时代背景：东晋时期，政治局势动荡不安，北方战乱不断，士族纷纷南迁后在江南偏安一隅。社会矛盾虽然尖锐，但江南相对稳定的环境为文化艺术的繁荣发展提供了土壤。当时玄学盛行，士人们崇尚自然，追求精神上的自由，形成了 “清谈” 与 “雅集” 的文化风气。
个人背景：王羲之出身于琅琊王氏，这是名门望族，但他历经了政局的更迭和家族的兴衰，对生命的无常有着深刻的感触。他晚年选择辞官归隐，寄情于山水之间。
事件背景：永和九年三月初三（上巳节），王羲之与谢安、孙绰等四十余位名士在会稽山阴（今浙江绍兴）的兰亭举行 “修禊” 活动，这是古代的一种祈福仪式，文人们聚集在水边，用香草沐浴、饮酒赋诗，以驱除晦气。众人沿溪而坐，玩 “曲水流觞” 的游戏，酒杯顺水流下，停在谁面前谁就要赋诗，此次共得诗 37 首，后来结集成《兰亭诗》，王羲之为此诗集作序，于是诞生了《兰亭序》。
Era Background: During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the political situation was turbulent. There were continuous wars in the north, and after the aristocratic families moved south, they found a temporary haven in the south of the Yangtze River. Although social contradictions were sharp, the relatively stable environment in the south of the Yangtze River provided fertile ground for the prosperity and development of culture and art. At that time, metaphysics was prevalent. Scholars advocated nature and pursued spiritual freedom, forming a cultural atmosphere of "pure conversation" and "elegant gatherings".
Personal Background: Wang Xizhi was born into the Wang family of Langya, a prominent family. However, he had experienced the changes of political situations and the rise and fall of his family, and had a profound sense of the impermanence of life. In his later years, he chose to resign from office and retire, devoting himself to the beauty of mountains and waters.
Event Background: On the third day of the third lunar month in the ninth year of Yonghe (Shangsi Festival), Wang Xizhi, together with more than forty celebrities such as Xie An and Sun Chuo, held a "Xiu Xi" activity at the Orchid Pavilion in Shanyin, Kuaiji (now Shaoxing, Zhejiang). This was an ancient 祈福 ceremony. Literati gathered by the water, bathed with fragrant herbs, drank wine and composed poems to dispel bad luck. Everyone sat along the stream and played the game of "curved stream with floating wine cups". When the wine cup stopped in front of someone, that person had to compose a poem. A total of 37 poems were obtained this time and later compiled into "Poems of the Orchid Pavilion". Wang Xizhi wrote a preface for this poetry collection, thus giving birth to "The Preface to the Orchid Pavilion Collection".
永和九年，岁在癸丑，暮春之初，会于会稽山阴之兰亭，修禊事也。群贤毕至，少长咸集。
Yonghe nine years, in the year of Guichou, in the early days of late spring, we met at the Orchid Pavilion in Shanyin, Kuaiji Prefecture, to hold a Xuxi ceremony. Many virtuous and talented people came, and both the young and the old gathered here.
此地有崇山峻岭，茂林修竹；又有清流激湍，映带左右，引以为流觞曲水，列坐其次。虽无丝竹管弦之盛，一觞一咏，亦足以畅叙幽情。
There are lofty mountains and steep ridges here, as well as dense forests and tall bamboos. There are also clear and gurgling rapids, reflecting and winding around on both sides. We led the clear water to form a winding stream for floating the wine cups, and sat along the stream in turn. Although there was no grand occasion of silk, bamboo, wind and string instruments, drinking a cup of wine and composing a poem were enough to fully express our deep feelings.
是日也，天朗气清，惠风和畅，仰观宇宙之大，俯察品类之盛，所以游目骋怀，足以极视听之娱，信可乐也。
On this day, the sky was clear and the air was fresh, and the gentle breeze was pleasant. Looking up, we could observe the immensity of the universe; looking down, we could examine the great multiplicity of nature. Thus, our eyes could wander and our minds could roam, and it was enough to enjoy the pleasures of sight and sound to the fullest. Truly, it was very delightful.
夫人之相与，俯仰一世，或取诸怀抱，悟言一室之内；或因寄所托，放浪形骸之外。
People get along with each other and spend their lives in a flash. Some people open their hearts and have sincere conversations with others indoors; some people rely on what they love to place their emotions and live freely and unrestrainedly outside.
虽趣舍万殊，静躁不同，当其欣于所遇，暂得于己，快然自足，曾不知老之将至。
Although people's choices and preferences vary greatly and their tempers are different, be it quiet or restless, when they are delighted with what they encounter and gain temporary satisfaction, they will feel happy and content, not even realizing that old age is approaching.
及其所之既倦，情随事迁，感慨系之矣。向之所欣，俯仰之间，已为陈迹，犹不能不以之兴怀。
When they get tired of what they have pursued, their feelings will change as things change, and then come the sentiments. What they once delighted in has become things of the past in the blink of an eye, and they still cannot but feel emotional about it.
况修短随化，终期于尽。古人云：“死生亦大矣。” 岂不痛哉！
Moreover, life is short or long according to nature, and will eventually come to an end. The ancients said, "Life and death are momentous matters." How could it not be sad?
每览昔人兴感之由，若合一契，未尝不临文嗟悼，不能喻之于怀。
Whenever I read the reasons why the ancients had such feelings, they seem to be in such agreement with mine that I always sigh and grieve when reading their articles, and I can't quite understand my feelings.
固知一死生为虚诞，齐彭殇为妄作。
I surely know that regarding life and death as the same is fallacy, and equating longevity and early death is absurd.
后之视今，亦犹今之视昔。悲夫！
Later generations will view us just as we view the past generations. How sad!
故列叙时人，录其所述，虽世殊事异，所以兴怀，其致一也。
Therefore, I have listed the people present one by one and recorded their poems. Although times change and things are different, the sentiments arising from life and death are the same.
后之览者，亦将有感于斯文。
Later readers will also feel something about these poems and essays.