有一条河，南起潇湘，北合蒸沅，流灌洞庭，入长江而奔大海;有一条河，汇聚三湘，润物无声，哺育湖湘英杰，托起东方文化脊梁。这条河，就是湘江。她孕育并凝结了湖湘文化的智慧与菁华，她是湖南人民的母亲河，她是湖湘文化的主动脉，她已经成为湖湘文化精神与灵魂的象征，她不断激发三湘儿女的侠骨豪情，激荡着湘楚大地的浪漫情愫，释放出璀璨的文化魅力。

　　There is a river, rising at Xiaoxiang, converging into Zhengyuan, crossing through Dongting Lake, and flowing into Changjiang River and the sea. There is a river, uniting the entire Hunan Province, quietly moistening everything, feeding people in Hunan, and playing a role in the oriental culture. It is Xiangjiang River. She has fostered and united the wisdom and essence of the Xiang culture. She is Hunan people’s mother river, the artery of Hunan culture, and the symbol of Xiang culture and spirit. She has been inspiring Hunan people’s righteousness, fulfilling the region with romance, and releasing remarkable charm of culture.

　　“谁谓荆蛮，兹为邹鲁”。且不说巍巍南岳，亦不说天下洞庭;不待言舜帝南巡，更不说神农教耕。我们单只说从屈子行吟到贾谊进谏，从蔡伦造纸到朱张会讲，从汉简到草圣，从周敦颐到王船山，从柳宗元到沈从文，从易元吉到齐白石，从魏源到曾国藩，从谭嗣同、黄兴到毛泽东、刘少奇，不可尽数。无论是远古的神话传说，还是历史的人物典故;无论是文学渊薮，还是哲思标坐;无论是艺术巨匠，还是历史伟人;三湘四水，人杰地灵。“谁谓潇湘，兹为洙泗”，千年学府，“道南正脉”，“大江东去，无非湘水余波”。

　　“Hunan is somewhere like the birth place of Confucius and Mencius.” The land has enjoyed a great reputation for many ancient myths and folklores, historical people and stories, profound literature and philosophy achievement, leading masters of fine arts, and great heroic people. It has been noted for the magnificent Nanyue Mountain, the renowned Dongting Lake, and the famous folklores about Emperor Shun’s visiting and Emperor Shennong imparting farming skills. Apart from that, the land witnessed the sacrifice of the great poet Quyuan, Jia Yi’s admonishment, Cailun’s invention of paper, the academic debate between Zhu Xi and Zhang Shi, and the development of calligraphy style like han jian and cursive script. From ancient time to the present, this land has seen well-known philosophers like Zhou Dunyi and Wang Chuanshan, reputed writers like Liu Zongyuan and Shen Congwen, famous artists such as Yi Yuanji and Qi Baishi, and great politicians including Wei Yuan, Zeng Guofan, Tan Sitong, Mao Zedong, and Liu Shaoqi, etc. Hunan, where the celebrated ancient college is located, is the land of outstanding people, which can be compared with Zhusi, the area where Confucius used to give lectures. The college has been regarded as an influential place for Hunan’s culture, arts, and religion by Emperor Qianlong.

　　湘江是湖湘文化的脐带，她彰显了湖湘文化的品格，她沉淀的是厚重的湖湘文化底蕴，她的婀娜身影让人充满遐想，“潇湘八景”的美丽神画至今令人悠然神往。

　　Xiangjiang plays a great part in the culture of Hunan. She tells the quality of Hunan culture with profound cultural foundation. People have been indulging in her beauty, and have a craving for the beautiful eight scenic spots.

　　望湘江北去，临江上清风;睹江波岳色，听湘水涛声;看百舸争流，赏烟花焰火。饮不尽的湘江水，说不完的湘江事;倾不尽的湘江情，道不完的湘江美。时间冲不淡历史的记忆，割不断往事的缠绵。历史上不知有多少迁客骚人为之感怀歌咏，也不知有多少丹青妙手为之挥毫赋彩。

　　It is great joy to stand by the river, be bathed in cool breeze, appreciate the picturesque water and mountains, listen to the pleasant music played by wave, watch boat racing, and enjoy fireworks. It seems that the river flows constantly, and has endless stories and feeling and everlasting beauty. The memory of history will never fade. Banished officers and poets have written songs and poems for it, and painters have painted many great pictures for it.

　　然而，不管有多少陈年佳话，也抵不过眼前的真情艺境。

　　No matter how magnificent its past is, its present image in these pictures has the upper hand and they tell the true feeling.

　　故而，我们邀您一同走进一位与湘江有着半个世纪不了情缘的中国水彩画大家——殷保康先生的水彩湘江世界。让我们透过艺术审美，荡涤心灵，沐浴文化，将我们的精神血脉从此接通湘水，滋养万物，融注世界。这些作品是湘江的写生，更是星城的画传，是情与景的交融，是心与境的迹化，它见证 了“山、水、洲、城”的历史变迁，它演绎了艺术家对故土的真切之情，展现了对湖湘文化的热情拥抱。这些艺术作品必将成为新世纪弥足珍贵的湘江文献，它一定会在历史中不断闪现其艺术价值和美学光芒。

　　Therefore, we invite you to the watercolor world of Xiangjiang River, created by Yin Baokang, a great watercolor painter closely connected with Xiangjiang River for half a century. The artistic appreciation purifies our mind, bathes us in culture, and connects our spirit with Xiang water, which moistens everything and converges into the world. These works show the image of Xiangjiang River, and they are the record of Changsha, the mix of affection and scenes, as well as the trace of mind. They record the historical change of the mountain, water, land, and cities, and show the artist’s true feeling towards his hometown. They are the enthusiastic support for Hunan’s culture. They will be valuable documentary of Xiangjiang River in the new century, and its artistic value will keep shining all the way.

　　是为“湘水流韵——殷保康水彩湘江世纪图志展”序

　　This is to introduce the Exhibition of Yin Baokang’s Watercolor Paintings of Xiangjiang River of the Century, the Charm of Xiangjiang.

　　周功华

　　2012年3月28日于长沙

　　Zhou Gonghua

　　March 28, 2012, Changsha

作者：周功华