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魏晋 Wei-Jin · 诗 Poem

移居·其一

Moving Dwelling · One

陶渊明

Tao Yuanming

田园Pastoral 闲适Leisure / Ease 友情Friendship

昔欲居南村，非为卜其宅。
闻多素心人，乐与数晨夕。
怀此颇有年，今日从兹役。
敝庐何必广，取足蔽床席。
邻曲时时来，抗言谈在昔。
奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析。

I longed of old to dwell in South Village, not to divine a lucky site.
I heard there are many simple-hearted folk; I am glad to count the mornings and evenings with them.
I have cherished this thought for many a year; today at last I follow this call.
Why need a humble cottage be spacious? Enough to shelter bed and mat.
Neighbors come from time to time, speaking forthrightly of days gone by.
Wondrous writings we admire together; doubtful meanings we analyze with one another.

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Meaning

The poem recounts Tao Yuanming's move to South Village to live among simple-hearted neighbors. He did not choose the place for geomancy but for the company of kindred spirits; after years of wishing, he now dwells there content in a humble cottage. Neighbors visit to talk of the past, and kindred friends admire fine writings and analyze puzzling passages together—a portrait of leisure and fellowship in retirement.

从前想移居到南村，并不是为了占卜选择好宅地。听说那里有很多心地纯朴的人，愿意与他们共度晨夕。怀着这个念头已经有好多年，今天才实现移居的愿望。简陋的房屋何必求广，能遮住床席就足够了。邻居们时常来访，高谈阔论往昔的旧事。有了奇妙的文章一起欣赏，有了疑难的问题一起分析。

Appreciation

This is the first of Tao's two 'Moving Dwelling' poems, writing the joy of neighborhood fellowship after his move to South Village, a famous pastoral poem. The whole is threaded by 'simple-hearted folk': the first four lines give the reason for moving (not for the site but for the neighbors), the middle two the fulfillment of a long wish and contentment with a humble home, the last four the neighbors' visits and the friends' literary communion. The language is plain, the feeling sincere—Tao's pastoral skill of 'plain yet ornate, spare yet rich.'

【白话串讲】陶渊明写《移居·其一》：“昔欲居南村，非为卜其宅。闻多素心人，乐与数晨夕”——他搬家是为了交朋友。“敝庐何必广，取足蔽床席”——“邻曲时时来，抗言谈在昔”——“奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析”——他写与邻居谈文论道。【意象与手法】此诗是陶渊明《移居》二首的第一首，写移居南村后与邻里交游的乐趣，是陶渊明田园诗的名篇。全诗以「素心人」为纲——首四句写移居的缘由：「昔欲居南村，非为卜其宅」写移居不为择宅（「卜宅」指占卜择地，陶渊明反其意，言其意在邻居）；「闻多素心人，乐与数晨夕」写移居是因为那里多「素心人」（心地纯朴之人），愿与之共度晨夕；中二句「怀此颇有年，今日从兹役」写夙愿的达成——怀着这念头多年，今日终于移居；「敝庐何必广，取足蔽床席」写居室不求广——陋屋能蔽床席即可，见其安贫乐道；末四句「邻曲时时来，抗言谈在昔」写邻里往来——邻居时常来访，高谈往昔；「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」写文友切磋——奇文共赏、疑义共析，是千古名句。全诗以「素心人」为核心，写移居南村后与「素心」邻里（也是诗友）交游的乐趣，语言质朴，情意真挚，是陶渊明田园诗中写友情的名篇。【情感与主旨】此诗作于晋安帝义熙元年（405）之后，时陶渊明已弃官归隐。陶渊明于义熙元年辞彭泽令归隐（「不为五斗米折腰」），归隐后先居旧宅（柴桑），后移居南村（浔阳柴桑之南的南村）。移居南村后，陶渊明与颜延之、殷景仁、庞通之等隐士与文人交游，其乐融融，遂作《移居》二首。那「非为卜其宅」写移居不为择吉宅，那「闻多素心人，乐与数晨夕」写移居为的是与「素心人」为邻，那「敝庐何必广，取足蔽床席」写安贫乐道，那「邻曲时时来，抗言谈在昔」写邻里的往来，那「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」写文友的切磋。全诗以移居南村写归隐后与素心人交游的乐趣，那「素心人」是心地纯朴、志趣相投之人，那「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」是文人交游的雅趣，是千古名句；全诗语言质朴、情意真挚，正是陶渊明田园诗「质而实绮，癯而实腴」的本领。【名句点睛】常考“敝庐何必广，取足蔽床席”写安贫乐道；“奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析”写与邻人谈文论道的乐趣。

