February 2023

Wu Yuanheng: To a Nun ~ 武元衡·《赠道者》 with English Translations

《赠道者》是唐代大臣武元衡的诗作。此诗描绘是一个白衣女子让人倾倒的美丽容颜。诗人在着力描绘白衣女子漂亮的外貌与形态时,又用梅、莲等颇具风韵的花朵展示了白衣女子的高雅与纯洁。全诗意境优美,措辞巧丽,兼用了拟物与烘托双重手法,收到了很好的艺术效果。 武元衡·《赠道者》 麻衣如雪一枝梅,笑掩微妆入梦来。 若到越溪逢越女,红莲池里白莲开。 To a Nun Wu Yuanheng Hemp robe snow-white, a tender spray of mume; Lightly dressed and with a smile into my dream. Should you go to south and see the girls there, You’re a white pond lotus among red ones, I deem.

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Wang Anshi: Lament over the Oblivion of Zhongyong ~ 王安石·《伤仲永》 with English Translations

《伤仲永》是北宋文学家王安石创作的一篇散文。这篇文章讲述了一个江西金溪人名叫“方仲永”的神童因后天父亲不让他学习和被父亲当作造钱工具而沦落到一个普通人的故事。文章借仲永为例,告诫人们决不可单纯依靠天资而不去学习新知识,必须注重后天的教育和学习,强调了后天教育和学习对成才的重要性。这篇文章言简意深,说理严谨。 王安石·《伤仲永》 金溪民方仲永,世隶耕。仲永生五年,未尝识书具,忽啼求之;父异焉,借旁近与之,即书诗四句,并自为其名,其诗以养父母、收族为意,传一乡秀才观之。自是指物作诗立就,其文理皆有可观者。邑人奇之,稍稍宾客其父,或以钱币乞之。父利其然也,日扳仲永环谒于邑人,不使学。 余闻之也久。明道中,从先人还家,于舅家见之,十二三矣。令作诗,不能称前时之闻。又七年,还自扬州,复到舅家问焉。曰:“泯然众人矣!” 王子曰:仲永之通悟,受之天也。其受之天也,贤于材人远矣。卒之为众人,则其受于人者不至也。彼其受之天也,如此其贤也,不受之人,且为众人;今夫不受之天,固众人,又不受之人,得为众人而已邪? Lament over the Oblivion of Zhongyong Wang Anshi Fang Zhongyong, a Jinxi resident, has been farming for his entire life. Although he had never been taught how to use a writing tool, one day at the age of five, he suddenly cried for one. Amazed, his father borrowed one from

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Qiu Wei: Failing to Find the Hermit of West Hill at Home ~ 丘为·《寻西山隐者不遇》 with English Translations

《寻西山隐者不遇》是唐代诗人丘为(一作邱为)的作品。此诗描写隐逸生活情趣,其重点不是写不遇的失望,而是抒发对隐居环境的迷恋,表现了有心去寻、无心相见的飘逸。诗的前八句,写隐者独居高处,远离尘嚣,寻访者不辞山高,等到叩关无人,才略生怅惘,于是猜想隐者乘车出游,临水垂钓,表现隐者的生活恬适雅趣;后八句宕开一层,写周围的草色松声使寻访者陶然,结句暗用了著名的晋王子猷雪夜访戴的故事来自抒旷怀,因而寻访不遇亦无所谓,使其悟出隐者生活的情趣。全诗构思新颖,意蕴深远,堪称佳作。 丘为·《寻西山隐者不遇》 绝顶一茅茨,直上三十里。 扣关无僮仆,窥室唯案几。 若非巾柴车,应是钓秋水。 差池不相见,黾勉空仰止。 草色新雨中,松声晚窗里。 及兹契幽绝,自足荡心耳。 虽无宾主意,颇得清净理。 兴尽方下山,何必待之子。 Failing to Find the Hermit of West Hill at Home Qiu Wei Just a thatched cottage on top Of the four-leagued straight-up hill. No servant appears at the knock, Little furniture his room does fill. He must have gone fishing in stream, If not carting

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《菜根谭》(虚心明理、实心却欲) with English Translations

