陆游的《诗人苦学说》：从藻绘到“功夫在诗外”（中英双语）mastery lies beyond poetry

陆游的《诗人苦学说》：从藻绘到“功夫在诗外”

今天看万维钢的《万万没想到》一书，看到陆游的功夫在诗外的句子，特意去查找这首诗的原文。故而有此文。

我国学人还往往过分强调“功夫在诗外”这句陆游的名言，认为提升综合素质是一个人成为任何领域高手的关键。殊不知这句话是陆游在84岁时说的，而且其原诗的前两句明确指出“我初学诗日，但欲工藻绘”！
格式引文：
万维钢著.万万没想到：用理工科思维理解世界（增补版）.电子工业出版社.2020:60.
得到电子书：https://d.dedao.cn/FHSIkfteLcGbFJHJ

在中国文学史上，陆游不仅是一位伟大的爱国诗人，也是一位深谙诗道的大家。他的诗作以豪放、悲壮、沉郁著称，同时又饱含学识与人生体验。在他84岁高龄时，写下了著名的《诗人苦学说》，提出了“功夫在诗外”的诗学观点。这句话被后世广泛引用，甚至演变为一种通用于各领域的学习理论。然而，许多人在引用时往往忽略了诗歌的完整内涵，也未能结合陆游的经历来理解其真正的思考。

一、《诗人苦学说》原文

我初学诗日，但欲工藻绘。
中年始少悟，不坠垂堂诲。
老更识根源，功夫在诗外。

二、诗意解析

这首诗的意思可以分为三个阶段：

1. 初学阶段：追求辞藻华丽

   • “我初学诗日，但欲工藻绘”：年少时初学诗歌，只注重辞藻的华丽和修辞技巧，希望诗句雕琢得精美华丽。
   • 这一阶段的陆游，和许多初学诗歌的文人一样，把写诗当作一种技巧性的艺术，关注的是如何让诗歌更优美、对仗更工整，而忽略了诗歌更深层次的内涵。

2. 中年阶段：稍有领悟

   • “中年始少悟，不坠垂堂诲”：到了中年，才逐渐领悟到诗歌不只是辞藻的堆砌，而是应该蕴含思想、表达真实情感。同时，他也没有违背古人关于学诗的训诲。
   • “垂堂诲”出自《左传》，指“高屋建瓴，近水坠堂”的危险，意在告诫人要谨慎，这里指古人对诗歌创作的深远思考。

3. 老年阶段：真正理解诗歌的本质

   • “老更识根源，功夫在诗外”：年老之后才彻底明白，诗歌的真正根源并不在于辞藻的修饰，而在于诗人自身的学识、阅历、思想修养，以及对人生的理解。真正的诗学修养来自生活的积淀，而不仅仅是写作技巧的打磨。
   • 这就是“功夫在诗外”的真正含义，即诗人的才情不仅来源于文学技巧的训练，更来源于对人生、历史、学问的积累。

三、陆游创作此诗的时代背景

陆游（1125—1210）生活在南宋时期，这是一个偏安江南、国力孱弱的时代。年轻时，他怀抱恢复中原的壮志，然而由于主和派的掌权，他的政治抱负屡次受挫，被排挤出仕途。晚年时期，他隐居在山阴（今浙江绍兴），在这里度过了宁静但充满遗憾的晚年时光。

在84岁高龄时，他已经完全明白，自己当年的满腔热血、豪情壮志，并不能通过激昂的辞藻来改变现实。真正的诗歌艺术，不仅要有技巧，更要有思想和人生阅历的支撑。这种思考，不仅是诗歌的本质，也是一种人生的哲学。

四、“功夫在诗外”的深远影响

“功夫在诗外”这一观点，后来被扩展到各个领域，成为一种普遍适用的学习理念。例如：

• 书法：仅仅练习笔画是不够的，还要有深厚的文化修养和对历史的理解，才能写出真正有韵味的书法作品。
• 音乐：弹奏技巧固然重要，但音乐的真正魅力在于演奏者的情感、经历、理解力。
• 科学研究：不仅仅是实验技术或数学能力，更重要的是整体的思维方式、跨学科的知识储备以及对问题的深刻洞察。
• 商业与管理：管理企业不仅仅是掌握商业模式，而在于对市场、消费者心理、社会经济环境的深刻理解。

五、总结

陆游的《诗人苦学说》，是一首自省之诗，展现了他一生学诗的历程，也揭示了文学艺术乃至任何学问的终极规律——真正的功夫并不局限于技巧，而是体现在更广阔的视野和更深厚的修养之中。

当我们今天引用“功夫在诗外”时，不应仅仅将其理解为“广泛涉猎知识”或“提升综合素质”，而应当深入体会陆游在84岁高龄时的感悟——任何领域的真正高手，必然是在大量实践与反思之后，才逐渐领悟到“技”之外的更高境界。

