hearts, Tao Yuanming in this letter is delicate and affectionate.
Why is it that Tao Yuanming, who does not care about fame and fortune, has such a deep "so-called" for his family?
This brings us to Tao Yuanming's "family complex".
First of all, it is his home style.
Tao Yuanming grew up in the home of his maternal grandfather Meng Jia, who was very knowledgeable and taught by example.
When Tao Yuan was young next year, his grandfather's family had a lot of books, which made Tao Yuanming have a very strong cultural atmosphere since he was a child.
He also wrote a poem "Destiny Son", recording the glory of his ancestors, in order to motivate himself and his children to inherit The Tao's family style, which is the basis for the emergence of his family complex, and it also has the most profound impact on him.
Not only the influence of family style, but also years of war.
Tao Yuanming grew up in Xunyang, a place that has been robbed by soldiers since ancient times, and war is inevitable.
And the perennial war will inevitably bring about the separation of wives and children and the shattering of the homeland.
Therefore, family reunion is particularly precious, and in the family, he can find a sense of security and comfort.
This is also the reason why Tao Yuanming has a strong family complex.
In the end, it is inseparable from that era.
What kind of era was Wei Jin?
The New Language of the World records such a story:
Wang Rong lost his son Wanzi, Shan Jian went to the province, and Wang Grief was invincible. Jane: "Why is this the thing in the child's arms?" ”
Wang Yue: "The saint forgets his feelings, the lowest is not enough, and the place of love is in my generation." "Simply obey his words, and it is more comfortable."
Wang Rong's son died, and he was very sad. When Shan Jian went to visit him, he said, "A baby in your arms, is it necessary to grieve to this point?" ”
Wang Rong replied to him: "The saints are not emotional, and the most inferior people cannot talk about feelings; it is our kind of people who are the most focused on feelings." ”
▲ "The New Language of the World" ancient book
Like Wang Rong and Shanjian, there is one big difference between the poetry and articles of the Wei and Jin dynasties, that is, their emotions are worth recording.
It's not just high ambitions that can be sung.
The little emotions of the individual are just as worthwhile. Songs, but also chants.
Tao Yuanming's rare affection in his letter was also influenced by such an era.
Dashing and free, and the literary brilliance are our impressions of Tao Yuanming's works in the past
But in this letter, he abandoned these exquisite words and indifferent state of mind, and used the most sincere and simple language to express his longest concern.
Let us see behind his seemingly indifferent, there is also soft and affectionate, there is a so-called side.
And this side is the family.
As he wrote in "The Return of the Dead":
"The world is contrary to me, and the words are repeated? Happy relatives love words, music piano book to dispel worries. ”
▲ "Tao Yuanming's Return to ci tu" fan page Qing Jiao Bingzhen painting
With piano books, with family, everything is enough.