Background

This is the first of Tao Yuanming's two 'Moving Dwelling' poems, written after 405 CE (the first year of Yixi), when Tao had left office to retire. Tao Yuanming (c. 365–427), styled Yuanliang, also Qian, styled Yuanming, called Master Five Willows, from Xunyang Chaisang (now Jiujiang, Jiangxi), a poet of late Jin to early Song, founder of Chinese pastoral poetry. He served as libationer of Jiangzhou, army aide, and Pengze magistrate; in 405, because he would 'not bow for five pecks of rice,' he resigned the Pengze post and retired, farming for over twenty years. After retirement he first lived in the old house (Chaisang), then moved to South Village (south of Xunyang Chaisang). There he befriended recluses and literati like Yan Yanzhi, Yin Jingren, and Pang Tongzhi. 'I longed of old to dwell in South Village, not to divine a lucky site' writes that the move was not for geomancy—'divine the site' means to choose by divination; Tao reverses it, saying his aim was neighbors not site. 'I heard there are many simple-hearted folk; I am glad to count the mornings and evenings with them' writes that South Village has many simple-hearted folk. 'I have cherished this thought for many a year; today at last I follow this call' writes the long-held wish fulfilled. 'Why need a humble cottage be spacious? Enough to shelter bed and mat' writes contentment with poverty. 'Neighbors come from time to time, speaking forthrightly of days gone by' writes neighborhood visits. 'Wondrous writings we admire together; doubtful meanings we analyze with one another' writes literary communion—a famous line. The whole writes the joy of fellowship with simple-hearted neighbors after moving to South Village.

此诗是陶渊明《移居》二首的第一首，作于晋安帝义熙元年（405）之后，时陶渊明已弃官归隐。陶渊明（约365—427），字元亮，一名潜，字渊明，号五柳先生，浔阳柴桑（今江西九江）人，东晋末至南朝宋初的诗人，中国田园诗的开创者。他曾任江州祭酒、镇军参军、彭泽令等职，义熙元年（405）因「不为五斗米折腰」辞彭泽令归隐，此后躬耕田园二十余年。归隐后陶渊明先居旧宅（柴桑），后移居南村（浔阳柴桑之南）。移居南村后，陶渊明与颜延之、殷景仁、庞通之等隐士文人交游，其乐融融。诗中「昔欲居南村，非为卜其宅」写从前想移居南村，并不是为了占卜选择好宅地——「卜宅」指占卜择地，陶渊明反其意，言其意不在择吉宅而在择邻居；「闻多素心人，乐与数晨夕」写听说南村多「素心人」（心地纯朴之人），愿意与他们共度晨夕——「数晨夕」写盘算着共度晨夕；「怀此颇有年，今日从兹役」写怀着这念头多年，今日终于实现移居；「敝庐何必广，取足蔽床席」写简陋的房屋何必求广，能遮住床席即可——写安贫乐道；「邻曲时时来，抗言谈在昔」写邻居时常来访，高谈往昔——「邻曲」写邻居，「抗言」写高声谈论；「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」写奇文共赏、疑义共析——写文人交游的雅趣。全诗写移居南村后与「素心」邻里交游的乐趣。

Art

The poem's art may be read in four layers. First, the composition threaded by 'simple-hearted folk': the whole centers on them—the first four lines give the reason (to dwell with them), the last four the joy of fellowship (talk of past, admire and analyze), 'simple-hearted folk' running through, tight structure. Second, the wit of reversing 'divine the site': 'I longed of old to dwell in South Village, not to divine a lucky site' reverses the tradition of choosing a site by divination—ordinary movers seek a lucky site, Tao seeks 'simple-hearted' neighbors, writing his lofty aim with a backward stroke, full of wit. Third, the bearing of contentment with poverty: 'Why need a humble cottage be spacious? Enough to shelter bed and mat' writes that the dwelling need not be large—'why need' and 'enough' write the bearing of one content in poverty, true joy within a rough hut. Fourth, the closing of elegant communion through question-and-share: 'Wondrous writings we admire together; doubtful meanings we analyze with one another' writes admiring fine writings and analyzing doubts with neighbors (fellow poets)—'together' and 'with one another' write the elegance of communion, a famous line and the poem's emotional crest. These four devices make the poem, in plain language, write the joy of fellowship with simple-hearted neighbors after moving to South Village—Tao's pastoral skill of 'plain yet ornate, spare yet rich.'