《诗人苦学说》逐字翻译（白话文释义）

原文：

我初学诗日，但欲工藻绘。
中年始少悟，不坠垂堂诲。
老更识根源，功夫在诗外。

逐字翻译（白话文）：

• 我初学诗日 —— 我刚开始学习写诗的时候，

• 但欲工藻绘 —— 只想着把辞藻修饰得华丽精美。

• 中年始少悟 —— 到了中年才稍微有所领悟，

• 不坠垂堂诲 —— 没有忘记古人传授的忠告和教诲。

• 老更识根源 —— 到了年老时才彻底明白诗歌的真正根本，

• 功夫在诗外 —— 诗歌的造诣并不仅仅取决于文字技巧，而在于诗人自身的阅历、学识和思想修养。

白话文版

“我年轻时学习写诗，只关心如何让词句华丽动人。到了中年，才稍微明白诗歌不仅仅是辞藻的雕琢，也没有忘记古人对诗道的训诲。到了老年，才真正认识到诗歌的根本在于广博的学识和深厚的阅历，写好诗不仅要在诗歌本身下功夫，更要在诗歌之外积累人生经验和文化修养。”

Lu You’s On the Hardship of Learning Poetry: The True Meaning of “Mastery Lies Beyond Poetry”

Lu You (1125–1210), one of the greatest poets of the Southern Song Dynasty, is renowned for his patriotic spirit, bold poetic style, and deep reflections on literature and life. At the age of 84, he composed the famous poem On the Hardship of Learning Poetry (诗人苦学说), in which he put forward the idea that “mastery lies beyond poetry” (功夫在诗外). This phrase has since been widely quoted, often as a general learning philosophy across various fields. However, many people misinterpret its true meaning by isolating it from its original context.

1. The Complete Poem and Its Interpretation

Original Poem:

我初学诗日，但欲工藻绘。
中年始少悟，不坠垂堂诲。
老更识根源，功夫在诗外。

Translation and Explanation:

1. Early Years: Chasing Ornamental Rhetoric

   • “When I first learned poetry, I sought only to refine its ornamentation.”
   • As a young poet, Lu You was preoccupied with polishing his poetic language, focusing on rhetorical beauty and elegant diction. Like many beginners, he initially believed that poetic mastery lay in technical refinement and aesthetic appeal.

2. Middle Age: Gaining Some Insight

   • “In middle age, I gained some understanding and did not neglect the lessons of the ancients.”
   • With age and experience, he realized that poetry was not just about superficial elegance. He began to appreciate deeper poetic principles and the wisdom passed down from previous poets, avoiding a shallow approach.

3. Old Age: True Realization

   • “In old age, I finally understood the true foundation: mastery lies beyond poetry.”
   • In his later years, Lu You reached a profound realization: the essence of poetry does not solely depend on linguistic craftsmanship but rather on broader intellectual and experiential cultivation. A poet’s depth is rooted in a rich reservoir of knowledge, life experience, and profound thought.

2. The Historical Context: Lu You’s Life and Reflections

Lu You lived during the Southern Song Dynasty, an era marked by national decline and the loss of northern China to the Jin dynasty. As a passionate patriot, he longed for the restoration of his homeland, but his political aspirations were repeatedly thwarted by the ruling peace-faction. His frustration with the political situation led him to a life of reclusion in Shaoxing, Zhejiang.

By the time he wrote this poem at 84, he had come to terms with his youthful ambitions and poetic journey. His realization that true poetic mastery comes from life experience rather than mere technical skill reflects not only his literary philosophy but also his deeper reflections on life itself.

3. The Deeper Implication of “Mastery Lies Beyond Poetry”

The phrase “功夫在诗外” (gōngfū zài shī wài) has since been extended beyond poetry and applied to various disciplines. The core idea is that technical skills alone do not make a true master; deeper understanding, experience, and broad intellectual cultivation are essential.

• Calligraphy: A master calligrapher does not merely perfect brush strokes; their art is informed by historical knowledge, philosophy, and cultural appreciation.
• Music: True musicality extends beyond technical proficiency; it requires emotional depth, interpretation, and life experience.
• Scientific Research: Mastery in science is not just about technical expertise but also about an expansive mindset, interdisciplinary knowledge, and innovative thinking.
• Business and Leadership: Effective leadership is not just about management techniques but about understanding people, markets, and social dynamics.

4. Conclusion

Lu You’s On the Hardship of Learning Poetry is not just a self-reflection on poetry but a profound life lesson. His realization at an advanced age reminds us that in any field, true mastery extends beyond mere technique. The real essence of expertise is cultivated through broad intellectual curiosity, deep reflection, and lived experience.

When we quote “mastery lies beyond poetry” today, we should not reduce it to a simplistic call for general knowledge or interdisciplinary learning. Instead, we should recognize it as a hard-earned wisdom from an aged poet, urging us to seek deeper meaning beyond technical excellence in whatever we pursue.

后记

2025年2月2日于山东日照。在GPT4o大模型辅助下完成。