《菜根谭》是明朝还初道人洪应明收集编著的一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录集,为旷古稀世的奇珍宝训。对于人的正心修身、养性育德,有不可思议的潜移默化的力量。 其文字简炼明隽,兼采雅俗。似语录,而有语录所没有的趣味;似随笔,而有随笔所不易及的整饬;似训诫,而有训诫所缺乏的亲切醒豁;且有雨余山色,夜静钟声,点染其间,其所言清霏有味,风月无边。本节大意:人一定要有虚怀若谷的胸襟,只有谦虚谨慎才能获得真知灼见;人一定要坚强执著,意志坚定,那样才能不受名利的诱惑。 《菜根谭》(虚心明理、实心却欲) 心不可不虚,虚则义理来居;心不可不实,实则物欲不入。 Man must keep his mind wide open, so that righteousness can take up its dwelling there. At the same time, one must keep one’s mind substantially filled, so that it can block the inroads of endless desires for material comforts. (保罗·怀特 译) The heart should be made open to conviction so

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《菜根谭》英译(磨练福久、参勘知真) with English Translations

《菜根谭》是明朝还初道人洪应明收集编著的一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录集,为旷古稀世的奇珍宝训。对于人的正心修身、养性育德,有不可思议的潜移默化的力量。 其文字简炼明隽,兼采雅俗。似语录,而有语录所没有的趣味;似随笔,而有随笔所不易及的整饬;似训诫,而有训诫所缺乏的亲切醒豁;且有雨余山色,夜静钟声,点染其间,其所言清霏有味,风月无边。 《菜根谭》英译(磨练福久、参勘知真) 一苦一乐相磨练,练极而成福者,其福始久;一疑一信相参勘,勘极而成知者,其知始真。 Repeatedly tempering oneself through the interchange of weal and woe enables one to attain long-term happiness. Repeatedly testing and checking in a process of doubt to belief and from belief to doubt enables one to attain true knowledge. (保罗·怀特 译) A person should temper himself by repeatedly experiencing both hardship and

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Bai Juyi: Reminiscence of Plum Florets in Hangzhou ~ 白居易·《忆杭州梅花》 with English Translations

白居易(772~846),字乐天,号香山居士,又号醉吟先生,河南新郑(今河南郑州新郑市)人,是我国唐代伟大的现实主义诗人,唐代三大诗人之一。唐代宗大历七年(772年)正月,白居易出生于郑州新郑东郭宅(今新郑市东郭寺村)。白氏祖籍山西太原,白居易的祖父白锽移居下邽(今陕西渭南市北)。白锽后曾任巩县(今河南郑州巩义市)县令,和当时邻居新郑县令是好友,见新郑山清水秀,遂移家于新郑,白居易本人就出生于河南新郑,卒后葬于河南洛阳。 白居易·《忆杭州梅花》 三年闲闷在余杭,曾为梅花醉几场。 伍相庙边繁似雪,孤山园里丽如妆。 Reminiscence of Plum Florets in Hangzhou Bai Juyi I led a gloomy life in Yuhang for three years’ inhabitation, For the sake of plum florets, experiencing repeated intoxication. In Wuxiang Temple, they densely and luxuriantly flourished, resembling flakes of snow, And, in Gushan Garden, presented a scene so pulchritudinous as fair’s

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Ancient Chinese Fables for Kids- The Lamb in a Tiger’s Skin

这个典故,被大家用“羊质虎皮”这句话来形容,表示外表好看,里面却空虚而不实际的意思。比较简单而完整的解释是这样的:用来比喻蒙上一层虚伪欺人的外表,而实际却是一个空虚无力的人。这句成语应用的范围非常的广泛,像市井中的无赖,平日作威作福,专门欺侮善良的人,等到被欺侮的人忍无可忍,要和这个无赖拼命的时候,无赖反而畏缩逃走,这种欺善怕恶的无赖,就可以说是“羊质虎皮”的人。 《古代寓言·羊质虎皮》 羊质而虎皮,见草而说,见豺而战。忘其皮之虎矣。——《法言》 The Lamb in a Tiger’s Skin Once a lamb clad itself in a tiger’s skin. As it was stalking along, it bleated joyously at the sight of the green grass, but when it saw a wolf in the distance it trembled all over. The truth is that the lamb had forgotten that

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Xin Qiji: Lines Written on a Wall of Dongliu Village (To the Tune of Niannujiao) ~ 辛弃疾·《念奴娇》 with English Translations

