The Complete Works of Xu Zhimo's Classical Prose

Chapter 9 Catching Duckweed on the Edge of Autumn Dream (8)
And not only do you not need to be accompanied, you also don't need to bring books with you during such parades.Books are ideal companions, but you should take them with you, on the train, in the guest room of your lodgings, not when you are wandering alone.Isn’t the source of great, deep, inspiring, clear, and beautiful thoughts to be found in the wind, clouds, undulating mountains and topography, and the color and fragrance of flowers and plants?Nature is the greatest book, said Gerd, and in every word of his page we read the deepest message.And the words in this book are understood by everyone: Alps and Wulaofeng, Xuexili and Putuo Mountain, Rhine River and Yangtze River; Limeng Lake and Xizi Lake, Jianlan and Qionghua, Luxue and Xixi in Hangzhou The red tide at sunset in Venice, the lark and the nightingale, not to mention the common yellow wheat, the common purple wisteria, and the common green grass grow on the ground and fluctuate in the wind. The symbols they use are always the same, and they The meaning of this is always obvious, as long as your own soul is not scarred, your eyes are not blind, and your ears are not plugged, this invisible highest education will always be your title, this most precious tonic without charge It will be for your benefit forever: as long as you know this book, you will not be lonely when you are lonely in this world, you will not be poor when you are poor, you will be comforted when you are distressed, you will be encouraged when you are frustrated, you will be blamed when you are weak, and you will not be poor when you are lost. There is a compass.

July 14

原刊1925年7月4日《现代评论》第2卷第30期，
Re-published "Morning News Supplement·Literary Weekly" on August 8 of the same year, included in "Paris Claws"

Tarzan Sunrise

Zhen Duo wrote and asked me to say a few words on the "Tagore" of "Novel Monthly".I also agreed, but at this time, I was so happy to visit Jinan, Taishan and Kongling, and I couldn't gather my mind to write the whole article. Until now, the deadline is approaching, so I have to sit down and imagine what I want The words are not written neatly.

We see the sun from the top of Mount Tai.For those who have sailed across the sea, it is not a miracle to see the sun climb up from the horizon; and I personally have enjoyed the incomparable sunshine of the river, sea and Indian Ocean.But watching the sunrise on the top of a high mountain, especially on the top of Mount Tai, our insatiable curiosity naturally looks forward to a special state, which is different from that on the plain or on the sea.Sure enough, when we first got up, the sky was still dark and dark, the west was green, and the east was a little white. The universe was just as vast and vast as described by an old word.But this is the rough impression I had when I felt the strong Xiao Han and my sleepy eyes were not fully awake.When I looked back carefully, I couldn't help screaming loudly because there was only an unseen realm in front of me.It turned out that the construction of the storm all night last night turned out to be a common sea of ​​clouds.Except for Riguan Peak and Yuhuangding where we are, the east, west, north, south, and north are only covered with diffuse clouds. Before dawn, it looks like countless sheep with thick velvet and long arm, sleeping with their necks crossed and their ears curled up. and corners are vaguely recognizable.At that time, in this vast sea of ​​clouds, I was standing alone on a small misty island, and a strange fantasy occurred
My body grows infinitely, and the mountain under my feet is just a fist stone in proportion to my stature; this giant is disheveled, and his long hair flutters like a black flag in the wind.This giant stands on the top of the earth, facing the east with his back, with his long arms outstretched, looking forward, welcoming, urging, and calling silently; worshiping, praying, and shedding tears. Tears of joy and sorrow...

These tears are not shed in vain, and this silent prayer is not unanswered.

Giant's hand, pointing to the east
What is something in the east that is being revealed?
There are magnificent colors in the east, and there is a great and all-encompassing light in the east. It has arrived, and it is here...

A large number of dyers of rose juice, grape syrup, bauhinia juice, agate essence, and frosted maple leaves work at the bottom of the clouds; countless winding ichthyosaurs climb into the pale clouds.

The splendor of one side has lifted the drowsiness of the sky and awakened the bright glow of the four corners. The horse is galloping enthusiastically...

The sea of ​​clouds is also alive; the beast-shaped waves have been sleepy, and the great roar has resumed, and it headed up and shook its tail towards us, washing away towards the dew-stained green bun-shaped island, stirring up foam and waves on the four shores, shaking this place. The floating reef of life seems to be reporting the presence of light and joy...

Looking at the Dongfang Haigulishi who has swept away his obstacles, the golden glow like a sparrow screen emerges from the shoulders of the boundless and spreads on the edge of the earth.Get up... get up... hard, hard.Chunyan's round head leaped out of the horizon, climbed up the back of the cloud, and shined in the sky...

