Chen Caozhi was originally used to copying Han Li and Zhong Wei Wang Xie styles with his left hand, and writing his unique "Zhang Han Si Yu Tie" style running script with his right hand. Today, he suddenly changed his hands. Naturally, he had some considerations. This was the first time for him to write on the wall.
Writing on the wall is the third difficulty of Kang Youwei's five difficulties in list writing - "sudden changes in standing". It is inevitable to feel uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Standing and writing on the wall in his familiar calligraphy style. As the saying goes, familiarity leads to miscellaneous things, and it is extremely easy to write.
His pen was not strong enough and he was self-defeating, so he simply changed his hand and wrote these four Zen verses in the European running script with his left hand, which he was not very familiar with. If he wanted to be jerky, he would be jerky to the end, but when he wrote it, he had a strangely stubborn and graceful appearance——
Of course, it is not that Chen Caozhi has never tried to write with different hands, otherwise he would not act hastily at this time. After all, the people standing behind him are the "two kings" who are famous throughout the ages.
Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi and his son are both first-class calligraphers in the world. Zhi Daolin is also good at cursive script. When they see twenty big characters on a wall, the three of them first appreciate this novel style of calligraphy. Zhi Daolin is immediately attracted by these four sentences.
The wonderful verses containing Buddhist principles deeply attracted me——
This is a verse written by Zen Master Shenxiu, the founder of the Northern Zen School. Shenxiu is known as the first among the five hundred disciples of Hongren, the fifth ancestor of Zen. He inherited Hongren's tradition of taking the heart as his sect. After Hongren's death, Shenxiu died in Jiangling.
After the opening of Yuquan Temple, he gradually understood the Zen method and became famous far and wide. When he was more than 80 years old, he went to Chang'an to open a dojo. He was deeply trusted by Empress Wu Zetian. At that time, he was praised as "the master of the two capitals and the disciple of the three emperors". Monks and common people all over the world heard about it.
However, since the Southern Zen School of Zen Buddhism, which emphasized enlightenment by Huineng, became popular, these four verses of Shenxiu were considered to have fallen into the lower realms. They had not seen their true nature and could not pass on the mantle of the fifth ancestor Hongren. However, Chen Caozhi believed that he was gradually enlightened
The Dharma is more accessible to the public. Without ascetic practice, how can one achieve complete enlightenment, so he first wrote the verse of Shenxiu——
Zhi Daolin was concentrating on the profound meaning of the verses written by Chen Caozhi when he heard the onlookers exclaim in a low voice: "The right hand has been changed!" When he looked up, he saw that Chen Caozhi had changed his right hand to holding a long-edged purple-hair pen.
The style of calligraphy has also changed. It is Wang Yishao's euphemistic and subtle, beautiful and regular script of "The Preface to the Lanting Collection". However, if you look closely, you can see the simplicity, vigor and straightforwardness of Lu Ji's "Pingfu Tie".
It can be said that he learned a lot from the land, Wang Zhizhi, "The Preface to the Lanting Collection" is in regular script, and "Pingfu Tie" is in Zhang Cao. It took Chen Caozhi a lot of hard work to integrate these two completely different styles of calligraphy, but let him
What shocked Zhi Daolin was not Chen Caozhi's calligraphy, but another verse written by Chen Caozhi's right hand that was similar to the previous verse:
"Bodhi is not a tree, and a mirror is not a stand. It is originally nothing, so how can it be stained by dust."
Comparing these two verses, Zhi Daolin, who stresses that the heart is as still as water, is as shocked as a thunder in a quiet night. Zhi Daolin's long eyebrows are raised, and the tail in his hand is trembling, showing his intense inner thoughts.
and turbulence——
Zhi Daolin studied Lao Zhuang and Buddhist scriptures intensively, was good at abstruse debates, and liked to associate with famous people. However, in recent years, he specialized in Buddhist scriptures and refused to talk at all kinds of elegant gatherings. He concentrated on meditating and comprehending, pondering deeply about the "Tao Xing" and the "Hui Yin" sutras.
Following the sound of the horse and stalking the dragon tree, the meaning corresponds to the text of the Dharma and does not violate the reality. He wrote "The Return of the Purpose of Tao Xing" and described the Prajna is Color Sect as "Color does not have its own existence, although color is empty, so it is said that color is empty.
