Inscription on the Lakeview Tower Yue Yang in Hunan of China- by Fan Zhong-yan

[Translator Suncrates' Remarks: It is typical of the history of ancient China that a good yu-shih, like the senator, has the solemn duty to recommend straightforwardly, to impeach the illegal misconducts of the high ranking officials at the court, as well as to criticize the wrong doings of the ruling emperors. The penalty at worst is exile, not execution. The subject of this inscription, Teng Zi-jing, was such a prominent character. He got exiled for his forthright outspoken criticism on governmental measures, but he was admired by his compatriots for his integrity and moral courage. Fan Zhong-yan, a congenial-minded statesman, later became the Prime Minister for the Northern Sung Dynasty of the 11th century China. The following text he wrote reads like Fan's own account about himself!]

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In the Spring of 1044 Teng Zi-jing was exiled to the Ba-ling County [also known as Yue County] as its Magistrate. In one year afterwards, the administration has moved smoothly, all the people have enjoyed peace and harmony, and myriad laid-off projects are being rehabilitated. He then sets out to have this Tower remodeled by expanding it on the original scale and inscribing upon its walls the compositions of eminent poets from the previous Tang Dynasty to the present. He asks me to dedicate a few words as record for "document and monument."

From my perspective, the outstanding feature of the Ba-ling county connsists in the scenic spot of the great Lake Dong-ting. Being linked to the remote ranges of mountains and engulfing the main streams of the Yangzi River, it flows in massive currents towards the boundless horizon, ever-changing in an infinite variety of forms and atmospheres with the alternation of light and dark from the morning till the evening. Such has been the magnificent vista of the Riverview Tower of Yue-yang, of which detailed accounts have been made by writers of the previous times.

Yet, nevertheless, being connected northward with the Gorges of Wu along the Yangzi River, and reaching southward down to the Rivers of Xiao and Xiang, it is situated in such a favorable position as to make itself an ideal meeting place for those exiled "visitors" and sentimental poets alike. How can their view of the same scenario remain unaltered?

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If it remains heavily raining for a full month, the gust of gales vehemently blowing the muddy waves sky high, the mountains and hills becoming invisible under neither sunshine nor starlight, the traveling merchants delayed in their journey, the masts of the ships inclined and the oars broken, and the tigers growling and the gibbons wailing in the dark silence of the evening, he who ascends this Tower under such circumstances must feel homesick as a stranger in a strange land, filled with worries about slander and fear of mockery. What meets his eyes is a world of desolation and despondence; he feels so deeply that he is reduced to utter grief.

If, on the other hand, it is in a mild spring season, the view all around extraordinarily clear, no waves and ripples being slightly disturbed, all the world up and down shone in the light of the day, a vast spread of green covering the span of 300,000 acres, the sea-gulls flying freely, the glistering fish of various colors swimming in the waters, the angelicas on the bank and the orchids on the islets emitting their fragrance in thick lushes, or if the sky is cloudless, the bright moon shining upon the land in scope of thousands miles, its floating lustre shimmering on the waters, and its fair image appearing like a piece of sunk jade, the fishmen echoing one another with their favorite folksongs,(how infinitely exhilarating, indeed!(he who ascends this Tower under such circumstances must feel carefree and refreshed in spirit and mood, so much so as to be entirely forgetful about honor and disgrace, favor and disfavor, and, with wine cup in hand, he toasts to the refreshing breeze, filled with sheer joy throughout his whole being!

Yet I have inquired into the heart of the great ancients of creative love and compassion as somehow different from those of the above two types: They are neither over joyous with the external situations, nor over grievous with their own troubles. While serving in high positions at the court, they always worry over the people served; while retreating to remote areas of "rivers and lakes," they always worry over the rulers at the Capital! Thus, either way, presumably(whether in service or in retreat(they must always have someone to worry over. When, then, would be their moment of joy? Thus they must answer: "One shall be sensitive enough to worry before the world's problems, yet empathetic enough to share the world's joy!" Alas! were there no such great personsalities, with whom should I identify my humble self?!

Composed by: Fan Zhong-yan, Magistrate of Deng County, Hunan, China on September 15, 1046.