Sing, praise, this is the resurrection of the East, this is the victory of light...

The giant who sent out prayers, his figure stretched across the boundless sea of ​​clouds, has gradually disappeared in the general joy; now his majestic and beautiful singing voice has also been reflected in all directions... …

Hear, this pure joy; behold, this universal light!
This is my fantasy when I recall the sunrise of Mount Tai at this time, and it is also my eulogy for Tagore's coming to China.

Originally published in September 1923, "Novel Monthly", Volume 9, No. 14

Letter from Yamanaka

Sword Three: I am still alive; but at least I am a "monk".I live in a mountain in our town. There is a newly built ancestral hall called "Three Immortals".Don't laugh at Xu Zhimo and entered the ancestral hall while alive, and he is three immortals!This place is not bad. I am sitting at the window where I am writing, facing the mountain view, the burnt temple, bare trees, evergreen trees, stone archway stage, strange-shaped stones scattered among the trees, and the stone on the top of the mountain. The pagoda and the "hungry eagles" hovering on the top of the tower sometimes show off their strange cries piercing the sky. The numerous tombs, pavilions, white wood coffins and coffins wrapped in reed mats are all soaked in the tender morning sun.Next door is the hall of the ancestral hall, which is dedicated to loyal ministers, filial sons, Qing guests, scholars, high officials, rich men, chess players (Chen Zixian), mathematicians (Li Shanlan, Uncle Ren) and my own ancestors. Why are they "immortal"? I still don’t understand: Next door is the Temple of Filial Piety, most of them are those who jumped into the well, threw themselves into the river, hanged themselves, swallowed gold, took salt and bittern, maybe ate raw opium and matchheads, martyrs, and countless “widows” who gritted their teeth. Those who hold memorial tablets as relatives, those who teach their sons to become famous, and those who are virtuous and filial, all sacrifice their lives in exchange for the cold pork head after death, and they are not very reliable; besides, the Toji Temple is next door, and the outer wall is half rotten. Only the plaster remains of the statues in the temple.Looking out of the front window is the end of a small river, a stone bridge covered with vines and vines, a narrow embankment, and a pool of clear water across the embankment. ) A wasteland is also full of tombs, and then you can see the houses in Xiashi Town. People who often pass by here are: pilgrims, country people carrying vegetable loads, women with green cloth baotou, and people carrying yellow leaves. A boy, a monk wearing a black cloth hood and carrying a lantern, a Taoist priest in a square scarf, a beggar who lives and helps us under the stage, a boy shepherd and his cute white goat, go to the mountains to find firewood, dig tree roots, or plunder Hay, delivery of soup and surname calling (now in front of you, it’s so wonderful, a man in front is holding a bunch of rice firewood in his hand, calling the patient’s name and telling him to “come in the house”, followed by a man The old woman in the red padded jacket and the green vest, holding an umbrella, answered the man's call in a low voice).At night, all kinds of sounds are heard: bells in the pagoda courtyard, wind in the forest, bells in the corner of the temple, children's cries in the distance, dogs barking, owls cursing, footsteps of passers-by on the stone road Embellishing the silence of the night at the foot of the mountain, the house of the ancestral hallkeeper is haunted from time to time, and ghost stories are heard almost every day!

This is my apartment.The world, the bustling world, is far away from me: even the ashes of Beijing can’t reach me. It’s so stingy to be a doctoral student. I don’t even want to send me a copy of the morning paper; the information from my friends is even more rare.Today I was happy occasionally, and wrote three sections of "Dongshan Xiaoqu", and I am sending it to you now, maybe it can fill in the gaps.

My only hope is a heavy snowfall.

Zhimo Greetings January [-]
Originally published on March 1924, 3, "Morning News Supplement·Literary Xunkan"

ugly west lake

"If you want to compare the West Lake to the West Lake, it is always appropriate to wear heavy makeup." We have too idealized the West Lake.In summer, when the West Lake is full of make-up, the willows on the embankment turn into a deep green, and the lotus leaves and flowers around the Lihu Lake are also in full bloom. Do you love this girl?I can't do it, I will run away as soon as I meet this time!What West Lake?This is simply a pot of fishy hot soup!