此诗的艺术特色可从四个层面解析。其一，以「素心人」为纲的构思。全诗写移居南村，紧扣「素心人」展开——首四句写移居的缘由（为与素心人同居），末四句写与素心人交游的乐趣（谈在昔、共赏析），以「素心人」贯穿全诗，结构严谨。其二，反用卜宅的机趣。「昔欲居南村，非为卜其宅」以「非为卜其宅」反用占卜择宅的传统——常人移居求吉宅，陶渊明移居则求「素心人」为邻，以反笔写其志趣之高，机趣横生。其三，安贫乐道的襟怀。「敝庐何必广，取足蔽床席」写居室不求广，能蔽床席即可——那「何必广」「取足」写尽安贫乐道的襟怀，陋室之中自有真乐。其四，以问对写雅趣的收束。「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」写奇文共赏、疑义共析——以「共」「相与」写与邻里（诗友）切磋的雅趣，是千古名句，也是全诗情感的高潮。四重手法，使此诗以质朴的语言写移居南村后与素心人交游的乐趣，正是陶渊明田园诗「质而实绮，癯而实腴」的本领。

Allusions

The poem's diction is rooted in the traditions of reclusion, friendship, and the Confucian classics. 'I longed of old to dwell in South Village, not to divine a lucky site' writes choosing neighbors by moving—'divine the site' recalls the ancient tradition of divining to choose a dwelling (the 'Odes'' 'he cracked his tortoise-shell' writing the Zhou's divining to build), Tao reverses it, saying his move is for good neighbors not a lucky site, recalling the 'Mencius' mother's three moves' tradition of choosing neighbors and 'the virtuous are not alone, they surely have neighbors' (Analects). 'I heard there are many simple-hearted folk; I am glad to count the mornings and evenings with them' writes dwelling with simple-hearted folk—'simple heart' the meaning of plain, original mind, recalling the 'gentlemen's friendship is like water' tradition and the 'plain friendship' allusion (Liu Xiaobiao's 'all plain friendships ended'). 'Why need a humble cottage be spacious? Enough to shelter bed and mat' writes contentment with poverty—'humble cottage' recalls 'I built my hut where men dwell' (Tao's 'Drinking' five), 'enough to shelter bed and mat' recalls 'one basket of food, one gourd of drink, in a narrow lane, others cannot bear the sorrow, Hui does not change his joy' (Analects, Yan Hui's contentment). 'Neighbors come from time to time, speaking forthrightly of days gone by' recalls 'raising wine to talk of mulberry and hemp' (Meng Haoran's 'passing the old friend's village'). 'Wondrous writings we admire together; doubtful meanings we analyze with one another' recalls 'as if cutting and grinding' (Odes, the carving and polishing tradition). The whole adapts the Odes, Analects, Mencius's mother, plain friendship—plain language writing the move's aim, Tao's skill of 'citing classics without trace.'

此诗的用语深植于隐逸、交友与儒家经典传统。「昔欲居南村，非为卜其宅」写移居择邻——那「卜宅」令人想到古人迁居占卜择地的传统（《诗经·大雅·绵》「爰契我龟」写周人占卜营宅），陶渊明以「非为卜其宅」反用此典，言其移居不为择吉宅而为择良邻，令人想到「孟母三迁」的择邻传统与「德不孤，必有邻」（《论语·里仁》）的择邻之义；「闻多素心人，乐与数晨夕」写与素心人为邻——那「素心人」令人想到「素心」的淡泊之意（素心即本心、淳朴之心），令人想到「君子之交淡如水」的交友传统，也令人想到「素交」的典故（南齐刘孝标《广绝交论》有「素交尽」之说，素交指真诚的旧交）；「敝庐何必广，取足蔽床席」写安贫乐道——那「敝庐」令人想到「结庐在人境」（陶渊明《饮酒·其五》）的草庐意象，那「取足蔽床席」令人想到「一箪食，一瓢饮，在陋巷，人不堪其忧，回也不改其乐」（《论语·雍也》）的颜回安贫之乐；「邻曲时时来，抗言谈在昔」写邻里交游——那「谈在昔」令人想到「把酒话桑麻」（孟浩然《过故人庄》）的田家聚谈传统；「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」写文友切磋——那「奇文」令人想到「文心雕龙」的文论传统，那「疑义相与析」令人想到「如切如磋，如琢如磨」（《诗经·卫风·淇奥》）的切磋琢磨传统。全诗化用《诗经》《论语》、孟母三迁、素交等隐逸、交友经典，以质朴的语言写移居的志趣，正是陶渊明「引经据典而不露痕迹」的本领。

