February 2023

Zhou Bangyan: Hong Chuang Hui ~ 周邦彦·《红窗迥》 with English Translations

周邦彦(1056—1121),北宋著名词人。字美成,号清真居士,钱塘(今浙江杭州)人。官历太学正、庐州教授、知溧水县等。少年时期个性比较疏散,但相当喜欢读书,宋神宗时,写《汴都赋》赞扬新法,徽宗时为徽猷阁待制,提举大晟府(最高音乐机关)。周邦彦精通音律,曾创作不少新词调。作品多写闺情、羁旅,也有咏物之作。格律谨严,语言曲丽精雅,长调尤善铺叙。为后来格律词派词人所宗。作品在婉约词人中长期被尊为“正宗”。旧时词论称他为“词家之冠”或“词中老杜”,是公认“负一代词名”的词人,在宋代影响甚大。有《清真居士集》,已佚,今存《片玉集》。 周邦彦·《红窗迥》 几日来、 真个醉。 不知道、 窗外乱红, 已深半指。 花影被风摇碎。 拥春酲乍起。 有个人人, 生得济楚, 来向耳畔, 问道今朝醒未。 情性儿、慢腾腾地。 恼得人又醉。 Hong Chuang Hui Zhou Bangyan In the last few days, we have really been drunk, We even know not that, outside the wind, the confusion of fallen red petals has already Piled to the depth of half a finger. All […]

Zhou Bangyan: Hong Chuang Hui ~ 周邦彦·《红窗迥》 with English Translations Read More »

Wei Zhuang: Farewell to a Japanese Monk ~ 韦庄·《送日本国僧敬龙归》 with English Translations

《送日本国僧敬龙归》是唐代文学家韦庄创作的一首七绝,收录于《全唐诗》中。此诗是作者为送别日本僧人归国而作,祝愿自己的朋友一路平安,顺利到达家乡。诗人只在“送归”上落笔,体现了对异国友人的关心与惜别之情。全诗语言质朴清新,感情真挚感人。明月和风这两个意象,既表达了诗人祝福的心愿,又描绘出一幅美妙、壮阔的海月行舟图,引人遐思。 韦庄·《送日本国僧敬龙归》 扶桑已在渺茫中,家在扶桑东更东。 此去与师谁共到,一船明月一帆风。 Farewell to a Japanese Monk Wei Zhuang The land of mulberry is in the boundless sea; Your home’s farther east to the land of mulberry. Who would arrive with you at the land of your dreams? A sail unfurled in wind, a boat steeped in moonbeams.

Wei Zhuang: Farewell to a Japanese Monk ~ 韦庄·《送日本国僧敬龙归》 with English Translations Read More »

Wee Chuang: Farewell to Scholar Lee ~ 韦庄·《别李秀才》 with English Translations

韦庄(约836年-约910年),字端己,汉族,长安杜陵(今中国陕西省西安市附近)人,晚唐诗人、词人,五代时前蜀宰相。文昌右相韦待价七世孙、苏州刺史韦应物四世孙。韦庄工诗,与温庭筠同为“花间派”代表作家,并称“温韦”。所著长诗《秦妇吟》反映战乱中妇女的不幸遭遇,在当时颇负盛名,与《孔雀东南飞》、《木兰诗》并称“乐府三绝”。有《浣花集》十卷,后人又辑其词作为《浣花词》。《全唐诗》录其诗三百一十六首。 韦庄·《别李秀才》 千山红树万山云,把酒相看日又曛。 一曲离歌两行泪,更知何地再逢君。 Farewell to Scholar Lee Wee Chuang Thousand hills of red trees plus thousands of mountain clouds, While we are watching our wines another twilight is impending; The sad departing song would bring two lines of flowing tears, I am wondering when shall we be able to meet each other again?

