Therefore, these four sentences have no specific author, which originated from Wang Fanzhi, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, and were later used as inscriptions in paintings.
Original text:
Poetry (two poems)
Wang Fanzhi
I have a convenience, worth a hundred horses.
Long and weak, you will not enter the county until you die.
He rode a big horse and I rode a donkey alone.
Looking back at Dan Chaihan, I am more worried.
There are three figures in this painting, arranged in a row from left to right. On the far left are high-ranking officials and dignitaries, dressed in silks and satins, symbolizing the upper class in real life.
In the middle is the "I" in these four sentences, which can also be understood as the original author of these four sentences. I saw him riding a donkey upside down, staring at the cart behind him, symbolizing the middle class in real life.
On the far right is the man pushing the cart. I saw him in rags, struggling to push the cart in his hand, only following the first two, symbolizing the civilian class in real life.
Translation:
Looking at the person in front riding a good horse, and I can only ride a donkey, I really can't compare with it. But looking back at the cart man behind me, I found that although I was not enough, I was more than enough.
These four sentences reflect the typical "golden mean" thought of contentment, reminding people to be content with contentment. People often encounter many unpleasant things in this life, but most of the time they come from comparison with others. Some envy others' origins, some envy others' beauty, and some hate others' promotion and wealth, but they don't know that such comparison will only make them fall into the trap of vanity.
Therefore, in life, learn to be content, don't always think about comparing with others, think more about how to compare with yourself. Only in this way can you calm yourself down and make greater progress.
Extended data
Wang Fanzhi [Tang] (born in the late Sui and early Tang Dynasties), a monk in the early Tang Dynasty, was born in Liyang, Weizhou (now Xunxian County, Henan Province). Formerly known as Brahma, his date of birth and death, character, name, life and family background are unknown. He lived from Emperor Yang Guang to Li Zhi.
Poetry is mainly based on reasoning, mostly based on Buddhist teachings to persuade the world to do good and stop evil, satirizing the world and human feelings, and occasionally involving social issues. Most of the works are negative in thought and low in style. Language is simple, popular and humorous, and there is often a philosophy of life between ridicule and banter.
It is rough in art, but it has certain reference value for understanding the society in the early Tang Dynasty and studying the development of vernacular poetry. It had a certain influence on the beautiful poetic style prevailing in the early Tang Dynasty. The original set has been lost. Today, someone sorted out Wang Fanzhi's poems and collected 348 poems.
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