istudy

Chinese Fable Stories – The Donkey of Guizhou

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·黔驴技穷》 黔无驴,有好事者,船载以入;至则无可用,放之山下。虎见之,庞然大物也,以为神;蔽林间窥之,稍出近之,憗憗然,莫相知。他日,驴一鸣,虎大骇远遁,以为且噬已也,甚恐;然往来视之,觉无异能者;益习其声,又近出前后,终不敢博。稍近益狎,荡倚冲冒,驴不胜怒,蹄之。虎因喜,计之曰:“技止此耳!”因跳踉大?,断其喉,尽其肉,乃去。 ——《柳河东集》 The Donkey of Guizhou There were no donkeys in Guizhou until an eccentric took one there by boat; but finding no use for it he set it loose in the hills. A tiger who saw this monstrous-looking beast thought it must be divine. It first surveyed the donkey from under cover, […]

Chinese Fable Stories – The Donkey of Guizhou Read More »

Chinese Fable Stories – Two Ways of Cooking the Goose

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·两个射雁的人》 昔人有睹雁翔者,将授弓射之,曰:“获则烹。”其弟争曰:“舒雁烹宜,翔雁燔宜。”竞斗而讼于社伯,社伯请剖雁,烹燔半焉。已而索雁,则凌空远矣。 ——《贤奕编》 Two Ways of Cooking the Goose A man saw a wild goose flying in the sky. Fitting an arrow to his bow, he said, “If I can bring it down, we will stew it.” “No, it would be better to roast it,” said his younger brother. Their argument reached a deadlock.

Chinese Fable Stories – Two Ways of Cooking the Goose Read More »

Chinese Fable Stories – The Man Who Liked Money Better Than Life

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·要钱不要命》 永之氓,咸善游。一日水暴甚,有五六氓乘小船,绝湘水中济,船破皆游。其一氓尽力而不能寻常。 其侣曰:“汝善游最也,今何后焉?” 曰:“吾腰千钱得,是以后。”曰:“何不去之?” 不应,摇其首。有倾,益怠。 已济者立岸上,呼且号曰:“汝愚之甚,蔽之甚,身且死,何以货为?” 又摇其首,遂溺死。 《柳河东集》 The Man Who Liked Money Better Than Life In Yongzhou there were many good swimmers. One day, the river swelled suddenly. Braving the danger, about half a dozen people started across in a small boat. While they were still in midstream, the boat capsized. Whereupon, they

Chinese Fable Stories – The Man Who Liked Money Better Than Life Read More »

Chinese Fable Stories – The Falcon and the Adder

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·鸩鸟和毒蛇》 鸩与蛇相遇,鸩前而啄之。 蛇谓曰:“世人皆毒子矣,毒者恶名也,子所双有恶名者,以食我也,于不食我则无毒,不毒则恶名亡矣。” 鸩笑曰:“汝岂不毒于世人哉!指我为毒,是欺也。夫汝毒于世人者,有心啮人也,吾怨汝之啮人,所以食汝示刑也。世人审吾之能弄汝,故畜吾以防汝,又审汝之毒染吾毛羽肢体,故用杀人。吾之毒,汝之毒也。吾疾恶而蒙其名尔;然杀人者,人也,犹人持兵而杀人也。兵罪乎?人罪乎?则非吾之毒也明矣。世人所以蓄吾而不蓄汝,又明矣。吾无心毒人,而疾恶得名,为人所用,吾所为能全其身也。全身而甘恶名,非恶名矣。汝以有心之毒盱睢于草莽之间,伺人以自快。今遇我,天也,而欲诡辩苟免卯邪?” 蛇不能答,鸩食之。 ——《无能子》 The Falcon and the Adder The falcon met an adder on the road and advanced to peck at it. “Don’t you peck me!” said the adder to the falcon. “People say you’re poisonous. That’s a bad thing to be called, and it’s because you eat us. If you

Chinese Fable Stories – The Falcon and the Adder Read More »

Chao Buzhi: An Account of a Visit to North Mountain at Xin-cheng ~ 晁补之·《新城游北山记》 with English Translations

晁补之(1053年—1110年11月8日),字无咎,号归来子,济州钜野(今山东巨野)人,北宋时期著名文学家,“苏门四学士”(另有北宋诗人黄庭坚、秦观、张耒)之一。宋神宗熙宁年间,晁补之的父亲晁端友为新城县令,与时任杭州通判的苏轼时有诗歌唱和。晁补之随父同在新城,在苏轼门下亲闻教诲两年之久,《新城游北山记》就是这一期间写的。 晁补之·《新城游北山记》 去新城之北三十里,山渐深,草木泉石渐幽。初犹骑行石齿间。旁皆大松,曲者如盖,直者如幢,立者如人,卧者如虬。松下草间有泉,沮洳伏见,堕石井,锵然而鸣。松间藤数十尺,蜿蜒如大蚖。其上有鸟,黑如鸲鹆,赤冠长喙,俯而啄,磔然有声。 稍西,一峰高绝,有蹊介然,仅可步。系马石觜,相扶携而上,篁筱仰不见日,如四五里,乃闻鸡声。有僧布袍蹑履来迎,与之语,愕而顾,如麋鹿不可接。顶有屋数十间,曲折依崖壁为栏楯,如蜗鼠缭绕乃得出,门牖相值。既坐,山风飒然而至,堂殿铃铎皆鸣。二三子相顾而惊,不知身之在何境也。且暮,皆宿。 于时九月,天高露清,山空月明。仰视星斗,皆光大,如适在人上。窗间竹数十竿相磨戛,声切切不已。竹间梅棕,森然如鬼魅离立突鬓之状。二三子又相顾魄动而不得寐。迟明,皆去。 既还家数日,犹恍惚若有遇,因追忆之。后不复到,然往往想见其事也。 An Account of a Visit to North Mountain at Xin-cheng Chao Buzhi Thirty miles north of Xin-cheng, we went ever deeper into the mountains, where the plants, trees, streams, and rocks became increasingly isolated. At first we could still ride among the teeth of the stones. On every side

