Words of the Day

詼諧hui1xie2
Humorous, funny

有一天蘇東坡遇到他，就詼諧地說：“那麼 ‘滑’ 字一定是 ‘水之骨’ 囖。”

One day Su Dongpo encountered him [Wang Anshi], and humorously said, "'Slippery' must be 'the bone of water'."

**You have to know the Chinese to get this pun.

遵循zun1xun2
comply with, follow

符合fu3he2
conform to, to suit

後來有些中國學家者遵循西方集產主義的觀念，想洗刷王安石在歷史上的罪名，說他的思想 “符合現代社會主義”。

Later on some Chinese scholars followed western collectivism, and thought about erasing Wang Anshi's tarnished name, saying that his thoughts were "in accordance to modern socialism."

Words of the Day

遭zao1
To encounter (used typically in negative contexts)

雷霆lei2ting2
Thunderclap, thunderbolt

妄wang4
chaotic, random

他像希特勒，遭到反對就大發雷霆；現代精神病學家可以把他例為妄想狂。

He [Wang Anshi] was like Xi Tele, when there is opposition he would strike like thunder.  Modern psychologists would classify him has a lunatic.

評註ping2zhu4
Commentator

他把自己當作經書唯一的評註家。

He [Wang Anshi] would place himself as the only official commentator or classic text.

濫lan4
gushing liquid; excessive

這樣不僅是濫用權威，也是污衊學術。

This not only was an over excessive use of power, it also contaminated the art of learning.

Thoughts:  Wang Anshi gives us an interesting insight on how extremist views can affect thought and politics.