A founder of the Wang Jingwei Trust, Ho Mang Hang, said,
To understand him [Wang Jingwei] as a person, as well as his political thinking and aspirations, it is necessary to read his poetry and essays, especially “Determination for Revolution” and the poem “A recount of my vision and sentiments, which are essential reading for those who wish to explore Wang Jingwei, both as a person and his deeds.
As an aide to readers of Wang’s work today, Ho Mang Hang recited “Determination for Revolution” and “A recount of my vision and sentiments” in Cantonese and added his own explanations so that present and future generations will better understand and appreciate this seminal work.
In 1910, while in prison for an attempt on the Prince Regent Zaifeng’s life, Wang Jingwei wrote the poem〈述懷〉 (“A recount of my vision and sentiments”) which describes his education and upbringing and the emotional journey of sacrificing his life for the Revolution. His 1934 “Autobiographical Sketch” is an expression of his viewpoints and arguments with a special mention of this poem. Similar to 〈革命之決心〉 “Determination for Revolution,” “A recount of my vision and sentiments” reveals Wang’s ideas for the Revolution.
形骸有死生.性情有哀樂.此生何所為.此情何所託.嗟余幼孤露.學殖苦磽确.蓼莪懷辛酸.菜根甘澹泊.心欲依墳塋.身欲棲巖壑.憂患來薄人.其勢疾如撲.一朝出門去.萬里驚寥落.感時積磊塊.頓欲忘疏略.鋒鋩未淬厲.持以試盤錯.蒼茫越關山.暮色照行橐.瘴雨黯蠻荒.寒雲蔽窮朔.山川氣悽愴.華採亦銷鑠.愀然不敢顧.俯仰有餘怍.遂令新亭淚.一灑已千斛.回頭望故鄉.中情自惕若.尚憶牽衣時.謬把歸期約.蕭條庭前樹.上有慈烏啄.孤姪襁褓中.視我眸灼灼.兒乎其已喻.使我心如斫.沈沈此一別.賸有夢魂噩.哀哉衆生病.欲救無良藥.歌哭亦徒爾.搔爬苦不着.針砭不見血.痿痺何由作.驅車易水傍.嗚咽聲如昨.漸離不可見.燕市成荒寞.悲風天際來.驚塵暗城郭.萬象刺心目.痛苦甚炮烙.恨如九鼎壓.命似一毛擢.大椎飛博浪.比戶十日索.初心雖不遂.死所亦已獲.此時神明靜.蕭然臨湯鑊.九死誠不辭.所失但軀殼.悠悠檻穽中.師友嗟已邈.我書如我師.對越凜矩矱.昨夜我師言.孺子頗不惡.但有一事劣.昧昧无由覺.如何習靜久.輒爾心躍躍.有如寒潭深.潛虯自騰轢.又如秋飆動.鷙鳥聳以愕.百感紛相乘.至道終隔膜.悚息聞師言.愧汗駭如濯.平生慕慷慨.養氣殊未學.哀樂過劇烈.精氣潛摧剝.餘生何足論.魂魄亦已弱.痌瘝耿在抱.涵泳歸沖漠.琅琅讀西銘.清響動寥廓.
Listen to the recording below: