Inscription
Colophon 4. He Yan 何言. Written in 1214.
萬有來自無，一真歸所託。畫師得三昧，胸中幻丘壑。
百態逐墨破，群形隨筆落。地近迹分明，天遙痕隱約。
雲物自吐吞，峯巒非斧鑿。江鄉閴無市，谷關常不鑰。
中有野夫閑，童琴而歩鶴。酒斾出籬懸，漁舟臨岸泊。
澗樹蔽橋樑，巖松迷殿閣。岑疊宿霧重，野曠林煙薄。
危棧接縈紆，亂泉通脈絡。途中人往來，僕馬何羸弱。
怪石虎踡跼，古木龍蟠錯。一幅宜好收，千金非易博。
玉堂閑卷舒，眼界增寥廓。視險尚寛平，見危除慘虐。
氣象溢國華，川澤資廟略。功名業已書，歸去鞭先著。
但知色即空，何是今非昨。飽乎仁智心，箇中無限樂。
貞祐甲戌秋暮，東營何言題。
Inscription Translation
The ten thousand objects came from nothingness,
Everything goes back to the one true essence.
The painting master is in accord with samadhi.
He creates hills and valleys out of his bosom.
Hundreds of apparitions appear after the spread ink;
Varieties of shapes follow the application of the brush.
Where things are near, they are made clear.
In the distant sky the traces become obscured.
Views exist by themselves,
Precipices and peaks are not artificially chiseled.
The village by the river is quiet with no market.
The mountain gateway is often left unlocked.
Amid this there are a few leisurely men,
Watching a boy carrying a qin, and another walking a crane.
Over the fence the wine shop banners are hanging;
Near the shore the fishing boats are anchored.
The trees over the streams partly cover the bridge.
The pavilions are shaded by tall pines from the cliffs.
Behind the multiple peaks, the moisture is heavy;
Over the wild plain, the mist that covers the trees is light.
Dangerous paths are lined by winding bushes.
The meandering rapids link with mountains’ veins.
Coming and going travelers go on their journeys;
How the attendants and the horses look wearied.
There are strange peaks that look like crouching tigers,
The ancient trees resemble tangled dragons.
This painting deserves to be cherished.
Even a thousand pieces of gold may not obtain it.
Sitting in the Hanlin Academy I leisurely open the scroll,
My mind is being broadened.
Aware of pitfalls I am happy that I am safe,
Facing the dangerous, I would still have to destroy the wicked.
A grand atmosphere fills the nation.
The rich mountains and waters feed the high designs.
When the deeds are done and one’s name is in the book of merits,
In my home-bound journey I will put the whip to good use.
Knowing that all forms are but empty.
Why must I insist that yesterday was wrong and today is right?
Be nourished by a heart of benevolence and wisdom,
In which we will find the bliss that is eternal.
In late autumn, the year of jiaxu during the Zhenyou era (1214), I, He Yan of Eastern Encampment, wrote this.