The theory of "form, complex and empty" has been taken to the extreme, but he always feels that this is not the true meaning of Buddhism. There are always unknown and mysterious Buddhist dharma that he does not know. So when he heard from his disciple Zhifahan that the Buddha was holding flowers, Kasyapa smiled.
, and these twenty-four words: "The eye of righteousness is hidden, the wonderful mind of Nirvana, the reality has no form, the subtle Dharma door, no words are established, and there is no turning around outside the teachings", it is as if a door suddenly opens in the cliff, and when you walk in, you will be in a different world.
, but there were thorns underfoot, making it difficult to walk. He saw the door, but could not find the way. A few days ago, Zhi Fahan quoted Chen Caozhi's saying "the tree moves, the wind moves the heart", which also made Zhi Daolin puzzled -
—
The Zen theory of mind-centeredness is based on the Buddhist philosophy of "emptiness" in the Diamond Sutra, and the essence of the 5,000-word Diamond Sutra is that "all conditioned dharmas are like bubbles in dreams, dew, or lightning.
In these four stanzas, Kumarajiva was still underage at this time, and it would be another twenty years before he would start translating the Vajra Prajnaparamita Sutra, the most important classic of Mahayana Buddhism.
Although Daolin has done a lot of research on "form is empty, and color is empty", no matter how hard he meditates on the subtle method of formless reality, he can never get in. It is difficult to see the pure nature of Bodhi, just like a dark night.
Trekking, the dawn is in front of me, but it is always not close. Today I saw these two verses written by Chen Caozhi. I really felt enlightened. I put my hands together and said: "Chen Tan is more and more enlightening the poor. Chen Tan is enlightening the poor."
Tan Yue must be the reincarnation of the Western Buddha, please accept me and pay my respects to him." After saying that, he ordered the monks to get a futon, and he wanted to kneel down and pay homage to Chen Cao.
Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi and his son were greatly surprised. Although Zhi Daolin was a monk, he was no different from a famous scholar. How could he ever praise someone so highly?
Chen Caozhi handed the pen back to Wang's servant, walked over and saw a monk placing a futon in front of Zhi Daolin. He knelt down first and said: "How dare you accept the worship of Mr. Lin? You are so proud of me."
These Buddhist principles are also half-understood. These verses are not understood by the boy. They are the exchanges between two monks in the boy's dream a few years ago. The monks do not know their names. What they said is very mysterious. When the boy wakes up, he can remember it vividly. It is really a strange thing.
also!"
It was a consistent practice of the ancients to make excuses about the mystical sensations in dreams, so when Chen Caozhi said this, Zhi Daolin had no doubts, because Chen Caozhi had indeed cracked the intellectual barrier in his heart, and a feeling of sudden enlightenment gave him great power.
With joy, he also knelt down and said: "That is also the dream that the eminent monk entrusted to Chen Tanyue. Who can be worthy of this unless he has merits and virtues in his past life?"
Wang Xizhi said with a smile: "Master Lin has a lofty moral voice and profound spiritual wisdom, but today he has such respect for a young man from a younger generation. It really surprises me."
Zhi Daolin said: "Chen Tan Yue's two stanzas are about understanding the mind and seeing its nature. It is said that all living beings have Buddha nature. Since this theory is clear, it is truly a supreme merit." He immediately asked Brother Zhi Fahan to entertain all the pilgrims, and he himself
When I returned to the Zen room to meditate, even my good friend Wang Xizhi no longer accompanied me.
Mrs. Lu, Zhang Wenwan and Lu Weirui looked at each other, both surprised and happy. Chen Caozhi was so praised by Zhi Daolin that within a few days, Jiankang would spread the news about it.
Wang Xizhi said to Chen Cao: "Master Lin and Mr. Chen discussed Buddhism, while I and Mr. Chen only discussed books."
Chen Cao said: "I am about to ask Senior Wang Youjun for advice."
But Wang Xizhi asked his son Wang Xianzhi: "Xianzhi, what do you think of Mr. Chen's left and right hand calligraphy?"
Wang Xianzhi said: "The clouds are rolling in the clouds, which is pleasing to the eye."
Wang Xizhi asked again: "How is it better than you?"
