圬者王承福传的译文及注释

译文及注释：
Translation:
Painting walls as a craft is lowly and hard work. There is a person who makes a living from this profession but he seems content and at ease. When he speaks his words are concise yet profound. When asked he says his surname is Wang and his given name is Chengfu. His ancestors have been farmers in Chang'an for generations. During the An Lushan Rebellion in the Tianbao period the common people were conscripted into the army and he was also drafted and fought with a bow and arrow for thirteen years. He was awarded an official rank by the imperial court but he chose to give up his official position and return to his hometown. Due to the loss of his land he relied on eating steamed buns to sustain his life for over thirty years. He lived as a lodger in the house of a landlord on the street and paid a fair amount of rent and food expenses. Based on the fluctuation of rent and food expenses at that time he adjusted the price of painting walls and returned the money to the landlord. If there was any money left he would give it to the disabled the poor and the hungry people on the road.

He also said Grain is grown by people through cultivation. As for cloth and silk they can only be made through sericulture and weaving. Other items used to sustain life are all completed after people's labor. I cannot do without them. However it is impossible for people to personally make everything. The most appropriate approach is for each person to do their best and cooperate with each other to seek survival. Therefore it is the responsibility of the ruler to govern us and enable us to survive and the responsibility of various officials is to educate the people in accordance with the ruler's will. Responsibilities can be big or small and everyone should do their best just like different vessels have different uses despite their different sizes. If one only eats without doing any work disasters will surely come. Therefore I dare not abandon my mud steamed buns to play and have fun even for a day. Painting walls is a relatively easy skill to master. I can work hard and achieve results and I can also receive the appropriate rewards. Although it is hard work I have no regrets in my heart. Therefore I am very content. Physical strength can be easily exerted and produce results but it is difficult to force the brain to become intelligent. Therefore those who do physical labor are used by others while those who use their brains use others. This is also reasonable. I just choose the kind of work that is easy to do and has no regrets to obtain rewards!

Ah! I have been working with a trowel in wealthy households for many years. Some households I have only visited once and when I pass by again the house has become ruins. Some households I have visited two or three times and later when I pass by they have also become ruins. When I ask their neighbors some say 'Ah! The owner of their house was sentenced to death.' Some say 'The original owner has already died' and some say 'The owner has gone bankrupt and left.' It's really unpredictable. I have seen many things in my life and I have learned that wealth and power are fleeting. Only by doing what I can and living a simple and content life can I find true peace and happiness.

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