Tao Yuanming Poems: Body, Shadow and Spirit  (Shadow to Body) – 陶渊明《形影神  (三首其二:影答形)》

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形影神
 (三首其二:影答形)

存生不可言,卫生每苦拙。

诚愿游昆华[1],邈然兹道绝。

与子相遇来,未尝异悲悦。

憩荫若暂乖[2],止日[3]终不别。

此同既难常,黯尔[4]俱时灭。

身没名亦尽,念之五情[5]热。

立善[6]有遗爱,胡为不自竭?

酒云能消忧,方此讵[7]不劣?

这首诗为影子回答形体“存生不可言,卫生每苦拙”,指想寻求长生不老来维持生命是不可靠的,但是保养生命健康,也很苦恼,没有好的方法。影子以依托主名教者的口吻而对旧自然说提出其对人生的看法,长生不可期,神仙不可求,意在指责主自然说观点的那些人的虚无荒诞。“立善有遗爱”,因人死生无常,名同身亡,故主张由立善而留名,希望通过精神上的长生来达到永恒,美名得以流芳百世,万古长存。

注释:

[1]昆华:昆仑山和华山,传说中神仙居住的地方。

[2]乖:分开。

[3]止日:在太阳下。

[4]黯尔:黯然无光,心神十分沮丧的样子。

[5]五情:泛指人的感情。

[6]立善:时有三不朽:立言、立功、立德,三者总称立善。

[7]讵(jù):难道。

Body, Shadow and Spirit
 (Shadow to Body)

A man’s life cannot last forever;

It is hard even to live long.

You like immortal land as ever.

Can you tell the way not to go wrong?

Our companionship may not fade,

For we have shared same joy and pain.

If I have left you in the shade,

In sunshine I’ll appear again.

We can’t get together forever;

In time we both shall disappear.

Could I stay when you are gone? Never.

Thinking of this, I’m sad and drear.

But good deeds will be left tomorrow.

Why then do you not do your best?

Though drinking may drive away sorrow,

What good has wine done to your rest?

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