The Story of Five-willow Gentleman

By Tao Yuan Ming

The Gentleman’s place of birth is not known, nor is his name or surname. He is called such by the fact that five willow trees grow beside his house.

He is a quiet man, being of little speech. He pursues no glory, nor material gain. He is fond of reading, but indulges not in hair-splitting. Each time he comes to understand something he is so happy that he forgets his meals.

He likes wine; but being poor he cannot obtain it often. His relations and old acquaintances knowing this occasionally invite his to drink; and each time he goes, he is sure to finish all the wine, or become quite drunk; and having got drunk he would retire, caring little to stay or to depart.

His house is bare around, scarcely good enough to protect him from rain and wind. He is clad in a tattered jacket of hair-cloth, and his kitchen vessels are often found empty, but he is perfect at ease. He often enjoys himself by writing, thereby to show his opinions; and he is determined to remain so to the end, being indifferent about material loss or gain.

Epilogue: Chieu Lu says, “Neither grumble about poverty, nor crave for honour and riches.” This is probably said of men of his kind, who, with wine-cup upon their lips, recite poems, and amuse themselves with their own ideas are they Wu Hwai’s subjects, or are they Ko Tien’s subjects?

先生不知何许人也， 亦不详其姓字， 宅边有五柳树， 因以为号焉。 闲静少言， 不慕荣利。 好读书， 不求甚解； 每有会意， 便欣然忘食。 性嗜酒， 家贫不能常得。 亲旧知其如此， 或置酒而招之； 造饮辄尽， 期在必醉。 既醉而退， 曾不吝情去留。 环堵萧然， 不蔽风日； 短褐穿结， 箪瓢屡空， 晏如也。 常著文章自娱， 颇示己志。 忘怀得失， 以此自终。

赞曰： 黔娄之妻有言： “不戚戚于贫贱， 不汲汲于富贵。” 其言兹若人之俦乎？ 衔觞赋诗， 以乐其志， 无怀氏之民欤？ 葛天氏之民欤？

The Story of Five-willow Gentleman 五柳先生传英文翻译