Yueyang Pavilion

-by Fan Zhongyan [Song dynasty], translated by Yang Xianyi, Gladys B.Tayler (Gladys Yang)

In the spring of the fourth year of the reign of Qingli, Teng Zijing was banished from the capital to be governor of Baling Prefecture. After he had governed the district for a year, the administration became efficient, the people became united, and all things that had fallen into disrepair were given a new lease on life. Then he restored Yueyang Pavilion, adding new splendor to the original structure and having inscribed on it poems by famous men of the Tang Dynasty as well as the present time. And he asked me to write an essay to commemorate this.

Now I have found that the finest sights of Baling are concentrated in the region of Lake Dongting. Dongting, nibbling at the distant hills and gulping down the Yangtze River, strikes all beholders as vast and infinite, presenting a scene of boundless variety; and this is the superb view from Yueyang Pavilion. All this has been described in full by writers of earlier ages. However, since the lake is linked with Wu Gorge in the north and extends to the Xiao and Xiang rivers in the south, many exiles and wandering poets gather here and their reactions to these sights vary greatly.

During a period of incessant rain, when a spell of bad weather continues for more than a month, when louring winds bellow angrily, tumultuous waves hurl themselves against the sky, sun and stars hide their light, hills and mountains disappear, merchants have to halt in the travels, masts collapse and oars splinter, the day darkens and the roars of tigers and howls of monkeys are heard, if men come to this pavilion with a longing for home in their hearts or nursing a feeling of bitterness because of taunts and slander, they may find the sight depressing and fall prey to agitation or despair.

But during mild and bright spring weather, then the waves are unruffled and the azure translucence above and below stretches before your eyes for myriads of li, when the water-birds fly down to congregate on the sands and fish with scales like glimmering silk disport themselves in the water, when the iris and orchids on the banks grow luxuriant and green; or when dusk falls over this vast expanse and bright moon casts its light a thousand li, when the rolling waves glitter like gold and silent shadows in the water glimmer like jade, and the fishermen sing to each other for sheer joy, then men coming up to this pavilion may feel complete freedom of heart and ease of spirit, forgetting every worldly gain or setback, to hold their winecups in the breeze in absolute elation, delighted with life.

But again when I consider the men of old who possessed true humanity, they seem to have responded quite differently. The reason, perhaps, may be this: natural beauty was not enough to make them happy, nor their own situation enough to make them sad. When such men are high in the government or at court, their first concern is for the people; when they retire to distant streams and lakes, their first concern is for their sovereign. Thus they worry both when in office and when in retirement. When, then, can they enjoy themselves in life? No doubt they are concerned before anyone else and enjoy themselves only after everyone else finds enjoyment. Surely these are the men in whose footsteps I should follow!

Notes

Through Yueyang Pavilion (Memorial to Yueyang Tower), Fan Zhongyan expresses his concerns for the nation and its people, advocating for scholars to take the world as their responsibility. This work showcases the political ideals and personal aspirations of Confucian intellectuals.

External Gains vs Personal Losses

• By contrasting the emotional fluctuations of exiled scholars and poets who felt joy or sorrow with changes in weather, Fan Zhongyan proposes that true benevolent individuals should transcend personal gains and losses, neither rejoicing over favorable circumstances nor grieving over personal misfortunes.
• Core Reflection: It emphasizes that scholars and officials should cultivate a spiritual realm detached from material concerns, maintaining a stable and composed state of mind.

The First vs The Last

• The essay explicitly states that scholars and officials should take the world as their responsibility, worrying ahead of the nation’s concerns and rejoicing only after the nation’s happiness.
• Concern for the People: When in high positions, they should worry about the people and work for their benefit.
• Concern for the Ruler (Nation): When far from court, they should worry about the ruler, always keeping the nation’s fate in mind.
• Ideological Value: This concept inherits and elevates the traditional Confucian perspective on worries and joys, becoming a model for later generations of scholars in their pursuit of social responsibility.

Natural Landscapes and Social Responsibility

• Using the magnificent scenery of Yueyang Tower and Dongting Lake as a backdrop, the essay blends natural beauty with human emotions, achieving a sublimation from describing landscapes to expressing sentiments.
• Symbolic Meaning: Dongting Lake is not only a natural landscape but also a symbol of the spiritual character of scholars and officials, reflecting Fan Zhongyan’s profound contemplation of the nation and the world.