Wee Chuang: Farewell to Scholar Lee ~ 韦庄·《别李秀才》 with English Translations Read More »

Su Shi: From Prison, to my Brother, Zi You ~苏轼·《狱中寄子由》 with English Translations

《狱中寄子由二首》是宋代苏轼在狱中写给弟弟苏辙嘱托后事的两首诗,强烈地表达诗人对家的深深眷恋之情。第一首通篇都是写给弟弟苏辙的,尤其吐露出浓浓的手足深情:身逢盛世,身为微臣的自己却愚蠢地自蹈死地。中年殒命,算是提前偿还了前生的孽债,但是一家老少十多口人,从此就要拖累弟弟来抚养了。一死何足道哉,到处的青山都可以埋葬骨骸,只是当年与弟弟相约夜雨对床的盟誓再也无法实现,此后夜雨潇潇的时刻,子由只能独自伤心了。但愿与子由世世代代都做兄弟,把未了的因缘付诸来生!。苏轼与弟弟苏辙不仅在文章创作方面同列“唐宋八大家”,现实中更是手足情深,他们有感于唐代诗人韦应物“宁知风雨夜,复此对床眠”的诗句,相约异日功成身退、对床而眠,共享闲居之乐。此时苏轼自料将死,不免感慨昔日愿望,与此同时,“与君世世为兄弟,更结来生未了因”的期望更是感人至深。 苏轼·《狱中寄子由》 圣主如天万物春,小臣愚暗自亡身。 百年未满先偿债,十口无归更累人。 是处青山可埋骨,他年夜雨独伤神。 与君今世为兄弟,又结来生未了因。 From Prison, to my Brother, Zi You Su Shi Noble Emperor Sheng-zong be praised! Everything is in Spring. Political foolishness brought me down this road to doom. I’m not old yet, and still ask you to pay my debts. I trouble you with my ten mouths to feed, and

Su Shi: From Prison, to my Brother, Zi You ~苏轼·《狱中寄子由》 with English Translations Read More »

李约·《观祈雨》 with English Translations

《观祈雨》是唐代诗人李约的作品。这是一首悯农诗,写观看春日祈雨的感慨,前两句写农民春旱祈雨的场面,后两句写朱门看歌舞的情景。此诗通过对久旱无雨时两种不同生活的描绘,揭露了当时的阶级对立和贫富的悬殊。农民们由于天旱而忧虑一年生计,豪门权贵却笙歌竟日,反而怕天阴下雨乐器受潮。如此鲜明的对比,反映了作者对豪门荒淫生活的无比愤慨以及对农民苦难生活的深切同情。全诗语言含蓄,风格委婉。 李约·《观祈雨》 桑条无叶土生烟,箫管迎龙水庙前。 朱门几处看歌舞,犹恐春阴咽管弦。 Li Yue On mulberry trees not a leaf is seen. Earth exhales vapor; such there has ne’er been. Before the temple, a band plays with zeal. To the Dragon King for rain, it appeal. From behind red doors is another scene. On dancing-singing-people there are keen. What they’re afraid of is

李约·《观祈雨》 with English Translations Read More »

Wu Zhen: By a Plum Tree To the Tune of the Gold Character Classics ~吴镇·《金字经·梅边》 with English Translations

译文:松林边积雪的小路,闪着冷光;月色下的湖上村,笼罩着寒意。远处树枝挂雪,隐约梨花绽放,天地如在梦中。我月下徘徊,有幽香袭来,看屋檐外已有芳树报春。美丽的小鸟向人啼唱,传达江梅初开的喜讯。 吴镇·《金字经·梅边》 雪冷松边路, 月寒湖上村。 缥缈梨花入梦云。 巡, 小檐芳树春。 江梅信, 翠禽啼向人。 By a Plum Tree To the Tune of the Gold Character Classics Wu Zhen It’s cold on the snow-covered path by the pine woods, Over the cottage by the lake the moon shines coldly in the air. The snow-clad branches like pear blossoms so fair. Rambling

Wu Zhen: By a Plum Tree To the Tune of the Gold Character Classics ~吴镇·《金字经·梅边》 with English Translations Read More »

Cheng Jingchu: Tune: Drunk in Times of Peace ~ 程景初·《醉太平》 with English Translations

在这首小令中,作者运用巧妙的写法,将写景、叙事、抒情三者紧密结合,表达对宫妃的深切同情。“恨綿绵”“情默默”“冷清清”等叠词的运用,贴切地表达出深宫女子的哀怨之情。 程景初·《醉太平》 恨绵绵深宫怨女, 情默默梦断羊车, 冷清清长门寂寞长青芜。 日迟迟春风院宇, 泪漫漫介破琅玕玉, 闷淹淹散心出户闲凝伫, 昏惨惨晚烟妆点雪模糊, 淅零零洒梨花暮雨。 Tune: Drunk in Times of Peace Cheng Jingchu The endless grief weighs on her heart in palace deep; In silence she dreams of royal cab drawn by sheep. Before the lonely gate grows green grass sad and drear; The setting sun lingers, only spring wind

Cheng Jingchu: Tune: Drunk in Times of Peace ~ 程景初·《醉太平》 with English Translations Read More »

《菜根谭》(愉快求福,去怨避祸) with English Translations

译文:幸福不可强求,只要能经常保持愉快的心情,就算是追求人生幸福的基础;人间的灾祸难以避免,首先应当能消除怨恨他人的念头,才算是远离灾祸的良策。 《菜根谭》(愉快求福,去怨避祸) 福不可徼,养喜神以为召福之本而已;祸不可避,去杀机以为远祸之方而已。 Man cannot seize happiness; it is only by preserving a happy frame of mind that the essence of happiness can be summoned. Man cannot flee disaster; it is only by eradicating all thoughts of harming others that evils can be kept at bay.

《菜根谭》(愉快求福,去怨避祸) with English Translations Read More »

《菜根谭》(偏激之人,难建功业) with English Translations

译文:一个性情急躁的人,他的言行如烈火一般炽热,仿佛跟他接触的物体都会被焚烧;一个缺乏同情心刻薄寡恩的的,他的言行就 像冰雪一般冷酷,仿佛任何物体碰到他都会遭到残害。头脑顽固而呆板的人, 像死水朽本,已经完全断绝了生机,这都不是建功立业为社会人类造福的人。 《菜根谭》(偏激之人,难建功业) 躁性者火炽,遇物则焚,寡恩者冰清,逢物必杀。凝滞固执者,如死水腐木,生机已绝,俱难建功业而延福祉。 An irascible person is like a raging fire; whatever he encounters he wants to burn it up. A mean person is as cold as ice; whatever he meets he wants to harm. A still and stubborn person is like stagnant water or rotten wood; he has lost all vitality. No

《菜根谭》(偏激之人,难建功业) with English Translations Read More »

《菜根谭》(居安思危,天亦无用) with English Translations

译文:上天的奥秘变幻莫测,对人的命运的支配难以预料。时而使人陷于窘境,而后又飞黄腾达;时而使人春风得意,而后又遭受挫折,这都是上天有意捉弄英雄豪杰。因此,一个君子不如意时要适应环境,遇到磨难应能忍耐,平安无事时要想到危难的来临,这样就连上天也无法施展他的伎俩了。 《菜根谭》(居安思危,天亦无用) 天之机缄不测,抑而伸,伸而抑,皆是播弄英雄,颠倒豪杰处。君子是逆来顺受,居安思危,天亦无听用其伎俩矣。 The force that binds the universe is unpredictable. Sometimes it makes man struggle against adversity, and sometimes it grants him favourable circumstances. This shows that Heaven has the faculty of making or breaking heroes and other outstanding men. When a man of noble character meets a temporary setback, he exercises patience. When

《菜根谭》(居安思危,天亦无用) with English Translations Read More »