February 2023

Wei Yingwu: Meeting Feng Zhu at Chang’an ~韦应物·《长安遇冯著》 with English Translations

《长安遇冯著》是唐代诗人韦应物创作的一首诗。此诗通过描述作者与友人冯著在长安相遇时的所见所闻,来表达诗人对失意沉沦的冯著的理解、同情、体贴和慰勉之意。全诗笔调亲切而略含诙谐,写得情深意长,清新活泼,含蓄风趣,逗人喜爱。 韦应物·《长安遇冯著》 客从东方来,衣上灞陵雨。 问客何为来,采山因买斧。 冥冥花正开,飏飏燕新乳。 昨别今已春,鬓丝生几缕? Meeting Feng Zhu at Chang’an Wei Yingwu From the east to the city came a guest, On whose clothes Baling rains were seen to rest. What had brought him here, I begged him to tell. He said he’d buy an axe hill trees to fell. Now the flowers here […]

Wei Yingwu: Meeting Feng Zhu at Chang’an ~韦应物·《长安遇冯著》 with English Translations Read More »

Ch’u Kuang-hsi: The Happy Farmer ~ 储光义·《田家杂兴》 with English Translations

储光义(707—约760年),山东兖州人。官监察御史。安禄山陷长安,任伪职,后贬死岭南。储诗以写山水田园着称,与王维、孟浩然同工异曲。有《储光义诗》五卷。录五言古绝各一首。储诗写隐士归田园之闲适,兼及乐府民歌之情味。 储光义·《田家杂兴》 种桑百余树,种黍三十亩。 衣食既有余,时时会宾友。 夏来菰米饭,秋到菊花酒。 孺人喜逢迎,稚子解趋走。 日暮闲园里,团团荫榆柳。 酩酊乘夜归,凉风吹户牖。 清浅望河叹,低昂看北斗。 数瓮犹未开,来朝能饮否。 The Happy Farmer Ch’u Kuang-hsi I’ve a hundred mulberry trees And thirty mow of grain, With sufficient food and clothes, And friends my wine to drain. The fragrant grain of ‘Ku-mi’ seed Provides our Summer fare; Our Autumn brew of aster wine Is rich beyond

Ch’u Kuang-hsi: The Happy Farmer ~ 储光义·《田家杂兴》 with English Translations Read More »

Hu Zhiyu: Tune: Intoxicated in East Wind Fisherman and Woodcutter ~ 胡祗遹·《沉醉东风·渔樵》 with English Translations

胡祗遹(1227—1295)字绍闻,号紫山。磁州武安(今属河北省)人。于世祖朝历任户部员外郎、右司员外郎、太原路治中、河东山西道提刑按察副使、荆湖北道宣慰副使、济宁路总管及山东、浙西提刑按察使等职,以精明干练著称,所至颇具声誉。 胡祗遹·《沉醉东风·渔樵》 渔得鱼心满意足, 樵得樵眼笑眉舒。 一个罢了钓竿, 一个收了斤斧, 林泉下偶然相遇, 是两个不识字的渔樵士大夫。 他两个笑加加的谈今论古。 Tune: Intoxicated in East Wind Fisherman and Woodcutter Hu Zhiyu A fisherman is content with a basketful of fishes; A woodcutter with a bundle of firewood he wishes. One smiles on shouldering his fishing rod and line; The other, with brows unknit, puts back his ax

Hu Zhiyu: Tune: Intoxicated in East Wind Fisherman and Woodcutter ~ 胡祗遹·《沉醉东风·渔樵》 with English Translations Read More »

Hu Zhiyu: CHENZUI DONGFENG To Geisha Zhu Lianxiu ~ 胡祗遹·《沉醉东风·赠艺妓朱帘秀》 with English Translations