Commentary

This poem is long praised as a famous pastoral poem on friendship and moving, and a classic of Chinese poetry on literati fellowship. Critics through ages rate it highly: Su Shi said Tao's poems are 'plain yet ornate, spare yet rich,' and this is representative; a Qing critic said 'centered on simple-hearted folk, writing the joy of fellowship, sincere and moving.' Its special value in literary history: in plain language it writes the joy of fellowship with simple-hearted folk after moving to South Village—the aim of 'not to divine a lucky site' (moving for good neighbors not a lucky site), the expectation of 'glad to count the mornings and evenings,' the poverty-contentment of 'why need a humble cottage be spacious,' the visits of 'neighbors come from time to time,' the communion of 'wondrous writings we admire together'—all write Tao's joy of fellowship with simple-hearted friends (also fellow poets) after retirement; 'wondrous writings we admire together; doubtful meanings we analyze with one another' is the thousand-year famous line on literati fellowship. With its second poem ('many fair days in spring and autumn, climb high and compose new poems') it forms the 'Moving Dwelling' pair; with 'Return to the Garden' (no dust in court, idle room with spare ease) and 'Drinking' five ('picking chrysanthemums by the east fence, leisurely see the southern hills') it is a pastoral masterpiece. For today's readers it is a window to Tao's pastoral life and literati friendship, and a classic of Chinese poetry on friendship and contentment—the simple-hearted folk of South Village, the admired writings, the analyzed doubts, across a thousand years still speak of true friends and true joy.

此诗历来被推为陶渊明田园诗中写友情与移居的名篇，也是中国诗歌写文人交游的经典。历代论者对此诗评价极高：宋人苏轼评陶渊明诗「质而实绮，癯而实腴」，此诗正是其代表；清人评此诗「以素心人为主，写交游之乐，真挚动人」。在文学史上，此诗的特殊价值在于：它以质朴的语言写移居南村后与「素心人」交游的乐趣——那「非为卜其宅」的志趣（移居为择良邻而非择吉宅），那「乐与数晨夕」的期待，那「敝庐何必广，取足蔽床席」的安贫，那「邻曲时时来，抗言谈在昔」的往来，那「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」的切磋，都写尽了陶渊明归隐后与素心人（也是诗友）交游的乐趣；那「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」更是文人交游的千古名言，写尽了「以文会友」的雅趣。此诗与其二（「春秋多佳日，登高赋新诗」）同为《移居》组诗，其一写移居择邻的交游，其二写春秋佳日的登高赋诗；又与《归园田居·其一》（「户庭无尘杂，虚室有余闲」）同写归隐后的闲适，与《饮酒·其五》（「采菊东篱下，悠然见南山」）同为其田园诗的名篇。对于今日读者，此诗是理解陶渊明田园生活与文人交游的窗口，也是中国诗歌写友情与安贫乐道的经典——那南村的素心人、共赏的奇文、相析的疑义，穿越千年，仍在诉说着真朋友与真乐趣。

Prosody

Form Five-character ancient poem (six rhymes, twelve lines)五言古诗（六韵十二句）

Rhyme The whole rhymes in the oblique-tone 'mo/ji' rhyme (site, evening, call, mat, past, analyze), the entering-tone short and abrupt, fitting the pastoral's plainness.全诗押仄声陌锡韵（宅、夕、役、席、昔、析），入声韵短促，正合田园诗的质朴。

