Inscription on a humble house

If the mountain is not high, it will be famous if there are immortals. If the water is not deep, if there is a dragon, it will be spiritual. This is a humble house, but I am virtuous. The moss marks are green on the upper steps, and the grass color is green on the curtains. There are scholars who talk and laugh, but there are no idle people when coming and going. You can tune Su Qin to read the Golden Sutra. There are no messy ears of silk and bamboo, and there is no laborious shape of case documents. Zhuge Lu in Nanyang, Ziyun Pavilion in Western Shu, Confucius said: How ugly is it?

Translation: A mountain does not matter how high it is, as long as there are immortals living in it, it will be famous; water does not matter how deep it is, as long as there are dragons and dragons inhabiting it, it will show its spirit. This is a humble room, but my virtue has made it famous. The moss climbs up the steps and dyes it a green color, and the color of the grass reflects into the bamboo curtains, making the house full of green. The people talking and laughing here are all knowledgeable people, and there are no unlearned people who come and go. You can usually play the elegant guqin and read Buddhist scriptures written in clay. There is no complicated music to disturb the hearing, and no paperwork to strain the body and mind. It looks like the thatched cottage of Zhuge Liang in Nanyang, or the thatched cottage of Yangziyun in Western Shu. Confucius said: "What's so shabby about this?"

Extended information:

"The Inscription on a Humble Room" is a parallel-style inscription written by Liu Yuxi, a poet in the Tang Dynasty. The full text is only eighty-one words long. The author uses the praise of the humble house to express his noble aspirations, to live in poverty and live happily, and not to join in the world. It also reflects the author's self-righteousness and self-admiration. The article has a clear hierarchy. It starts with the landscape and points out the main theme of "this is a humble house, but I am virtuous and happy". Then it starts from the outdoor scenery, indoor people and things in the room, exaggerating the elegance of the humble house but not shabby, and citing ancient times. In Junyan's Residence, the words of ancient saints strengthen the meaning of the text and end with rhetorical questions, leaving a long lasting aftertaste.

Reference material: Baidu Encyclopedia - Humble Room Inscription