Wang Xianzhi glanced at Chen Caozhi and replied: "So we should be different." In other words, each has its own merits. Wang Xianzhi has always been conceited, and today he said "so we should be different". It is certainly because Chen Caozhi's calligraphy is refreshing, but
Zhi Daolin's praise of Chen Caozhi just now also made Wang Xianzhi afraid of being proud.
Wang Xizhi said to Wang Xianzhi: "When it comes to writing big calligraphy, Mr. Chen is not as good as you. Mr. Chen's calligraphy is better because of its extraordinary renovation, his ability to understand everything, and his extraordinary understanding. Xianzhi, you have always thought that you are the best among the younger generation in terms of calligraphy. Today,
You should know that there are many geniuses in the world, and Mr. Chen is your fierce enemy."
Chen Cao said: "How dare you call yourself a powerful enemy? If I respect my brother and never abandon him, I will ask you for advice."
Wang Xizhi nodded and said: "I present it to you. Your disease is pride, and pride is not humility. Mr. Chen's calligraphy may still be inferior to you at this time, but with his humility and eagerness to learn, how can he know that he will not be superior to you in the future!"
Wang Xianzhi sweated on his forehead and said respectfully: "Dad is right, my son has learned a lesson." He then saluted Chen Caozhi and said, "I would like to discuss with Brother Chen."
Wang Xizhi smiled and said: "It's very good. You two become friends and can promote each other." He said to Chen Cao: "Mr. Chen——"
Chen Cao said: "Senior, please call Cao Zhi by his first name."
Wang Xizhi smiled and nodded: "Cao Zhi, I observe that your calligraphy is more than new and skillful, but not concise enough; it is more than steep and steep, but not soothing enough. It is dense and slender, and there is still room for consideration. I will tell you this now: every point must be collected.
, you need to be tight and heavy; to draw, you must draw, but you need to be astringent, and to be late; to skim, you must plunder, and you need danger, and to be vigorous; to stand up, you must push hard, and to fight, you must be strong; to fight, you must moisten, and you hesitate and look to the right, and take advantage of it.
Encourage it."
Chen Caozhi saluted deeply: "Thank you, senior, for your guidance. I will bear it in mind."
At this time, a white-haired old woman, accompanied by several maids and maids, came over and said with a smile: "Present this, Mao'er, have you picked the loquats yet? The old woman wants to try the loquats from Dong'an Temple."
Wang Xianzhi and Xi Daomao walked over quickly. Xi Daomao was holding a small bamboo basket in his hand, which contained about half of the basket of yellow loquats. He said with a smile: "Aunt, the loquat fruits here ripen early, but the loquat fruits elsewhere are not yet ripe. Mao'er is at the spring behind the temple.
I have washed the fruit, and my aunt will taste one first——"
This old woman is Xi Xuan, the daughter of Xi Jian. Although she is nearly sixty years old, she still has a delicate face and bright eyes. You can imagine how elegant and refined she was when she was young.
Chen Caozhi saluted and said: "Junior, I pay my respects to Mrs. Wang."
Xi Xuan picked up the loquat fruit in her hand and looked slightly surprised. Wang Xianzhi on the side said: "Mother, this is my new friend Chen Caozhi, Qian Tangren."
Wang Xizhi smiled and said: "That's Chen Caozhi, who is known as Jiangzuo Weijie."
Xi Xuan looked at Chen Caozhi with a smile and said, "I know that Xi Chao once told me that Qian Tang and Chen Caozhi were pure, filial and talented. Only when I saw him today did I realize that he was so handsome." She turned her head and smiled at her son.
: "Ajing, I can't compare to you."
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan and Lu Weirui came forward to greet Xi Xuan. When Xi Xuan learned that they were Lu Na's wife and daughter, she hurriedly returned the gift and was a little surprised: "Didn't you say that Mrs. Lu strictly rejected Chen Caozhi's proposal? Could it be that she agreed to it?
Let’s visit Dong’an Temple together!”
After the death of Xi Jian in Gaoping, the status of the Xi family was not as good as before. The Xi family rose to the top with military merit and was quite despised by the Wang Xie clan. Even though Xi Xuan was a female, she could feel this and once resented her younger brother.
Xi Min and Xi Tan said: "When the Wang family saw two thanks, they dumped the baskets and dumped the clothes. When they saw you coming, it was just fine. You can go back without any trouble." This means that when the Wang family saw Xie An and Xie Wan brothers came to the door, they were very enthusiastic.
