Chen Caozhi was originally used to copying Han Clerical Script and Zhong, Wei, Wang, and Xie styles with his left hand, and writing his unique "Zhang Han's Thinking of Perch Tie" style running script with his right hand. But today he suddenly changed hands, naturally he had some considerations. It was his first time writing on the wall. This is the first of the five difficulties of Bangshu mentioned by Kang Youwei. Three Challenges--"Sudden changes in standing", unavoidable discomfort and unfamiliarity, standing and writing on the wall in his familiar calligraphy style. As the saying goes, practice is mixed, and it is easy to fail in writing and make things self-defeating, so he simply changed his hand and wrote these four Zen verses with his unfamiliar left hand Ouyang Style running script.
Of course, it's not like Chen Caozhi has never tried writing with a different hand, otherwise he wouldn't have acted hastily at this time. After all, the people standing behind him are the "two kings" who are famous throughout the ages.
Father and son Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi are both first-class calligraphers in the world. Zhi Daolin is also good at cursive calligraphy. They saw twenty big characters on a wall. The three of them first appreciated this novel style of calligraphy. Zhi Daolin was then deeply attracted by these four verses containing Buddhist principles--
This is a verse written by Zen Master Shenxiu, the founder of the Northern Zen School. Shenxiu is said to be the first among the five hundred disciples of Hongren, the fifth ancestor of Zen Buddhism. He inherited Hongren's tradition of taking the heart as the sect. After Hongren's death, Shenxiu opened a Buddhist temple in Yuquan Temple in Jiangling and gradually realized the Zen method. His reputation spread far and wide. In his eighties, he went to Chang'an to open a dojo. He was highly believed by Empress Wu Zetian and was praised as "the method of the two capitals" by people at the time. "Lord, Master of the Three Emperors", monks and laymen from all over the world heard about it and had a great influence. However, after the Southern Zen School of Hui Neng's emphasis on sudden enlightenment became popular, these four verses of Shenxiu were considered to have fallen into the inferior vehicle and had not seen their true nature. They could not pass on the mantle of Hongren, the fifth ancestor. However, Chen Caozhi believed that the method of gradual enlightenment was more accessible to the public. Without asceticism, how can one achieve complete enlightenment, so he wrote the verses of Shenxiu first -
Zhi Daolin was concentrating on the profound meaning of the verses written by Chen Caozhi when he heard the onlookers murmuring, "Changing your right hand!" When he looked up, he saw that Chen Caozhi had changed his right hand to holding a long-edged purple-hair pen. Jianhe, straightforward and straightforward, can be said to be the best in learning from Lu and Wang. "Preface to the Lanting Collection" is written in regular script and "Pingfu Tie" is written in cursive script. Chen Caozhi worked hard to integrate these two completely different styles of calligraphy. But 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 neither a tree nor a mirror. There is nothing in the first place, so how can it be stained with dust."
Comparing these two verses, Zhi Daolin, who stresses that the mind is as still as water and the color is mysterious, was as shocked as a thunderclap in a quiet night. Zhi Daolin raised his long eyebrows and the Dust-Tail Fan in his hand could not help but tremble, showing the intense thinking and turmoil in his heart -
Zhi Daolin studies Lao Zhuang and Buddhist Scriptures, is good at abstruse words Dialectical Debate, and likes to associate with famous people. However, in recent years, he has been specializing in Buddhist Scriptures. He refuses to talk at all kinds of elegant gatherings and concentrates on meditating and comprehending, thinking deeply about the works of "Daoxing" and the sutras of "Huiyin", and pursuing Maming and Nagarjuna are in accordance with the law and do not violate the truth. They wrote "Essentials of the Daoxing" and Prajna The Color Sect's theory of "color does not exist of its own, although it is empty, so it is said that color is empty, and color is different and empty" has been taken to the extreme, but I always feel that this is not the true meaning of Buddhism, and there are always unknown mysterious Buddhas The Dharma was not known to him, so when he heard from his disciple Zhi Fahan that the Buddha held flowers, Kasyapa smiled, and "Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, Wondrous Mind of Nirvana, True Form Is Formless, Wondrous Dharma Gate, No Reliance on Words, Transmission Beyond the Teachings "At the time of these twenty-four words, it was as if a door suddenly opened in the cliff. When you walk in, you will find a different world. However, there are thorns under your feet, making it difficult to walk. You see the door, but you can't find the way. A few days ago, Zhi Fahan quoted Chen Caozhi's saying "the tree moves and the wind moves the heart", which also made Zhi Daolin puzzled--
The mind-centered theory of Zen Buddhism is based on the Buddhism of "emptiness" in "Diamond Sutra", and the essence of "Diamond Sutra", a five-thousand-word book, lies in the following four verses. "All conditioned dharmas are like bubbles in dreams, like dew and lightning, and should be viewed in this way." In these four verses, Kumārajīva at this time is not yet an adult, and it will take another twenty years before he can start to translate Mahayana Buddhism's most important classic "Diamond Prajna Perfection Sutra". Therefore, although Zhi Daolin has studied "color is empty, color is empty, and color is empty", but True Form Is Formless's Wondrous Dharma Gate No matter how hard I think about it, I can't get in, and it's hard to see the true nature of Bodhi's purity. It's like trekking in the dark night, with the dawn in front, but always unable to get closer. Today I saw these two verses written by Chen Caozhi, which is really enlightening. Feeling the empowerment, he put his hands together and said, "Layman Chen is enlightening the poor Daoist. Layman Chen must be the reincarnation of the Buddha in the West. Please accept the poor Daoist's worship." After saying that, he ordered the monk to bring Meditation Cushions, and he had to kneel down and worship Chen Caozhi.
