Chinese Traditional Story: Wang Wei, the Great Tang Dynasty Poet.

Hello everyone, Today I would like to share the story of Wang Wei, the Great Tang Dynasty poet. Born in AD 700, Wang Wei was not only a master of painting, but also a master of music. His poetry is sincere and serene, imbued with the tranquil and detached spirit of Hermes. Su Shi, the brilliant literary figure of the Northern Song Dynasty, praised him by saying, there is a painting within his poetry, and poetry within his painting. Because of his deep understanding of Buddhist philosophy and his devout faith in Buddhism, he was also known as Poet Buddha. Wang Wei's achievements are closely linked to his turbulent life. His father passed away when he was very young, leaving him to rely solely on his mother, a devout Buddhist layperson, which had a profound influence on his lifelong commitment to Buddhism. The hardships and poverty he endured gave him a deep insight into the nature of life and further strengthened his resolve to practice Buddhism. At age 21, he passed the Imperial Civil Service Examination and was appointed to the position of Chief Music Master, responsible for overseeing the imperial court's music. He was implicated when a performer broke the taboo while dancing a yellow line routine, and was demoted to the rank of Assistant Magistrate of the Green Storehouse in Jizhou. Later, during the Anlushan Rebellion, he was stranded in Chang'an and forced to accept a position in Anlushan's puppet regime. After rebellion was quelled, he was imprisoned and faced a death penalty. But his young brother Wang Jin, who served as the Vice Minister of Justice, secured his release. A year later, Emperor Su Zongtang finally granted him a pardon. In 729 A.D., he retired to the banks of the Qi River and later moved to Mount Song. He also resigned from his official post. It was not until 734 A.D., the 22nd year of Kaiyuan era and Emperor Xuanzong, that Zhang Jiuling became Chancellor, and Wang Wei was officially appointed to the position of Right Remonstrant, mainly responsible for advising the Emperor and correcting the merits and shortcomings of government policies. At that time, the corrupt Chancellor of Lilianfu held sway over the court and surprised those who opposed him. Disappointed and weary of the intrigues of dark realities of official life, Wang Wei began to contemplate retirement. Thus, in 741 A.D., he once again retired to Mount Zhongnan. By 748 A.D., he had purchased Song Jiuwen's Lantian Wangchuan Villa and continued to lead a life, in which he attended court duties in the morning and returned to Wangchuan in the evening. His poetry reveals that after undergoing various trials in his forties, he gradually let go of his attachment to fame and fortune, turning instead to pursuit of inner peace and the true meaning of life. In his later years, he often hosted more than a dozen monks in his home, regularly exchanging insights on Buddhist practice wisdom. Upon returning from court, he would burn incense, sit in solitude, and devote himself to meditation. With steadfast spiritual resolve and diligent practice, looking back at the human world reveals a different worldview. The affliction of life arose solely from attachment to love and hatred. If one complains because of poverty, it is due to heart filled with greed. While lost in delusion, people cling to this world plagued by poverty and illness. Unaware that their very presence in this world stems from having been moved by worldly desires. These desires are like venomous snakes coiled around them. Preventing liberation, only by cultivating away these desires and attachments, can the mind attain purity and transcendence. He rejoiced the insights he had gained in stillness, and his heart gradually distanced itself from that of ordinary people. He carved a pommel of his walking stick into the shape of a turtle doll, and placed a turtle shell under the foot of his bed. When he had nothing else to do, he would burn incense and meditate by the north-facing window. Before he knew it, as time went on, Wang Wei had attained the supreme state of pure vision, free from defilement and mind-empty of delusion. He naturally gained the ability of seeing past lives. He realized that his talent for poetry and painting in this life stemmed from the foundation he had built up over many lifetimes. He had been a master of poetry and prose for many lifetimes, and in his previous life, he had been a painter. Because he had not broken these old habits, his talents were once again recognized by the world in this life. Let us reflect on our own lives through the lens of Wang Wei's life. How many joys and sorrows have we experienced in our lives? How many obstacles and hardships have we overcome? Faced with climate change, how many of us have felt so much pain we wished we were dead? And how many times have we been left with no tears to shed? What is true happiness? Perhaps it's only through these experiences that we come to understand. This is not our true home. Our home is in heaven. Let's keep kind thoughts in our hearts, do more good deeds, and return as soon as possible to the beautiful home that truly belongs to us. Thank you very much for listening to the story. More touching stories will be ready for you if you just subscribe it. Thank you again.