Tone pattern This is a five-character ancient poem, twelve lines sixty characters. By content in four layers: first four lines the reason for moving (longed of old, not to divine, heard simple folk, glad to count); middle two the wish fulfilled (cherished years, follow the call); next two the humble dwelling (why spacious, enough to shelter); last four the fellowship (neighbors come, speak of past, admire writings, analyze doubts). In tone, plain language, entering-tone rhyme, steady rhythm, fitting the pastoral; four layers progressive, from reason to fellowship's joy, tight structure.此诗为五言古诗，十二句六十字。全诗按内容可分为四层：首四句写移居的缘由（昔欲居南村、非为卜其宅、闻多素心人、乐与数晨夕）；中二句写夙愿的达成（怀此颇有年、今日从兹役）；又二句写居室的安贫（敝庐何必广、取足蔽床席）；末四句写邻里交游（邻曲时时来、抗言谈在昔、奇文共欣赏、疑义相与析）。声调上，全诗以质朴的语言入诗，押入声韵，节奏沉稳，正合田园诗的质朴；四层递进，由移居缘由到交游之乐，结构严谨。

Reading note This poem is a famous five-character ancient poem on moving and fellowship, in plain language writing the joy of fellowship with simple-hearted folk after moving to South Village—Tao's pastoral skill of 'plain yet ornate, spare yet rich.' Four layers: first four the reason (longed of old, not to divine, heard simple folk, glad to count), middle two the wish fulfilled (cherished years, follow the call), next two contentment (why spacious, enough to shelter), last four fellowship (neighbors come, speak of past, admire writings, analyze doubts). In tone, plain language, entering-tone rhyme, steady rhythm; the aim of 'not to divine a lucky site' and the elegance of 'wondrous writings we admire together; doubtful meanings we analyze with one another' are the poem's deep meaning. Recite with plain tone for the reason, glad tone for fellowship's joy, especially the last two lines read with delight and sincerity, to convey Tao's joy of fellowship. Tao is known for plainness; this is the classic of his pastoral friendship poetry.此诗是五言古诗写移居交游的名篇，以质朴的语言写移居南村后与素心人交游的乐趣，正是陶渊明田园诗「质而实绮，癯而实腴」的本领。全诗四层：首四句写移居缘由（昔欲居南村、非为卜其宅、闻多素心人、乐与数晨夕），中二句写夙愿达成（怀此颇有年、今日从兹役），又二句写安贫（敝庐何必广、取足蔽床席），末四句写交游（邻曲时时来、抗言谈在昔、奇文共欣赏、疑义相与析）。声调上，全诗语言质朴、押入声韵，节奏沉稳，那「非为卜其宅」的志趣、「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」的雅趣，正是陶渊明写移居交游的深意。诵读此诗，宜以平实的语调读移居缘由，以欣然的话调读交游之乐，尤其「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」两句，要读得欣然而真挚，方能传达出陶渊明与素心人交游的乐趣。陶渊明诗以质朴著称，此诗正是其田园诗写友情的经典。

Line by line

闻多素心人，乐与数晨夕。

I heard there are many simple-hearted folk; I am glad to count the mornings and evenings with them. (Insight: a famous line on the reason for moving, and a thousand-year famous line, writing the aim of choosing neighbors by 'simple-hearted folk,' sincere and deep. 'I heard there are many simple-hearted folk' writes that South Village has many plain-hearted, like-minded people—'simple heart' is the original, plain mind. 'I am glad to count the mornings and evenings with them' writes the willingness to spend mornings and evenings with them—'glad' the inner joy, 'count the mornings and evenings' the cherishing of time with them. The depth: it writes Tao's true purpose in moving—not geomancy but neighbors; 'glad to count' writes the longing for simple-hearted folk. The 'simple-hearted folk' are Tao's ideal neighbors; because 'heard many simple-hearted,' he is 'glad to count the mornings and evenings,' so the move is not mere relocation but seeking kindred. Writing aim by 'simple heart' and longing by 'glad to count' is Tao's skill of 'plain words, true feeling,' making this a thousand-year line on choosing neighbors and friendship.)

听说那里有很多心地纯朴的人，愿意与他们共度晨夕。

I hear there are many here of simple, unspoiled hearts; I would gladly count the mornings and evenings with them.

这句是写移居缘由的名句，也是千古名句，以「素心人」写移居择邻的志趣，真挚而深永。「闻多素心人」写听说南村多心地纯朴之人——那「素心人」写心地纯朴、志趣相投之人，「素心」即本心、淳朴之心；「乐与数晨夕」写愿意与他们共度晨夕——那「乐」写内心的喜悦，那「数晨夕」写盘算着与素心人共度晨夕。这句的深意在于：它以「素心人」写出了陶渊明移居南村的真正目的——不是为占卜择吉宅，而是为了与「素心人」为邻；那「乐与数晨夕」写尽了对素心人的向往——愿与他们朝夕相处、共度晨昏，那「乐」字写尽内心的喜悦。而那「素心人」正是陶渊明心目中的理想邻居——心地淳朴、志趣相投之人；正因「闻多素心人」，才「乐与数晨夕」，移居南村便不只是搬家，而是寻访知己。以「素心人」写志趣、以「乐与数晨夕」写向往，正是陶渊明「以质语写真情」的本领，也让这句成为写择邻与友情的千古名句。