辛弃疾绝少写自己的爱情经历,偶一为之,便迥异诸家,带着一种击节高歌的悲凉气息。却少有婉转缠绵之意。此词即是其例。据邓广铭《稼轩词编年笺注》,此词可能是淳熙五年(1178)自江西帅召为大理少卿时作。览其词意,当是作者年青时路过池州东流县,结识一位女子,这回经过此地,重访不遇,感发而作此词。 辛弃疾·《念奴娇》 野塘花落, 又匆匆过了清明时节。 铲地东风期限客梦, 一枕云屏寒怯。 曲岸持觞, 垂杨系马, 此地曾经别。 楼空人去, 旧游飞燕能说。 闻道绮陌东头, 行人曾见, 帘底纤纤月。 旧恨春江流不尽, 新恨云山千叠。 料得明朝, 尊前重见, 镜花难折。 也应惊问: 近来多少华发? Lines Written on a Wall of Dongliu Village (To the Tune of Niannujiao) Xin Qiji Wild pear blossoms start falling again, so soon, the Qingming festival over. The cruel eastern wind, for no reason,

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Zheng Xie: Inscriptions on Painting (Bamboo) ~ 郑燮·《板桥题画·竹》 with English Translations

这是一首题画诗,系板桥晚年总结自己 “四十年来画竹枝” 的历程和经验,重点在第二联上,属论画性质。收在《郑板桥集·补遗·题画竹》中,原诗无题,今姑以总题为之。落款云: “乾隆戊寅十月下浣,板桥郑燮画并题。”可知作于乾隆二十三年(1758) 十月二十一日至三十日之间,时年六十六岁,六年后板桥去世。 郑燮·《板桥题画·竹》 余家有茅屋二间,南面种竹。夏日新篁初放,绿荫照人,置一小榻其中,甚凉适也。秋冬之际,取围屏骨子,断去两头,横安以为窗棂;用匀薄洁白之纸糊之。风和日暖,冻蝇触窗纸上,咚咚作小鼓声。此时一片竹影零乱,岂非天然图画乎!凡吾画竹,无所师承,多得于纸窗粉壁日光月影中耳。 江馆清秋,晨起看竹,烟光日影露气,皆浮动于疎枝密叶之间。胸中勃勃遂有画意。其实胸中有竹,并不是眼中之竹也。因而磨墨展纸,落笔倏作变相,手中之竹又不是胸中之竹也。总之,意在笔先者,定则也;趣在法外者,化机也。独画云乎哉! 余画大幅竹好画水,水与竹,性相近也。少陵云:“懒性从来水竹居”。又曰:“映竹水穿沙”。此非明证乎!渭川千亩,淇泉菉竹。西北且然,况潇湘云梦之间,洞庭青草之外,何在非水,何在非竹也!余少时读书真州之毛家桥,日在竹中闲步。潮去则湿泥软沙,潮来则溶溶漾漾,水浅沙明,绿荫澄鲜可爱。时有鲦鱼数十头,自池中溢出,游戏于竹根短草之间,与余乐也。未赋一诗,心常痒痒。今乃补之曰:风晴日午千林竹,野水穿林入林腹。绝无波浪自生纹,时有轻鲦戏相逐。月影天光暂一开,青枝碧叶还遮覆。老夫爱此饮一掬,心肺寒僵变成绿。展纸挥毫为巨幅,十丈长笺三斗墨。日短夜长继以烛,夜半如闻风声、竹声、水声秋肃肃。 Inscriptions on Painting (Bamboo) Zheng Xie I live in a two-room thatched house, to the south of which are bamboo groves. In the summer, the new shoots are green and succulent, and I place my couch beneath their shade to keep cool. When autumn and winter

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Wei Yingwu: Mooring in Xuyi County at Dusk ~韦应物·《夕次盱眙县》 with English Translations

《夕次盱眙县》是唐代诗人韦应物的作品。这是一首写羁旅风波,泊岸停宿,客居不眠,顿生乡思的诗。诗的前四句为第一段,是写傍晚因路途风波,不得不停舫孤驿。后四句为第二段,是写人雁归宿、夜幕降临,自夜到晓不能入眠而生乡思客愁。全诗富有生活气息,侃侃诉说,淡淡抒情,看是写景,景中寓情,情由景生,景令情动。 韦应物·《夕次盱眙县》 落帆逗淮镇,停舫临孤驿。 浩浩风起波,冥冥日沉夕。 人归山郭暗,雁下芦洲白。 独夜忆秦关,听钟未眠客。 Mooring in Xuyi County at Dusk Wei Yingwu Near the town on the Huai, with the sails dropped, At a lonely moorage, my boat has stopped. The wind stirs up huge waves with all its might, And dimly sets the sun out of the sight. Men going homewards, dark

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