istudy

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 […]

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

《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

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

《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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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

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

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

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

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 »