It is the ninth year of Emperor Mu of Jin’s Yonghe era, the year of the Yin Water Ox, at the beginning of the third lunar month. We are all gathered at the orchid pavilion in Shanyin County, Guiji Commandery, for the Spring Purification Festival. All of the prominent people have arrived, from old to young. This is an area of high mountains and lofty peaks, with an exuberant growth of trees and bamboo. It also has clear rushing water, reflecting the sunlight as it flows past either side of the pavilion. The guests are seated side by side to play the drinking game where a wine cup is floated down the stream and the first person sitting in front of the cup when it stops must drink. Although we lack the boisterousness of a live orchestra, with a cup of wine here and a reciting of poetry there, it is sufficient to allow for a pleasant exchange of cordial conversation. Today, the sky is bright and the air is clear, with a gentle breeze that is blowing freely. When looking up, one can see the vastness of the heavens, and when looking down, one can observe the abundance of things. The contentment of allowing one’s eyes to wander is enough to reach the heights of delight for the sight and sound. What a joy! Now, all people live in this world together. Some will take all of their aspirations, and share them in private with a friend; others will abandon themselves to reckless pursuits. Even though everyone makes different choices in life, some thoughtful and some rash, when a person meets with joy, he will temporarily be pleased, and will feel content, but he is not mindful that old age will soon overtake him. Wait until that person becomes weary, or has a change of heart about something, and will thus be filled with regrets. The happiness of the past, in the blink of an eye, will have already become a distant memory, and this cannot but cause one to sigh. In any case, whether life is long or short, we will all turn to dust in the end. The ancients have said, “Birth and Death are both momentous occasions.” Isn’t that sad!
Every time I consider the reasons for why the people of old had regrets,
每
攬
昔
人
興
感
之
由
měi
lǎn
xí
rén
xìng
gǎn
zhī
yóu
every
look
former
people
?regret*
to feel
of
cause
*In all the online dictionaries I have consulted, 興 means only positive emotions like happiness, exhilaration, desire, interest, etc. I can’t find a reference to a meaning like “regret.”Even Wiktionary, which usually includes the old meanings, lists under “obsolete” to like; to be fond of; to love.
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