February 2023

Ancient Chinese fable – Laugh with Others

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·笑的一定不错》 瞽者与人同坐。人有所见而笑,瞽者亦笑。或问汝何所见而笑?瞽答曰:“诸君所笑,定然不差,难道是骗我的。” ——《笑赞》 Laugh with Others A blind man was in the company of others. When his companions saw something funny, they laughed. The blind man laughed, too. When they asked him why he was laughing, the blind man replied, “Since you laugh, there must be something worth laughing at. Can you be cheating […]

Ancient Chinese fable – Laugh with Others Read More »

Ancient Chinese fable – A Good Man Is Easy to Bully

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·神像和好人》 乡村路口,有一神庙,乃是木雕之像。一人行路,因遇水沟,就将此神放倒,踏着过水。后有一人看见,心内不忍,将神扶在座上。 此神说他不供香火,登时就降他头痛之灾。 判官小鬼都禀道:“踏着大王过水的倒没事,扶起来的倒降灾,何也?” 这神说:“你不知道,只是善人好欺负。” ——《笑赞》 A Good Man Is Easy to Bully In the temple by the roadside of a village there was a wooden image of a deity. A man passing by found a ditch across his path, so he pulled down the image and placed it over the ditch as a

Ancient Chinese fable – A Good Man Is Easy to Bully Read More »

Ancient Chinese fable – Issuing an Order to the Tigers

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·对考虑发命令》 杨叔贤为荆州幕时,虎伤人。杨就穴磨崖刻戒虎文,其略曰:“咄乎尔彪,出境潜游。” 后知郁林,致书知事赵定基,托拓戒虎文数本。云:“岭南俗庸犷,欲以此化之。”赵遣人打碑。次日耆申:“磨岩下大虫咬杀打碑匠二人。”赵乃以状寄答。 ——《宋稗类抄》 Issuing an Order to the Tigers When Yang Shuxian was in office in Jingzhou, the tigers there were a scourge to the people. So Yang had an edict engraved on a big rock on a nearby mountain, ordering the tigers to leave the place. Later, when he was transferred to

Ancient Chinese fable – Issuing an Order to the Tigers Read More »

Ancient Chinese fable – Sour wine

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·过手便酸》 昔苏秦父母诞辰,伯子捧觞称寿!叹曰:“好佳酿。”及季子亦捧觞称寿,骂曰:“酿酒”。 季子妻乃从伯姆借酒一觞,复骂曰:“酿酒。” 季子妻曰:“这是伯姆家借来的。” 翁叱之曰:“你这不行时的人,过手便酸。” ——《雪涛小书》 Sour wine Su Qin had not been successful in his quest for an official post. One day a feast was held to celebrate his father’s birthday. When Su Qin’s elder brother presented a cup of wine to the old man, he exclaimed on its excellence. But when Su

Ancient Chinese fable – Sour wine Read More »

Ancient Chinese fable – Sour wine

古代寓言原是民间口头创作,文学体裁的一种。含有讽喻或明显教训意义的故事。它的结构简短。主人公可以是人,可以是动物,也可以是无生物。多借用比喻手法,使富有教训意义的主题或深刻的道理在简单的故事中体现,而还需要自己去理解,思考,这就是和西方寓言的不同之处。 《古代寓言·过手便酸》 昔苏秦父母诞辰,伯子捧觞称寿!叹曰:“好佳酿。”及季子亦捧觞称寿,骂曰:“酿酒”。 季子妻乃从伯姆借酒一觞,复骂曰:“酿酒。” 季子妻曰:“这是伯姆家借来的。” 翁叱之曰:“你这不行时的人,过手便酸。” ——《雪涛小书》 Sour wine Su Qin had not been successful in his quest for an official post. One day a feast was held to celebrate his father’s birthday. When Su Qin’s elder brother presented a cup of wine to the old man, he exclaimed on its excellence. But when Su

Ancient Chinese fable – Sour wine Read More »

Gu Taiqing: Zhuying yao hong: Hearing Eunuch Chen Jinchao of the Pear Garden [the Imperial Troupe] Play the Qin ~ 顾太清·《烛影摇红·听梨园太监陈进朝弹琴》 with English Translations

《烛影摇红·听梨园太监陈进朝弹琴》是清代女词人顾太清创作的一首词。此词上片开头两句点明听琴的时令,为琴师陈进朝的出场设置背景;三、四句写陈进朝的到来,表现他内心的凄怨苦楚;五、六句写陈进朝的弹奏,言其琴韵有风水之声;歇拍两句以对比的手法为陈进朝的遭际鸣哀。下片过拍四句间用白描,写陈进朝在乾隆时期“享尽神仙福”的情景;接着两句隐约表现他心中的凄凉悲思及郁勃不平之气;结拍三句归结到眼前,对陈进朝寄以无限的悲悯和同情。全词语言自然流畅,情感悲凄沉痛,把人世沧桑表现得淋漓尽致。 顾太清·《烛影摇红·听梨园太监陈进朝弹琴》 雪意沈沈, 北风冷触庭前竹。 白头阿监抱琴来, 未语眉先蹙。 弹遍瑶池旧曲, 韵泠泠, 水流云瀑。 人间天上, 四十年来, 伤心惨目。 尚记当初, 梨园无数名花簇。 笙歌缥缈碧云间, 享尽神仙福。 叹息而今老仆。 受君恩, 沾些微禄。 不堪回首, 暮景萧条, 穷途哀哭。 Zhuying yao hong: Hearing Eunuch Chen Jinchao of the Pear Garden [the Imperial Troupe] Play the Qin Gu Taiqing A sense of snow hangs heavy, North winds coldly cuff a courtyard bamboo-clump1 A

