Wiping the Dust at the Five-Hundred-Stone Grotto Heaven, Vol. 5

I do not know how things stand with them recently, but Shaoting is the youngest of the group. I record this in a scattered manner, much like writing a poem of remembrance in the style of Shuyuan.

The Senior Licentiate Fang Ying'an courtesy name Zhizhou, also known as Banfan, and also as Jiangfan; his poetry emphasizes innate spirit and he daily speaks of Suiyuan without end often spoke of Master Liu Zanxuan courtesy name Xu of Fuzhou. Master Zanxuan’s family lived in the provincial capital, where he taught a great number of students, and those among his pupils who attained the jia or yi degree in the imperial examinations are too numerous to count. His residence was called the "Bamboo-Gazing Studio," and his literary influence was quite magnificent. At that time, local predecessors such as Master Lin Ouzhai Shoutu, Master Xie Meiru Zhangting, and Master Liang Litang Mingqian frequently gathered with us. Ying'an followed them and personally received their instructions, which was also a joy. He once wanted to invite me to meet them, but it did not come to pass. In the gui-si grace examination year 1593, I brought my examination essays for him to critique for the Master, who granted me significant approval. Yet, in the end, I was failed, which was a great disappointment to those who cared for me. The Master’s calligraphy was not refined, but whenever he wrote for others, he would copy his recent compositions. Therefore, those who loved the Master’s poetry would often send him fine silk to request his brushwork. Ying'an obtained several chapters for me; it is a pity that I am not good at preserving things and have forgotten them all. As for the four seven-character regulated verses that Ying'an presented to me, I only remember the seven characters: "Suiyuan is now at the East of Haimen" Shuyuan notes: Haimen is the boundary between Cheng[hai] and Xia[men], standing tall in the water.