Memorial to Yueyang Tower
A wooden screen of On Yueyang Tower, written by calligrapher Zhang Zhao | |||||||
| Author | Fan Zhongyan | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language | Classical Chinese | ||||||
Publication date | 17 October 1046 | ||||||
| Publication place | Northern Song Dynasty | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 岳陽樓記 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 岳阳楼记 | ||||||
| Literal meaning | "Yueyang Tower Record" | ||||||
| |||||||
Memorial to Yueyang Tower or On Yueyang Tower is a work of literary prose by Northern Song dynasty author and statesman Fan Zhongyan concerning the scenery as viewed from the titular Yueyang Tower, and the variable emotions it evokes in visitors. The work carries a political undertone, touching on topics of governance and civic duty important to Fan Zhongyan, then exiled after the failiure of the Qingli Reforms.[1]
History
Memorial to Yueyang Tower was commissioned by Teng Zongliang, a friend of Fan Zhongyan's,[2] to commemorate the completion of his restoration efforts.[3] Exiled from the capital to Bailing Prefecture for misappropriation of government funds,[4] Teng Zongliang spent a three years (from 1044 to 1047) as the governor of the prefecture, whereupon he enacted monetary policies which allowed the prefecture to acquire sufficient funds to restore the tower.[5]
Several poems from the Tang and Song Dynasties were also inscribed on the renovated tower at the time.[3]
Content
The work is 368 characters in length;[6] the beginning and end speak of political matters, particularly those pertaining to the virtues of Teng Zongliang's governance, while the middle section remarks on the natural beauty of the area.[3]
The beginning of the text concerns Teng Zijiang's banishment from the capital after his misappropriation of government funds and his subsequent rectification of the governance of Bailing Prefecture (in modern day Yangzhou), and the restoration of the tower.[3]
The second part extols the scenery of Dongting Lake; Fan Zhongyan remarks that visitors who come upon the tower during stormy days may be, should they be bitter or homesick, struck by melancholy, but that the same sight in pleasant spring weather may may make visitors feel elation and delight.[3]
The end of the text remarks, more abstractly, on the proper virtues of government officials, who should be concerned for the people and their sovereign over themselves.[7] The famous saying "Be concerned before the world is, and be joyful after the world is joyful" (先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐) originated from Memorial to Yueyang Tower.[8][9]
See also
References
- ^ Wang, Fang (2016). Geo-Architecture and Landscape in China’s Geographic and Historic Context: Volume 1 Geo-Architecture Wandering in the Landscape (1st ed.). Singapore: SpringerNature. pp. 91–92. ISBN 9811004838.
- ^ "朝社会". 《岳阳楼记》的秘密，滕子京被贬背后，揭示的是宋朝衰落. 澎湃新闻.
- ^ a b c d e Yang, Xianyi; Gladys, Yang (2005). Poetry and Prose of the Tang and Song (1st ed.). Panda Books. pp. 212–214. ISBN 0-8351-1164-4.
- ^ 雷, 家聖. "宋夏戰爭時期范仲淹的薦才用人策略以滕宗諒、种世衡為例" (PDF). 宋夏戰爭時期范仲淹的薦才用人策略── 以滕宗諒、种世衡為例. National Dong Hwa University.
- ^ 《涑水记闻》卷10:“滕宗谅知岳州，修岳阳楼，不用省库钱，不敛于民，但榜民间有宿债不肯偿者，献以助官，官为督之。民负债者争献之，所得近万缗。置库于厅侧自掌之，不设主案典籍。楼成，极壮丽，所费甚广，自入者亦不鲜焉。州人不以为非，皆称其能。”
- ^ "句子线". 岳阳楼记全文多少字？岳阳楼记有多少字.
- ^ "古诗文". 岳阳楼记. 古诗文.
- ^ "Hong Kong Education Bureau" (PDF). 先天下之憂而憂， 後天下之樂而樂.
- ^ "pinshiwen". 先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐. 品诗文.