A carpenter（木匠） named Zi Qin explained how he made refined bell racks.：

 

Before I made the bell racks, I dared not waste any of my essence and energy, and I would go on vegetarian¹ diet to tranquilize（使镇定） my mind.

 

Three days later I would have no idea of getting gratulation（满足）, award, peerage, and salary. Five days later I would not care about the praise and criticism of the craftsmanship². Seven days later my mind would not be disturbed by none go, and would even forget about my own physical body. Then I would go to the mountains and forests to observe the natural from of the wood, and select the most suitable one, now the form of the bell rack would already be in my mind. Then I would start making it.

 

By doing all these, the nature of my mind would accord with the nature of the wood. That's why I can make those delicate and ingenious（有独创性的） apparatuses³ wizardly.

 

有一个叫庆的木匠讲述他制作钟架十分精巧的原因：

 

我开始制作钟架之前，不敢损耗精气，定要戒斋使心神宁静。

 

三天后就没有获得祝贺奖赏爵位俸禄的念头，五天后对批评赞扬工巧笨拙就不再考虑，七天后心思就点也不为外物所动了，甚至忘记了四肢形体。然后我道高山森林中观察树木的自然形态，选择合适的木材。这时候，钟架的形态如在目前，然后再动手制作。

 

这样一来，我的自然本性和木材一样的自然本性完全吻合，制造的器物就像有鬼神帮助一样精致巧妙。

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