Four Qualifications to be A True Master

大师养成四要素

已定稿

To true accomplished masters who have made remarkable achievements in their profession, it is not a result of a lifetime effort. They generally need excellent foundation, i.e. so-called talent, as well as excellent teachers. Moreover, they have been practicing since they were a kid, practice and exercise. Lastly they have been hard-working. With these four qualifications, they are likely to become great masters. No matter in which field, — Taiji, music, painting, traditional Chinese medicine, science, or wisdom, it happens in the same way.

那些在专业领域中取得瞩目成就的真正的大师，都不是一辈子的事。一般都需要有很好的根基，也就是所谓的天赋，还要遇到很好的老师，并且要从小就开始学修练习，最后，自己还要特别勤奋。具备以上这四点，最后就有可能成为一代宗师。不管你在哪个方面学什么——学太极、学音乐、学画画，学中医、学科学、学智慧都是这样的。

Let's take the board game Go as an example. To be a master in the field of the go game, firstly you need to be gifted. At a very young age——like five or six, ten or more years old––they are fortunate to learn from an excellent teacher who is willing to coach them with patience. With his guidance, they keep in mind the life and death tactics, and learn to make flexible use of them. Besides, they need to work hard. Then, when they are a bit older, they will be taught strategies, especially those used by internationally famous masters. Only in this way can you make some achievements.

打比方你学围棋，要成为一位围棋方面的大师，首先你得有天赋，很小的时候——五六岁、十来岁就碰到好的围棋老师，慢慢地培养你，牢记死活口诀，并且能灵活运用，并且你自己也特别勤奋精进，等年龄大一点，你的时候，再教你怎样布局，多看国际大师的布局，这样你才能有所成就。

No matter what you do, the basics are of prime importance. As for Chinese martial arts, a student cannot progress to the more advanced stages without the basics. As for calligraphy, without basic calligraphy instructions, a student cannot progress from regular script to semi-cursive script. Otherwise, he will never make improvements. Without aesthetic insights, his writing will just look like lifeless copying, only fit for Spring Festival scrolls.

不管你干什么，基本功都是第一重要的。练武功也一样，基本功不够扎实，就是花拳绣腿；写字基本功不够浑厚，楷书没写好就写行书草书，你的水平是永远上不去的。如果思想境界不够的话，写出来的字就像刻板印刷似的，适合写春联。

If you want to be a true master, the followings must be kept in mind: don’t aim too high; more haste less speed. Take it one step after another in consequence.

要想成为真正的大师，一定要记住：不要好高骛远，欲速则不达。要按次第一步一步来。

初译：徐基太&慧净&Moises
一校：蔡金城
二校：张老师（几乎改全文）
审核： Nina
2022/3/13