诗词大意:这帘儿是湘江岸的翠竹加锦丝绦织就,这帘儿是南海中的明珠用红绒线穿成。无论是在淡月下掩映,还是在清风中立身,它都不沾飞花,隔断红尘。它像一片自由的彩云,无牵无挂,能屈能伸,涉历了多少朝云暮雨,却不着一点印痕。 胡祗遹·《沉醉东风·赠艺妓朱帘秀》 锦织江边翠竹, 绒穿海上明珠。 月淡时, 风清处, 都隔断落红尘土。 一片闲情任卷舒, 挂尽朝云暮雨。 CHENZUI DONGFENG To Geisha Zhu Lianxiu Hu Zhiyu Having been woven of colored silk threads and bamboo strips verdant, The portiere’s decorated with pearls from a sea, bright and brilliant. When the moonlight’s faint, On the cool breeze land, It cuts off falling blossoms and dusts

Hu Zhiyu: CHENZUI DONGFENG To Geisha Zhu Lianxiu ~ 胡祗遹·《沉醉东风·赠艺妓朱帘秀》 with English Translations Read More »

Ouyang Jiong: South Country ~欧阳炯·《南乡子·嫩草如烟》 with English Translations

《南乡子·嫩草如烟》是五代十国时期词人欧阳炯的词作,全词单片五句二十八字,描绘了江南生机蓬勃的春日风光,最后一句是对全章的总结,也是对海南江天的无限赞叹。 欧阳炯·《南乡子·嫩草如烟》 嫩草如烟, 石榴花发海南天。 日暮江亭春影渌。 鸳鸯浴, 水远山长看不足。 South Country Ouyang Jiong The young grass looks like mist, During the time pomegranate blossoms in the southern sky. By the river-arbour at sunset spring shadows cast green deep, Under which the loving teals are bathing: Of the sights of the distant waters and ranging mountains never am

Ouyang Jiong: South Country ~欧阳炯·《南乡子·嫩草如烟》 with English Translations Read More »

Li Xun: Tune: Buddhist Dancers ~ 李珣·《菩萨蛮·隔帘微雨》 with English Translations

这首词写思妇怀远。上片开头二句写景、起兴、寓怀;三、四句直抒对远人的思念。下片“楚天”二句紧承“心随”而来,念情人远在天外,一去经年;结尾两句,思路回到现实,与词的开头相呼应,“旧欢何处寻”与“双飞燕”对照,见其孤苦,青春虚度。李珣《菩萨蛮》三章兼得温韦之妙。浓丽如温庭筠,疏朗似韦庄。 李珣·《菩萨蛮·隔帘微雨》 隔帘微雨双飞燕, 砌花零落红深浅。 捻得宝筝调, 心随征棹遥。 楚天云外路, 动便经年去。 香断画屏深, 旧欢何处寻? Tune: Buddhist Dancers Li Xun I see in rain a pair of swallows swift in flight, The fallen petals outspread in deep red or bright. On strings of precious lute I play; With his sail my heart’s far away. Beyond the cloud in Southern sky

Li Xun: Tune: Buddhist Dancers ~ 李珣·《菩萨蛮·隔帘微雨》 with English Translations Read More »

Li Xun: Tune: Buddhist Dancers ~ 李珣·《菩萨蛮·回塘风起》 with English Translations

这首词写一女子的无名相思。上片写女子所在的环境,用“双双飞鹧鸪”一句兴起下片。下片写女子对“征帆何处客”的爱恋,语浅情深,清音有余。 李珣·《菩萨蛮·回塘风起》 回塘风起波文细, 刺桐花里门斜闭。 残日照平芜, 双双飞鹧鸪。 征帆何处客, 相见还相隔。 不语欲魂销, 望中烟水遥。 Tune: Buddhist Dancers Li Xun The pool is wrinkled by the rising breeze; The door is closed against blooming plane trees. The plain drowned in setting sunlight, A pair of partridges swift in flight. Where is her roamer’s sail? She longs for him to no

Li Xun: Tune: Buddhist Dancers ~ 李珣·《菩萨蛮·回塘风起》 with English Translations Read More »

