PureInsight | September 9, 2002
While seawards the Yellow River runs;
To widen your view to hundreds of miles,
Come to the upper storey by climbing one more flight.”
“On the Stork Tower” by Wang Zhihuan
This five-character quatrain has been widely read and praised by generations of Chinese. Easy to read, the poem is ostensibly about climbing a little higher to enjoy the distant view, but actually puts forth a profound philosophical principle in these few lines.
“The mountains eclipse the setting sun, While seawards the Yellow River runs;” The sun gracefully glides into the vast expanse of the mountains while the Yellow River rushes into the surging, powerful, magnificent, and faraway ocean. In the comparison between the tension and serenity, motion and calm, a magnificent picture is painted for us: the graceful sunset, the mountains, the ocean, and the golden river. This poem takes in everything at a glance.
“To widen your view to hundreds of miles, Come to the upper storey by climbing one more flight.” In the last two lines the author ingeniously transits from a portrait of natural destiny to a philosophical theory of life. His words are concise but comprehensive. Instead of eloquent debate, Wang Zhihuan used a simple metaphor to lay bare the secret of ascending through realms. Through the ages there have been innumerable poems about ascending to greater heights to enjoy a distant view, but none of them can compare to this one for its philosophical value. It is no surprise that “On the Stork Tower” by Wang Zhihuan remains one of the most frequently recited poems for thousands of people through generations because it is really the best among the best poems in history.
Once more:
While seawards the Yellow River runs;
To widen your view to hundreds of miles,
Come to the upper storey by climbing one more flight.”
Having seen the view painted by the poet, what about this human life?
Translated from:
http://zhengjian.org/zj/articles/2002/7/11/16713.html