The water in the West Lake was originally shallow and stagnant. Recently, the lake has been full of big fish, weighing forty to fifty catties, which have chewed up all the tender aquatic plants in the lake. Needless to say, the water is muddy, and there is also the smell of fish. The taste is very unpleasant.Speaking of fish farming in the West Lake, I have heard various theories, and I don’t know which one is the inside story: Some say that fish farming is simply for the government’s profit, and it is not a ready-made to put a huge fish pond, fatten the fish, and sell it. It is said that fish farming is to prevent the aquatic plants from growing too presumptuously and may fill the center of the lake. It is also said that these big fish are from other places for the purpose of prolonging life, seeking children, or seeking financial prosperity. I bought it and released it in the lake, and now fishing is not allowed to be an official.No matter what, the West Lake has indeed changed into a lake of fish.It is said that Hangzhou has not had a single drop of water since June. Of course, the water in West Lake is as shallow as a beautiful woman with dry blood, plus the fishy smell!This year’s heat in the south, it’s hard to believe that we’re used to living in the north. It’s hot during the day, and we can’t relax all night until dawn. The sun is shining every day, and the sky is full of stars every night.Hangzhou is even worse than Shanghai. The shallow water in the West Lake is not far from boiling within a few hours of drying. There are mountains on all sides. It will never be cold.I hired a boat to swim on the lake that night, thinking that it would be cooler than on the shore.Well, if the wind doesn’t come, it’s okay. When the wind comes, it’s really uncomfortable. It’s hot and smelly. It’s really dizzy and nauseating. A friend of mine on the same boat was sick at that time. I remember the desert wind on both sides of the Red Sea. They all seem to be more tolerable!It was still warm when we got home at twelve o'clock at night.And the mosquitoes in the lake!It's like a group of big water ducks!I deserve it all my life.

This West Lake is too difficult, the smell is unbearable first.Besides, the most pleasant place to go along the lake is Pinghu Qiuyue. There are a platform, a few willows, and a few corridors. It is really unique to sit and watch the lake on a cool night with clear autumn moon, and it is better for people who are going Rarely, you can always monopolize it when you go at night, rousing the guards to make a bowl of tea and a cup of lotus root starch, chatting with a few friends to kill him in the middle of the night, it is really a blessing.

Three years ago, I went there with piano friends and flute masters. I lay flat under the poplar trees to watch the crumbling moonlight and listen to the quiet music resounding on the water.The vulgarity of the West Lake is changing rapidly, and every time I go back, I always feel sad: Lei Feng also ran away in shame, the broken bridge was turned into a car bridge, Hade built a house in the heart of the lake, and the gasoline boat of a certain young master was in the three-foot soft road. Boli makes waves, the smoke from the factory replaces the clouds from Xiuxiu, the gongs and drums of the big world and some stage act as the singing orioles on the lake, West Lake, West Lake, what else is there to be nostalgic for!
Even Pinghu Qiuyue was ruined this time, believe it or not?
"Boatman, let's go to Pinghu Qiuyue, it's always quiet there."

"Pinghu Qiuyue? Sir, quiet is not quiet. Geshe opened a tavern, and the tavern is really busy. Look, you can see that there are many people in white clothes who are blind, and the fans are so bloody. Some sang, seventeen or eighteen-year-old girls, listen to Wuxi folk songs, the huqin is quite refreshing..."

Then let's go to the building outside the building.Unexpectedly, the building outside the building is another sad one!It turns out that the old house on the first floor and the ground floor of the building outside the building is slantingly facing the pavilion in the middle of the lake, a few old tables that have been wiped white, one or two elderly waiters, lively fish and shrimp, all slippery. Water shield, a pot of old years, a plate of salted peanuts, every time I go back to the West Lake, I often take a leisurely trip to appreciate this ancient idea alone, leaning on the railing and looking at the shimmering lake from the shade of the willows by the embankment, sunny and sunny, Rain and snow have the scenery of rain and snow, otherwise the meaning will be longer when the willow branches are on the moon. Fortunately, it is not noisy, and it is also exclusive to go at night. While drinking hot wine, I casually talk about the scenery on the lake with the old waiter. There is also an indescribable joy in the shrimp market.But this time even the building outside the building has changed!The address has not been moved, but the three-story foreign-style facade with a roof has been rebuilt. The new paint is so bright that it is dazzling. From the lake, you can see the electric fans upstairs. The guests are crowded, and the waiter has changed. The servant's robe, the original old friend is also gone, and all the leisure and leisure are gone!We couldn't move a table and ate something downstairs by the road. Sure enough, even the side dishes changed, which was really sad.Tagore came to see China and expressed great emotion.He said, "There is no second nation in the world that intentionally creates ugliness like you." No wonder the old man complained, what kind of expectations he had for China (maybe the poet's expectations) when he came, and what he saw What a reality!Mr. Dickinson has a wonderful article, which is his thoughts after visiting Mount Tai. He compares the vulgarity of Westerners with our elegance, their utilitarianism and our leisure spirit.He said that only the Chinese really know how to care for nature, and their embellishments in the mountains and rivers do not disappoint nature at all; in fact, they try to add natural beauty everywhere, and they do not allow business that spoils the scenery.They build roads on the mountain by twisting and turning according to the mountain situation, and paving the stones from the mountain. The mountain road is very interesting, and they would rather sacrifice a little convenience.