Li Xun: Tune: Song of a Southern Country ~ 李珣·《南乡子·相见处》 with English Translations

《南乡子·相见处》是五代李珣的一首词作。这首词写一位南方少女偶尔遇到一位少年,一见钟情,巧妙地佯失双钗,暗约相会。作者准确地把握住少女的人物形象,通过几个极有个性特征的行为,既描绘了少女性格中天真无邪、热情奔放的一方,又勾画出情窦初开的少女矜持、羞涩的一面,惟妙惟肖,呼之欲出。全词摹写传神,感情纯朴,词中又点缀以越王台、刺桐花、大象等南方风物,使这首词洋溢着一种南国情调,令人赏心悦目。 李珣·《南乡子·相见处》 相见处,晚晴天, 刺桐花下越台前。 暗里回眸深属意, 遗双翠。 骑象背人先过水。 Tune: Song of a Southern Country Li Xun What could I say, Meeting with thee late on a fine day, Before the royal terrace under a plane tree? I stole an amorous glance at thee. Leaving my hairpin beam, I rode on elephant and crossed the stream.

Li Xun: Tune: Song of a Southern Country ~ 李珣·《南乡子·相见处》 with English Translations Read More »

Liu Yuxi: Ballad of the Swarming Mosquitoes ~ 刘禹锡·《聚蚊谣》 with English Translations

《聚蚊谣》是唐代文学家刘禹锡创作的一首政治讽刺诗。此诗采用比喻的手法,把那些阴险毒辣的官僚比作在昏暗中喧嚣、害人的蚊子,生动形象而又入木三分地描写了他们的丑态,并且坚信他们总有一天会被消灭,从而表现了诗人在政治斗争中的铮铮硬骨,以及对腐朽官僚的鄙视憎恨。全诗十四句,前十二句四句一转韵,平仄相间,具有跳跃性的变化。整篇语言较为质朴,但其中有些语句又富有文彩,在质朴中含着清丽,体现了刘诗的独特风格。 刘禹锡·《聚蚊谣》 沉沉夏夜闲堂开,飞蚊伺暗声如雷。 嘈然歘起初骇听,殷殷若自南山来。 喧腾鼓舞喜昏黑,昧者不分聪者惑。 露华滴沥月上天,利嘴迎人看不得。 我躯七尺尔如芒,我孤尔众能我伤。 天生有时不可遏,为尔设幄潜匡床。 清商一来秋日晓,羞尔微形饲丹鸟。 Ballad of the Swarming Mosquitoes Liu Yuxi Hot summer nights And doors are opened: Mosquitoes swarm in In the darkness, Buzzing, loud. Buzz, buzz, buzz, Driving everyone wild, Swatting Like thunder Hammering on the South Hills. Buzz, buzz, buzz, Happy in the darkness. Stupidity can’t understand,

Liu Yuxi: Ballad of the Swarming Mosquitoes ~ 刘禹锡·《聚蚊谣》 with English Translations Read More »

Hanshan: Lumbermen assail the immortals’ trees ~ 寒山·《天生百尺树》 with English Translations

诗词大意:天然生长高达百尺的大树,无端的砍伐后成了一根长长的树干。可惜这样的栋梁之材,被抛弃在幽僻的山谷之中。过了很多年,外面的树皮都腐烂剥落了,里面的树心依然坚硬。看似已经腐朽,懂得的人拿到它,还可以用作马厩的支柱。 寒山·《天生百尺树》 天生百尺树,剪作长条木。 年多心尚劲,日久皮渐秃。 识者取将来,犹堪柱马屋。 Company Lumbermen assail the immortals’ trees, Plane them into measured plans, Busily hewing them to a woodsman’s tune. Abandoned, unaccountably, sprawled In a sunless valley, their fiber holds Though their hearts turn gray and their skin festers. Might an old man carry them away? It takes little to raise a

Hanshan: Lumbermen assail the immortals’ trees ~ 寒山·《天生百尺树》 with English Translations Read More »