On Yueyang Tower..........Fan Zhongyan

岳阳楼记

范仲淹

Fan Zhongyan

庆历四年春，滕子京谪守巴陵郡。越明年，政通人和，百废具兴，乃重修岳阳楼，增其旧制，刻唐贤今人诗赋于其上，属予作文以记之。

In the spring of the fourth year of the reign title of Qingli (1044 AD), Teng Zijing was demoted to the position of prefect of Baling. The next year, the administrative affairs were carried out smoothly, the people were harmonious and happy, and all kinds of previously abandoned undertakings were being resumed. Therefore, the Yueyang Tower was rebuilt likewise, with its original scale enlarged, and poems by famous scholars of the Tang Dynasty and contemporary people engraved on it. I was asked to write an article to celebrate the event.

予观夫巴陵胜状，在洞庭一湖。衔远山，吞长江，浩浩汤汤，横无际涯，朝晖夕阴，气象万千，此则岳阳楼之大观也，前人之述备矣。然则北通巫峡，南极潇湘，迁客骚人，多会于此，览物之情，得无异乎？

I watch the fine sceneries of Baling prefecture, and see that they are all around Lake Dongting. The Lake connects to the mountains in the far distance and admits the water of the Yangtze River, mighty and boundless, reflecting the morning sunshine and the evening twilight, with a grand view which is gorgeous and ever-changing. That is the magnificent view seen from Yueyang Tower, of which the previous accounts have already been very detailed. Nevertheless, as Lake Dongting connects to the Wu Gorge in the north and pours into the Xiaoshui River and the Xiangjiang River in the south, most of the demoted officials and poets would meet here. Couldn’t their viewing of the natural scenery have triggered different feelings?

若夫淫雨霏霏，连月不开，阴风怒号，浊浪排空，日星隐曜，山岳潜形，商旅不行，樯倾楫摧，薄暮冥冥，虎啸猿啼。登斯楼也，则有去国怀乡，忧谗畏讥，满目萧然，感极而悲者矣。

In the rainy season, it keeps raining for months without clearing up; the chilly wind howls and the turbid waves surge high up to the sky. The sun and the stars suppress their light; the mountains and hills conceal their contours. Merchants and travelers cannot sail through by boat, masts down and oars broken. In the dusky evening, tigers are heard roaring and apes are heard screeching. If you ascend the tower at this time, you cannot but miss your hometown as if you were far away from your own country; you might be afraid of others’ speaking ill of you, and of people’s criticism and reproach. The scene that meets the eyes now becomes desolate and depressing, while your emotions might be triggered to their extremes to make you feel inexpressibly sad.

至若春和景明，波澜不惊，上下天光，一碧万顷，沙鸥翔集，锦鳞游泳，岸芷汀兰，郁郁青青。而或长烟一空，皓月千里，浮光跃金，静影沉璧，渔歌互答，此乐何极！登斯楼也，则有心旷神怡，宠辱偕忘，把酒临风，其喜洋洋者矣。

In spring, when the breeze is blessedly agreeable with the sun shining, the lake is calm without rough waves. The sky is joined to the Lake, and a boundless stretch of blue water presents itself before your eyes. Gulls over the shoal now fly, now land; beautiful fish swim to and fro; the angelica on the shore and the orchids on the islets are lush and green. Sometimes masses of cloud and smoke completely dissipate, and the bright moon shines in the sky above, with its golden reflection glistening in the water below. The silent image of the jade-like moon submerges in the water, while the fishermen’s songs respond to each other harmoniously. What a full enjoyment this is! When you ascend the tower at this time, you will feel open-minded and cheerful, forgetting all about glory and humiliation. Holding a cup of wine and bathing in the breeze, you can really have a great time and profoundly enjoy yourself.

嗟夫！予尝求古仁人之心，或异二者之为，何哉？不以物喜，不以己悲，居庙堂之高则忧其民，处江湖之远则忧其君。是进亦忧，退亦忧。然则何时而乐耶？其必曰“先天下之忧而忧，后天下之乐而乐”乎！噫！微斯人，吾谁与归？

Alas! I have once explored the thoughts and feelings of ancient people of lofty ideals, and perhaps theirs were different from those of the above two kinds of people. Why so? It is because they were not happy or sad for their own gains or losses. When one is an official serving in the imperial court, one should be concerned for the people. Being an official in a remote place, one should be concerned about one’s monarch. That is to say, one should always be concerned when either serving in the court or serving in a remote area. As it is, when can one enjoy himself and feel happy? One will certainly say: “Be the first to show concern and be the last to enjoy oneself.” Alas! Without such men, with whom shall I keep company!

时六年九月十五日

Written on the 15th day of the 9th month of the 6th year of the reign title of Qingli, Song Dynasty. (1046.9.15)

Translated by Jin Deming