This line, a famous statement of why Tao moved his home, is built on the phrase 'people of simple hearts.' He has heard that the Southern Village holds many of uncomplicated, unworldly temperaments, and he 'would gladly count the mornings and evenings with them'—delighting in the thought of sharing daybreak and dusk with such neighbors. The depth lies in what the move is for: not to choose an auspicious site, but to seek out kindred spirits. The 'simple hearts' are the ideal neighbors Tao imagines, and moving becomes not relocation but a search for friends. It is Tao's hallmark, saying true feeling in plain words, and has become a timeless line on choosing one's neighbors.

奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析。

Wondrous writings we admire together; doubtful meanings we analyze with one another. (Insight: the poem's finishing touch and a thousand-year famous line, writing the elegance of communion with neighbors by 'together' and 'with one another,' exhausting the joy of literati fellowship. 'Wondrous writings we admire together' writes admiring fine writings together—'wondrous' the wonderful writing, 'admire together' the shared savoring. 'Doubtful meanings we analyze with one another' writes analyzing puzzling passages together—'doubtful' the puzzling meaning, 'analyze with one another' the mutual discussion. The depth: it writes the core joy of literati fellowship—not only the talking of 'neighbors come, speak of past' but the communion of 'wondrous writings we admire together; doubtful meanings we analyze with one another'; the wondrous needs shared admiring to show its wonder, the doubtful needs mutual analysis to be solved, exactly the elegance of 'friend as aid to virtue through letters.' The 'simple-hearted folk' fellowship lies in this spiritual exchange—admiring writings, analyzing doubts, the highest joy between kindred. Writing sharing by 'admire together' and communion by 'analyze with one another' is Tao's skill of writing literati fellowship, making this a thousand-year line on friend-based learning—'wondrous writings we admire together; doubtful meanings we analyze with one another' is the highest portrait of literati sharpening one another across ages.)

有了奇妙的文章一起欣赏，有了疑难的问题一起分析。

Wondrous writings we enjoy together; doubtful passages we puzzle out with one another.

这句是全诗的点睛之笔，也是千古名句，以「共」「相与」写与邻里切磋的雅趣，写尽文人交游之乐。「奇文共欣赏」写奇妙的文章一起欣赏——那「奇文」写奇妙的文章，那「共欣赏」写一起欣赏、共同品味，「共」字写尽分享之乐；「疑义相与析」写疑难的问题一起分析——那「疑义」写疑难之义，那「相与析」写相互讨论分析，「相与」写尽切磋之乐。这句的深意在于：它以「共欣赏」「相与析」写出了文人交游最核心的乐趣——不仅有「邻曲时时来，抗言谈在昔」的谈笑，更有「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」的切磋；那「奇文」需「共欣赏」方显其妙，那「疑义」需「相与析」方能得解，正是「以文会友，以友辅仁」的雅趣。而那「素心人」的交游，正在于这种精神上的交流——共赏奇文、共析疑义，正是知己之间的最高乐趣。以「共欣赏」写分享、以「相与析」写切磋，正是陶渊明写文人交游的本领，也让这句成为写以文会友的千古名句——那「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」，正是千百年来文人切磋的至高写照。

This couplet is the poem's luminous point and a timeless line, built on the words 'together' and 'with one another.' A marvelous text is enjoyed communally, a doubtful passage is jointly unpacked, and the two words measure the pleasure of shared reading. The line captures the deepest joy of literary friendship: not only the casual talk of neighbors dropping by, but the disciplined delight of appreciating and interpreting together. A strange text needs shared enjoyment to show its wonder; a hard passage needs joint analysis to yield its meaning—the Confucian ideal of 'making friends through literature, and through friends nurturing humanity.' It has remained, across the centuries, the supreme image of scholars sharpening one another.