, but the Xi brothers came, but they were ordinary, they were both related by marriage, and they favored one over the other.
Therefore, Xi Xuan was relatively opposed to the idea of family status. Seeing that Chen Cao was handsome and his son Xian's new friend, she was naturally happy to see Chen Cao's marriage come true, so she said: "Mrs. Lu, Miss Lu,
Please come to the temple to talk and eat some loquats to quench your thirst."
Wang Xizhi said: "Ah Xuan, wait a moment, let's take a look at the big characters written by Xianzhi and Caozhi first."
The Xi family in Gaoping is also a family of calligraphers. Xi Jian, his two sons Xi Min, and Xi Tan are both famous for their calligraphy. Xi Xuan is a talented woman who inherited her father and brother's calligraphy style, seal script, and official script.
After he wrote the big characters, he naturally wanted to read them, so he took Mrs. Lu's hand and looked at the big characters on the wall together.
Xi Xuan was very familiar with the calligraphy style of his son Wang Xianzhi. He glanced at the four characters "Pictures of Immortal Clouds" and said, "A Jing's calligraphy is better than your father's." Then he looked carefully at what Chen Caozhi had written.
After reading the two verses for a long time, he said: "Cao is really my son's best friend, A Jing, how dare you be so arrogant?"
Wang Xianzhi's face turned red and he said, "How dare you be so arrogant? You must practice hard and encourage each other with Brother Chen."
Zhi Fahan said: "The small temple needs to cut down the large characters on the wall and inscribe them on the stone, just like how Wang Youjun Wang Tanyue used to inscribe the character 'goose' on a broomstick at Qiguang Temple in Yanxi."
In the eighth year of the Yonghe period, Wang Xizhi went from the alchemy place of Zizhi Temple in Gushan to Qiguang Temple in Yanxi to visit Zhidao Forest. He saw white geese playing in the clear pool outside the mountain gate.
, dipped in the mud from the paddy field by the stream, and wrote the word "goose" on the white wall at the entrance of Qiguang Temple. The white grass flew like a swimming dragon.
I was so overjoyed that I asked someone to rub the word "goose" and move it to the stone tablet to make it a treasure of Qiguang Temple.
Zhi Fahan said again: "Wang Youjun, Wang Tanyue, please also leave the calligraphy treasure, how about it?"
Wang Xizhi laughed loudly: "I will not compete with the younger generation."
Xi Xuan first accompanied Mrs. Lu and her daughter to pay homage in front of the Buddha, and then went to the Pilgrims' Residence for a break. Xi Daomao knelt down gently and sat on the left side of Xi Xuan, who was both his aunt and aunt, and used a small plate to hold loquat fruits to invite Xi Xuan and Lu.
Madam, Miss Lu will eat it.
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan looked at Xi Daomao and said with a smile: "Sister Xi is so lucky to have my niece as my daughter-in-law, so considerate."
Wang Xizhi's uncle, Wang Dao, and Lu Na's father, Lu Wan, were friends of the same generation. Therefore, although Wang Xizhi was older than Lu Na, he was still the same generation in terms of seniority. Therefore, Zhang Wenwan called Xi Xuan his sister.
White-haired Xi Xuan smiled and said: "Well, it's good. Mao'er is very good, but Sister Zhang's good son-in-law is also very enviable by this old woman."
Zhang Wenwan was stunned for a moment, and then he understood that Xi Xuan was referring to Chen Caozhi, and said with some embarrassment: "Sister Xi misunderstood, Rui'er and I came here to offer incense, and Chen Langjun happened to be called by the branch official, so we met by chance on the road."
Lu Weirui lowered her eyebrows and lowered her eyelashes, her face flushed.
Seeing that Mrs. Lu was embarrassed but not angry, Xi Xuan understood in her heart and said with a smile: "Although there were twists and turns, we finally got married. We are important people in Jiang Zuo. This old woman will never insult Chen Cao's Cheng Wuliang."
."
At this time, the monks came to invite them to a vegetarian meal. Naturally, the male and female pilgrims lived in the same courtyard. After eating the vegetarian meal, Xi Xuan and Mrs. Lu were drinking tea and chatting about some trivial matters at home. The little maid came in and whispered to Lu Weirui.
What? Lu Weirui blushed and said to Zhang Wenwan: "Mother, I have to go out for a while."
