Page 4 - Chinese Art From The Scholars Studio, 2015, J.J. Lally, New York

陳繼儒
Chen Jiru

Pure Talk in an Era of 太平清話

Perfect Peace

Burning incense;
tasting teas;

washing out inkstones;
playing the qin lute;

collating books;
observing the phases of the moon;

listening to the rain;

spraying flowers;
resting in high reclusion;
comparing prescriptions;

going on excursions for the view;

warming one’s back in the sun;
fishing;

comparing paintings;
washing out one’s mouth with different stream waters;

propping oneself with a hiking stick;
reverencing Buddha in ceremonies;

tasting wines;
calmly sitting in meditation;

translating sutras;
gazing at mountains;

copying calligraphy models;
leaning against bamboo trees.

All of the above are pleasures that can be enjoyed

by a man in solitude.

Chen Jiru (1558-1639), Tai ping qing hua, 2:17b-18a,
Shangbaizhai edition, 34th Year of Wanli (1606),
Courtesy of the Harvard-Yenching Library, Harvard University

Translation by Jonathan Chaves