临川之城东，有地隐然而高，以临于溪，曰新城。新城之上，有池洼然而方以长，曰王羲之之墨池者，荀伯子《临川记》云也。羲之尝慕张芝，“临池学书，池水尽黑。”此为其故迹，岂信然邪？

There is a terrace concealed¹ from view east of the city of Linchuan. It juts² out onto a brook³ and is known as Xincheng. On top of Xincheng is a pond, which is deep and rectangular in shape and which, according to the Chronicles of Linchuan, by Xun Bozi, bore the name of “Wang Xizhi’s Ink Pond.” As he admired Zhang Zhi, Xizhi followed his example by practicing calligraphy⁴ on the banks of the pond until the water became wholly black. It is said that here is the site of the old pond. Can it be the truth?

方羲之之不可强以仕，而尝极东方，出沧海，以娱其意于山水之间；岂其徜徉肆恣，而又尝自休于此邪？羲之之书晚乃善，则其所能，盖亦以精力自致者，非天成也。然后世未有能及者，岂其学不如彼邪？则学固岂可以少哉，况欲深造道德者邪？

Wang Xizhi refused to be pressed into the civil service; he journeyed to the east, reaching as far as the Gulf⁵ of Bohai, to amuse himself by frequenting mountains and rivers. Could it be that in the midst of his roaming he had some rest near this pond? The calligraphy of Xizhi was not perfected until late in his life. In other words, instead of being a born calligrapher⁶, he acquired his skill through the energetic pursuit of the art. But he has had no equal in subsequent generations. Could it be that they never equaled him in practicing? Indeed, can practice ever be dispensed⁷ with, especially by those who are bent⁸ on cultivating their morality?