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In his Kueierchi, Chang Jui-yi quotes this poem and says it was written on the wall of a Buddhist temple on the sacred peak of Sungshan east of Loyang. According to Hsu Yen-chou’s Choushihhua, when Ssu-ma Kuang (1019–1086) saw this poem there, he wrote “Don’t erase this poem,” then added: “When you’re climbing a mountain, if you walk slowly, you won’t become exhausted. And if you keep your feet on solid ground, you won’t get hurt.” Although this poem was ostensibly written to remind pilgrims and passersby of the true focus of spiritual practice, Ssu-ma Kuang saw in it a commentary on the complex, radical economic reforms of Wang An-shih, and many commentators have agreed with him. Like many similar poems in this collection, it probably would not have been included if it had not been open to such double entendre.

Written on a Wall

AUTHOR UNKNOWN

A pile of dry rushes in total disarray

suddenly lights the sky and suddenly is gone

no match for a stove full of old stump wood

slowly steadily giving off heat