Do not want to lose the harmony of nature.So they built charming stone paths; when Europeans and Americans come, they come to the elevators that go through the mountains without opening the road.They carved beautiful poems on the original stones, and painted them in an ancient green color, hiding the interest among the moss; on the contrary, on the rocks in Europe and America, there are only advertisements for cigars and various businesses.They reveal a corner of the red wall of the monastery in the dense forest, while Westerners build noisy hotels with several floors.I heard people say that the Chinese should follow the example of Oxie, but I don't know who should be consciously and humbly be an apprentice?
This is a section of Mr. Dickinson's thoughts when he came to China 15 years ago.I don't know if he comes back to see the results of West Lake now, what wonderful words he will have to praise our virtues!
Speaking of which, West Lake is really Ellen.In terms of the beauty of mountains and rivers, West Lake really has a place in the world.That mountain light, that water color, there is something intoxicating, so that people can't help but love.

Unfortunately, the people of Hangzhou (I'm also considered a Hangzhou native), for some reason, are particularly vulgar and ugly.People who don't study are tasteless, and people who study are even more annoying. Just listening to that mouthful of Hangbai, which is so annoying, is enough to upset people!It seems that Hangzhou people can speak (Hangzhou people really can speak!), and they can do things. In terms of "business" in recent years, Hangzhou has indeed undergone a lot of construction. Automobile companies help; but unfortunately, managing landscapes is another kind of career, and it is definitely not a business like running a shop or being an official.Usually, when setting up a small garden, we still have to say that the owner has some hills and valleys in his chest. Now the entire West Lake is in the hands of a group of elders. I dare not guess what they usually think in their minds, but judging by the results, They are indeed a kind of mind that only wants to increase the total income of "our Hangzhou" business circles every year!
The old class who opened the shop may have been rewarded, but what about the poor West Lake?A young girl who is clearly born to be pretty, but she is born to ask a group of rough men to paint her with makeup, just say that there are no other embarrassing situations, and it is enough to spoil the scenery!God, this troubled Xizi!

But looking back, how can I care about beauty these days!Jiangnan is finally heaven, as of today.In other places, people live like worms, dare not walk when they have a way, dare not speak when they have something to say, how can they pretend to be a gentleman, and choose a bird's eye that is not beautiful enough?
August [-]th
Originally published on August 1926, 8, "Morning News Supplement"

Notes from Tianmu Mountain
The Buddha said in the crowd that I am a Buddha. Hearing the sound of the Dharma, all doubts and regrets have been eliminated.

When I first heard what the Buddha said, my heart was filled with surprise and suspicion. I turned non-demons into Buddhas, and my heart was disturbed.

Parables of the Lotus Sutra
The mountains are not necessarily quiet.The temple is hidden among the towering trees. In the morning and evening, there is wind, the sound of pine trees, the sound of bamboo, singing birds and insects. The thick bamboo pipes of the spring water are the natural shengxiao, which joins the sounds of the sky and the ground from time to time, and it is never quiet; but the sounds in the mountains, whether they are earthworms in the soil or bearers, The strange tune of "singing treasures" in the middle of the night has its own uniqueness: it comes pure, clear, and thorough, and penetrates into your spleen and lungs like ice water; just as you feel clearer after washing in spring water, these Although Shan Lai is also a sound, it also clearly has the function of cleansing.

These clear sounds rock you to sleep at night, and you wake up from the embrace of these clear sounds in the morning.

Living in the mountains is a blessing, and it is even more achievable to live in the mountains.Where our windows open is a lush forest; there is a sea of ​​clouds outside the forest!The light of the sun, the light of the moon, the light of the stars: all are yours.From this three-foot-square window you accept the changes of nature; from this three-foot-square window you radiate your emotional changes.at ease; satisfied.

When I dreamed back this morning, I opened my eyes and saw the glow of the sun.The birds are admiring; I'll join in too.Theirs is Qingyue's singing, and mine is the once-deep silence.

(End of this chapter)