兴高采烈 — “Full of high spirits and enthusiasm”

The idiom "Xing Gao Cai Lie" (兴高采烈) is traced back to Liu Xie's "Wen Xin Diao Long" (The Literary Mind and and the Carving of Dragons). While its modern meaning refers to being in high spirits, its original context often described a style of writing that was high-minded and incisive.

The provided literary reference connects to Ji Kang (稽康), also known as Ji Piye, a renowned scholar and one of the "Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove" during the Wei-Jin period. He was admired for his graceful demeanor and exceptional literary talent. Ji Kang authored numerous poems and essays throughout his life.

In his poetry, he frequently alluded to the perilous nature of his era, with lines like "When birds are gone, the good bow is stored; when schemes are exhausted, the body and mind are endangered. Though good and ill depend on oneself, the world's path is full of perils." These verses served as a scathing exposure and critique of the contemporary reality.

His essays, characterized by clear viewpoints and focused arguments, possessed strong polemical power, filled with revelations about society and criticisms of rigid moralists. For example, in his "On Nourishing Life," he advocated for "purity, emptiness, tranquility, peace, few private desires, and little craving," while criticizing the aristocratic families who indulged in "sensual pleasures."

He particularly excelled at portraying the psychology of those who sought both longevity and indulgence. He observed, "They dread not obtaining what they desire, and once obtained, they fear its loss. If one suffers from the fear of loss, it will surely come to pass. How can those in high positions not be arrogant? How can a full vessel not overflow? How can pursuit not be reckless, and what is gained not eventually lost?" Through such insights, Ji Kang incisively and vividly depicted the intensely greedy and distorted psychology of the Wei-Jin literati, a result of the rapid fluctuations of gains and losses and the impermanence of life and death.