Wang Xizhi, Wang Xianzhi and his son were greatly surprised. Although Zhi Daolin was a monk, he was no different from a famous person. How could he ever praise someone so highly!
Chen Caozhi handed the pen back to the Wang Clan servant. He came over and saw a monk placing a Meditation Cushions in front of Zhi Daolin. He knelt down first and said, "How dare you accept this?" Master Lin, I have little understanding of these Buddhist principles. These verses are not what I have understood. They are the exchanges between two monks I dreamed about a few years ago. I don't know the names of the monks. What they said is very mysterious. When I wake up, I can remember it clearly. It's really a strange thing!"
It is a consistent practice of the ancients to make excuses about the mysteriousness of dreams and prophecies, so Chen Caozhi said this, Zhi Daolin has no doubts, because Chen Caozhi is indeed The intellectual barrier in his heart was broken, and he felt a sudden enlightenment that made him feel very happy. He knelt down and said, "That is also the dream that the eminent monk entrusted to Layman Chen. Unless he has meritorious deeds in his previous life, who can be worthy of this?"
Wang Xizhi smiled and said, "Master Lin has a noble sound and profound spiritual wisdom. Today, he has such respect for a young boy from the younger generation. It really surprises me."
Zhi Daolin said, "Layman Chen's two stanzas mean that knowing one's mind can reveal one's nature. It is said that all living beings have Buddha-nature. Since this theory is clear, it is truly the supreme merit." He immediately asked senior brother Zhi Fahan to live a good life and entertain all the pilgrims. He went back to the Zen room to meditate, and even his friend Wang Xizhi didn't accompany him.
Lady Lu Zhang Wenwan and Lu Weiwei looked at each other, both surprised and delighted. Chen Caozhi was so praised by Zhi Daolin that Jiankang would spread the news within a few days.
Wang Xizhi said to Chen Caozhi, "Master Lin and Mr. Chen discuss Buddhism, while I only discuss books with Mr. Chen."
Chen Caozhi said, "I am about to ask senior Wang Youjun for advice."
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.", of course it's because Chen Caozhi's calligraphy is refreshing, and Zhi Daolin's praise of Chen Caozhi just now also makes Wang Xianzhi afraid of being proud.
Wang Xizhi said to Wang Xianzhi, "Large-character Bangshu, Mr. Chen is not as good as you. Mr. Chen's books are better because of his extraordinary renovation and his ability to integrate them comprehensively. Penetrating Understanding is extraordinary - here you go. 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 wizards in the world. This Mr. Chen is your fierce enemy."
Chen Caozhi said, "How dare you call me a powerful enemy? If brother Zijing doesn't give up, I will ask you for more advice."
Wang Xizhi nodded and said, "I present, your disease is pride, and pride is not humility. Mr. Chen's calligraphy may 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, "Daddy is right, my son has learned a lesson." He then bowed to Chen Caozhi and said, "I would like to discuss with Brother Chen."
Wang Xizhi smiled and said, "Very good. You two become friends and can promote each other." He said to Chen Caozhi, "Mr. Chen--"
Chen Caozhi said, "Senior, please call Caozhi by his name."
Wang Xizhi smiled and nodded, "Caozhi, I think your calligraphy is more than new and skillful, but not concise enough; it is more steep and steep, but not soothing enough. It is dense and slender, and there is still room for consideration. Let's try it now. Let me tell you: To draw a point, you must close it, and you must be tight and heavy; to paint, you must tighten it, and you must be slow and slow; to draw, you must plunder, and you must be dangerous, and to be strong; to stand up, you must work hard, and you must fight and be strong; to move the sword, you must moisten it, and you must hesitate and look to the right, Caozhi encourage it."
Chen Caozhi bowed deeply. "Thank you, senior, for your guidance. Caozhi will remember it."
At this time, a white-haired old woman, accompanied by several maids and maids, came over and said with a smile, "Mao'er, have you picked Loquat? The old woman wants to try Loquat from Dong'an Temple."
Wang Xianzhi and Xi Daomao hurried over. Xi Daomao was holding a small bamboo basket in his hand, about half a basket full of yellow Loquat, and said with a smile, "Aunt, the Loquat fruits here ripen early, but the Loquat fruits elsewhere are not yet ripe. Mao'er has washed the fruits in the spring behind the temple. Auntie 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 Lady Wang."
Xi Xuan picked up the Loquat fruit, looking slightly surprised. Wang Xianzhi on the side said, "Mom, this is my new friend Chen Caozhi, Qian Tang people."