Study

Word focus

素 'Plain / simple' (su). (Analysis: the key character of the move's aim; one 'plain' writes the plain-hearted character, the eye of 'simple-hearted folk.' 'Plain' means original, unadorned. Tao writes South Village's neighbors with 'heard many simple-hearted folk'; the one 'plain' has at least two senses: it writes the heart's plainness—'simple heart' the original, unadorned mind, not cunning or fame-seeking but plain; it writes the aim's contentment—'simple heart' also the contented will, recalling 'plain friendship' and 'plain station,' writing the simple-hearted folk's contentment and sincerity. Writing person by 'plain' is the key to Tao's move aim—the 'simple-hearted folk' are his ideal neighbors; changed to 'plain' (pu) or 'true' (zhen) would lose the 'plain' original sense or its echo with 'plain friendship'; only 'plain' writes both heart's plainness and will's contentment, matching 'glad to count the mornings and evenings,' writing Tao's neighbor-choosing aim, making 'heard many simple-hearted folk; glad to count the mornings and evenings' a thousand-year line on choosing neighbors and friendship.) 「素」字是写移居志趣的关键字，一个「素」字写尽心地纯朴的品格，是「素心人」的词眼。素者，本色、纯朴也。陶渊明以「闻多素心人」写南村的邻居，一个「素」字，至少有双重意味：其一，写心地之淳朴——那「素心」写本心、淳朴之心，「素」字写尽心地的不加雕饰——不是机巧之心、不是名利之心，而是本色淳朴之心；其二，写志趣之淡泊——那「素心」也写淡泊之志，「素」字令人想到「素交」（真诚的旧交）与「素位」（安于本位），写尽素心人的淡泊与真诚。以「素」字写人，正是陶渊明写移居志趣的关键——那「素心人」正是陶渊明理想中的邻居——心地淳朴、志趣淡泊之人；若换作「朴」「真」等字，则或失其「素」的本色意味，或失其与「素交」的呼应；唯「素」字，以一字写尽心地淳朴与志趣淡泊，与「乐与数晨夕」相合，写尽陶渊明择邻的志趣，也让「闻多素心人，乐与数晨夕」成为写择邻与友情的千古名句。

析 'Analyze' (xi). (Analysis: the key character of communion's elegance; one 'analyze' writes the probing of doubts, the eye of 'doubtful meanings we analyze with one another.' 'Analyze' means to separate and examine. Tao writes the communion with neighbors by 'doubtful meanings we analyze with one another'; the one 'analyze' has at least two senses: it writes the probing of doubts—'doubtful' the puzzling meaning, 'analyze with one another' the mutual discussion, 'analyze' the thorough probing, not perfunctory; it writes the depth of communion—'analyze' writes the depth of sharpening: not only 'admire' the wondrous (admire together) but 'probe' the doubtful (analyze with one another), 'analyze' writes the depth of literati communion. Writing communion by 'analyze' is the key to Tao's literati-fellowship elegance—'doubtful meanings we analyze with one another' set against 'wondrous writings we admire together,' admiring is savoring, analyzing is probing, one admiring one probing, writing the two levels of communion; changed to 'discuss' (lun) or 'deliberate' (yi) would lose the probing depth or the match with 'doubtful'; only 'analyze' writes both the doubt's probing and the communion's depth, matching 'admire together,' writing the elegance of literati fellowship, making 'wondrous writings we admire together; doubtful meanings we analyze with one another' a thousand-year line on friend-based learning.) 「析」字是写切磋雅趣的关键字，一个「析」字写尽疑义的辨析，是「疑义相与析」的词眼。析者，分析、辨析也。陶渊明以「疑义相与析」写与邻里的切磋，一个「析」字，至少有双重意味：其一，写疑义之辨析——那「疑义」写疑难之义，那「相与析」写相互讨论分析，「析」字写尽对疑义的剖析——不是敷衍，而是认真地辨析；其二，写切磋之深入——那「析」字写尽切磋的深入——不仅要「欣赏」奇文（共欣赏），更要「辨析」疑义（相与析），「析」字写尽文人切磋的深度。以「析」字写切磋，正是陶渊明写文人交游雅趣的关键——那「疑义相与析」与「奇文共欣赏」相对，「欣赏」是品味，「析」是辨析，一赏一析，写尽切磋的两个层次；若换作「论」「议」等字，则或失其分析的深入，或失其与「疑义」的搭配；唯「析」字，以一字写尽疑义的辨析与切磋的深入，与「共欣赏」相合，写尽文人交游的雅趣，也让「奇文共欣赏，疑义相与析」成为写以文会友的千古名句。