Gu Taiqing: Zhuying yao hong: Hearing Eunuch Chen Jinchao of the Pear Garden [the Imperial Troupe] Play the Qin ~ 顾太清·《烛影摇红·听梨园太监陈进朝弹琴》 with English Translations Read More »

Gu Taiqing: Zui Taoyuan: Inscribed on a Fan with Ink-Sketched Gardenias, Sent to Yunjiang ~ 顾太清·《醉桃源·题墨栀子团扇寄云姜》 with English Translations

《醉桃源·题墨栀子团扇寄云姜》是清代词人顾太清创作的一首词。顾太清(1799-约1876),清朝女词人。名春,字子春,号太清。满族。精于词学,尤重周邦彦、姜夔之作致力于咏物、题画。与纳兰性德(即成容若)齐名,有“满洲词人,男中成容若,女中太清春”之称。也工于诗。有《东海渔歌》《天游阁集》等。 顾太清·《醉桃源·题墨栀子团扇寄云姜》 花肥叶大两三枝, 香浮白玉巵。 轻罗团扇写冰姿, 何劳腻粉施。 新雨后, 好风吹, 闲阶月上时。 碧天如水影迟迟, 清芬晚更宜。 Zui Taoyuan: Inscribed on a Fan with Ink-Sketched Gardenias, Sent to Yunjiang 1 Gu Taiqing Blossoms plump, leaves big: two or three boughs. Perfume drifts from a jade-white cup.2 A light, gauzy round fan limns icy raiments. Why bother to put on powder and

Gu Taiqing: Zui Taoyuan: Inscribed on a Fan with Ink-Sketched Gardenias, Sent to Yunjiang ~ 顾太清·《醉桃源·题墨栀子团扇寄云姜》 with English Translations Read More »

Gu Taiqing: Jiang Chengzi: Recording a Dream ~ 顾太清·《江城子·记梦》 with English Translations

《江城子·记梦》是清代词人顾太清创作的一首词。顾太清(1799-约1876),清朝女词人。名春,字子春,号太清。满族。精于词学,尤重周邦彦、姜夔之作致力于咏物、题画。与纳兰性德(即成容若)齐名,有“满洲词人,男中成容若,女中太清春”之称。也工于诗。有《东海渔歌》《天游阁集》等。 顾太清·《江城子·记梦》 烟笼寒水月笼沙, 泛灵槎, 访仙家。 一路清溪双桨破烟划。 才过小桥风景变, 明月下, 见梅花。 梅花万树影交加, 山之涯。 水之涯。 淡宕湖天韶秀总堪夸。 我欲遍游香雪海, 惊梦醒, 怨啼鸦。 Jiang Chengzi: Recording a Dream Gu Taiqing Haze envelops the cold water, moonlight envelops the sand. Floating on a magic raft, I visit an immortal’s home. A clear stream all along the way, The two oars rise and fall,

Gu Taiqing: Jiang Chengzi: Recording a Dream ~ 顾太清·《江城子·记梦》 with English Translations Read More »

Gu Taiqing: Qiubo mei: Sitting at Night ~ 顾太清·《秋波媚·夜坐》 with English Translations

《秋波媚·夜坐》是清代词人顾太清创作的一首词。顾太清(1799-约1876),清朝女词人。名春,字子春,号太清。满族。精于词学,尤重周邦彦、姜夔之作致力于咏物、题画。与纳兰性德(即成容若)齐名,有“满洲词人,男中成容若,女中太清春”之称。也工于诗。有《东海渔歌》《天游阁集》等。 顾太清·《秋波媚·夜坐》 自笑当年费苦吟。 陈迹梦难寻。 几卷诗篇, 几张画稿, 几许光阴。 唾壶击碎频搔首, 磨灭旧胸襟。 而今赢得, 千丝眼泪, 一个愁心。 Qiubo mei: Sitting at Night Gu Taiqing I laugh at my earlier self trying to work up verses: Old traces hard to find even in dreams. How many scrolls of poems? How many sketches for paintings? How much time has been… The spittoon

Gu Taiqing: Qiubo mei: Sitting at Night ~ 顾太清·《秋波媚·夜坐》 with English Translations Read More »

Gu Taiqing: Que Qiao Xian: After I Dreamed of My Maid Pomegranate ~ 顾太清·《鹊桥仙·梦石榴婢》 with English Translations

《鹊桥仙·梦石榴婢》是清代词人顾太清创作的一首词。顾太清(1799-约1876),清朝女词人。名春,字子春,号太清。满族。精于词学,尤重周邦彦、姜夔之作致力于咏物、题画。与纳兰性德(即成容若)齐名,有“满洲词人,男中成容若,女中太清春”之称。也工于诗。有《东海渔歌》《天游阁集》等。 顾太清·《鹊桥仙·梦石榴婢》 一年死别, 千年幽恨, 尚忆垂髫初会。 眼前难忘小腰身, 侍儿里, 此儿为最。 悠悠往事, 不堪回首, 空堕伤心清泪。 夜深时有梦魂来, 梦觉后, 话多难记。 Que Qiao Xian: After I Dreamed of My Maid Pomegranate Gu Taiqing One year parted by death, A thousand years of deep sorrow. I still remember her childish locks when we first met; In my mind I cannot forget her tiny

Gu Taiqing: Que Qiao Xian: After I Dreamed of My Maid Pomegranate ~ 顾太清·《鹊桥仙·梦石榴婢》 with English Translations Read More »