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Inner Detachment

A monochrome painting of the Stream by Wang Wei in a more spontaneous technique called pomo (“broken ink”), using varying shades of ink washes.

Either Li Bai’s great ambition or Du Fu’s deep concern is associated with the enthusiasm towards political issues. In other words, even if they cannot fully achieve their potentials in court, they still care about those secular things. However, there exists another form of political attitude - inner detachment. It is like I know I can do nothing to change the reality, therefore I choose to step myself away from the disturbing political and social issues. Meanwhile, I stick with a peaceful life that brings true happiness and freedom. Such a sense of transcending worldliness is most reflected in Buddhist ideas. Therefore, it reminds me of the most well-known Buddhist poet in the Tang Dynasty - Wang Wei. He was especially good at landscape poetry so that we can find abundant water metaphors in his works.

Born in an aristocratic family, Wang Wei was originally granted a lucrative civil service career, and he was active in political issues when he was a young man, even if he chose to settle down by the mountain in his late years. Wang Wei was pretty honest with such life experiences in one of his works, Villa on Zhongnan-Mountain 终南别业.

In my middle years, I came to much love the Way, 中岁颇好道，

And late made my home by South Mountain’s edge. 晚家南山陲。

How did he come to choose an entirely different lifestyle and step himself away from politics? The reasons behind this might be complicated. The An Lu-shan Rebellion, several dispatches, and the death of his relatives, all possible. However, the result was certain - Wang Wei finally spent more time exploring his country villa and deepening his study of Buddhism. His attitudes towards politics can actually be reflected in the water metaphor from the same poem.

I walk to the point where a stream ends, 行到水穷处，

and sitting, watch when clouds rise. 坐看云起时。

The above sentences indicate that Wang Wei did not set any goals for his journey. He was totally immersed in the landscape and able to adapt himself to any circumstances. When a stream ended, he would not feel anxious. Instead, he would enjoy a new view at that point. Does it give us any inspiration for Wang Wei’s political attitudes? Of course. Wang Wei’s official career in court came to an end just as the stream ended. This metaphor was pretty vivid because water represents secular opportunities. However, Wang Wei did not intend to compensate for this ending; to say, he neither chase another position nor beg the emperor. Instead, he switched to a new lifestyle, Buddhist and idyllic.

It seems like Wang Wei held no political attitude at all by adopting the strategy of inner detachment, but it was indeed the wisest political stand to stick within the turbulent Tang Dynasty. No matter how rapidly the situation changes around me, I will not be moved and I am just myself. If I cannot save the waning country even with all my efforts, I should not use those political and social issues to bother myself.