Wang Xizhi smiled and said, "That's Chen Caozhi, also known as Jiangzuo Wei Jie."
Xi Xuan looked at Chen Caozhi with a smile and said, "The old woman knows that Xi Chao once told me, Qiantang Chen Caozhi, Filial Piety is so talented. When I saw him today, I realized how handsome he is." He turned to his son and smiled and said, "A Jing, I can't compare to you."
Lady Lu Zhang Wenwan and Lu Weiwei came forward to greet Xi Xuan. Xi Xuan learned that this was Lu Na's wife. The woman quickly returned the favor, feeling a little surprised. "Didn't you say that Lu Clan strictly refused Chen Caozhi's proposal? How could it be that he agreed and actually traveled with Dong'an Temple!"
Gaoping Xi Clan's status has not been as good as before after Xi Jian's death. The Xi family rose to the upper echelons with military merit and was quite despised by Wang and Xie Clans. Even though Xi Xuan is a girl, she can feel this. She once said angrily to her younger brothers Xi Yin and Xi Tan: "Wang Clan is very grateful when he sees you. When he sees you, it's just normal, so you can go back without any trouble." It means that Wang Clan is very enthusiastic when he sees the brothers Xie An and Xie Wan come to his door, but when the Xi brothers come, they are indifferent. They are both in-laws and favor one over the other.
Therefore, Xi Xuan is relatively opposed to family background. Seeing that Chen Caozhi is handsome and his son's new friend, he is naturally happy to see Chen Caozhi's marriage come true, so he said, "Lady Lu, Young Lady Lu, please come to the temple to talk and eat some Loquat to quench your thirst."
Wang Xizhi said, "Axuan wait a moment, let's take a look at the big characters written by Xianzhi and Caozhi first."
Gaoping Xi Clan is also a calligraphy family, Xi Jian and his two sons Xi Yin and Xi Tan have written Dharma Name, Xi Xuan is a talented woman. She inherited the calligraphy style of her father and brother. She is exquisite in both seal and official scripts. I heard that Xianzhi and Caozhi wrote big characters. Naturally, I wanted to read them. I took Lady Lu's hand and looked at the big characters on the wall together.
Xi Xuan is very familiar with his son Wang Xianzhi's writing style. He glanced at the four characters "Clouds Like Scattered Immortals" and said, "A Jing wins in big characters" I have surpassed your father." He then carefully read the two verses written by Chen Caozhi, admired them for a long time, and said: "Caozhi is my true friend, A Jing, how dare you be arrogant?"
Wang Xianzhi said with a slightly red face, "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 big characters on the wall and inscribe them on stone, just like when Wang Youjun Wang Tanyue wrote the word 'goose' on the Qiguang Temple on Shan River's broom."
Yonghe Year Eight, Wang Xizhi went from the alchemy place of Zizhi Hermitage on Drum Mountain to the Qiguang Temple on Shan River to visit Zhi Daolin. They saw the white geese playing in the Qing River pond outside the mountain gate. They were lively and colorful, and they suddenly became elegant. They took a broom at the mountain gate and dipped it in the stream. When Qiguang Temple was surrounded by mud in the fields, he wrote the word "goose" on the whitewashed wall at the entrance. The white grass was flying like a swimming dragon. When Zhi Daolin came out of the mountain to greet him, he saw the water-stained word "goose". He was overjoyed and asked someone to cut out the word "goose" and move it to the stone tablet as a treasure of Qiguang Temple.
Zhi Fahan added, "Wang Youjun How about Wang Tanyue please also leave a calligraphy treasure?"
Wang Xizhi laughed loudly, "I will not compete with the younger generation."
Xi Xuan first accompanied Lady Lu mother and daughter to pay homage in front of the Buddha, and then went to the pilgrim's residence for a break. Xi Daomao knelt down and sat down gently, acting as both aunt and Agu's Xi Xuan is on the left side, with Loquat fruit in a small dish for Xi Xuan, Lady Lu, and Young Lady Lu to eat.
Lady 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, are the same generation, so although Wang Xizhi is older than Lu Na, they are just the same generation in terms of seniority, so Zhang Wenwan calls Xi Xuan his sister.
The 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 the envy of this old woman."
Zhang Wenwan was stunned for a moment, then realized 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 Master Chen happened to be called by Master Zhi, we just met by chance on the road."
Lu Weiwei has lowered eyebrows and lowered eyelashes, and his face is blushing.
Xi Xuan saw that Lady Lu looked embarrassed but not angry. He understood in his heart and said with a smile, "Despite the twists and turns, we finally got married. Jiangzuo is an important person. The old woman sees that Chen Caozhi has a bright future and will never insult the Lu Clan family."
At this time, the monks came to ask for a vegetarian meal. Naturally, the male and female pilgrims lived in the same courtyard. After eating the vegetarian meal, Xi Xuan and Lady Lu drank tea while chatting about some trivial matters at home, Young Maid Duan Chu came in and whispered something to Lu Weiwei, and Lu Weiwei blushed and said to Zhang Wenwan, "Mother, I have to go out for a while."