Chao Buzhi: An Account of a Visit to North Mountain at Xin-cheng ~ 晁补之·《新城游北山记》 with English Translations Read More »

Luo Binwang: Again to My Relatives ~ 骆宾王·《再与情亲书》 with English Translations

骆宾王(626年—687年),字观光,婺州义乌(今属浙江)人。唐代大臣、诗人、儒客大家,与王勃、杨炯、卢照邻合称“初唐四杰”。 骆宾王·《再与情亲书》 某初至乡闾,言寻旧友,耆年者化为异物,少壮者咸为老翁;山川不改旧时,丘陇多为陈迹。感今怀古,抚存悼亡,不觉涕之无从也! 询问子侄,彼亦凋零,永言伤情,增以悲恸。虽生死之分,同尽此途,而存亡之情,岂能无恨! 终期展接,以申阔怀。取此月二十日栖桐成礼,事过之后,始可得行。祁叙尚赊,情系何及!各愿珍勖,远无所铨。 《骆临海集》 Again to My Relatives Luo Binwang I can still remember vividly what happened when I returned to my native place last time. At first I asked about my old friends I wanted to meet, but, alas, the elder ones had already gone to the other world, and the younger

Luo Binwang: Again to My Relatives ~ 骆宾王·《再与情亲书》 with English Translations Read More »

Huang Gongshao: Tune: Green Jade Cup ~ 黄公绍·《青玉案》 with English Translations

黄公绍,宋元之际邵武(今属福建)人,字直翁。咸淳进士。入元不仕,隐居樵溪。著《古今韵会》、以《说文》为本,参考宋元以前字书、韵书,集字书训诂之大成,原书已佚,其同时人熊忠所编《古今韵会举要》中,略能见其大概。另有《在轩集》。 黄公绍·《青玉案》 年年社日停针线, 怎忍见、双飞燕? 今日江城春已半, 一身犹在,乱山深处, 寂寞溪桥畔。 春衫著破谁针线, 点点行行泪痕满。 落日解鞍芳草岸, 花无人戴,酒无劝, 醉也无人管。 Tune: Green Jade Cup Huang Gongshao Each year we do no needlework on holiday. How can I bear To see swallows in pair? In riverside town spring’s half gone away. Poor I live still Deep in the hill, Lonely by riverside. Who would

Huang Gongshao: Tune: Green Jade Cup ~ 黄公绍·《青玉案》 with English Translations Read More »

Jin Renrui: Willows ~ 金人瑞·《柳》 with English Translations

金人瑞一般指金圣叹。金圣叹(1608.4.17—1661.8.7)名采,字若采。明亡后改名人瑞,字圣叹,别号鲲鹏散士,自称泐庵法师。明末清初苏州吴县人,著名的文学家、文学批评家。明末诸生出身,为人狂傲有奇气。金圣叹的主要成就在于文学批评,对《水浒传》、《西厢记》、《左传》等书及杜甫诸家唐诗都有评点。 金人瑞·《柳》 陶令门前白酒瓢,亚夫营里血腥刀。 春风不管人间事,一例千条与万条。 Willows Jin Renrui Magistrate Tao took to drink amid five willows; General Zhou’s camp was stored with bloody swords. Spring breeze does not care about worldly affairs; It just turns willow branches green as usual. (王晋熙、文殊 译)

Jin Renrui: Willows ~ 金人瑞·《柳》 with English Translations Read More »

Liu Changqing: At a Farewell Dinner for Wang the Eleventh Setting Out on Travels to the South ~ 刘长卿·《饯别王十一南游》 with English Translations

《饯别王十一南游》是唐代诗人刘长卿的作品,为《唐诗三百首》所收录。此诗抒发自己对友人的真挚情意,描写了挥手远望直到陷入思念,愁肠百结,写得动人心弦。全诗没有“别离”二字,只写离别后的美景,然而浓浓的离情别绪已完全融入景中,曲折婉转,首尾呼应,手法新颖,别具匠心,离思深情,悠然不尽。诗人借助眼前景物,通过遥望和凝思,来表达离愁别绪。手法新颖,不落俗套。 刘长卿·《饯别王十一南游》 望君烟水阔,挥手泪沾巾。 飞鸟没何处,青山空向人。 长江一帆远,落日五湖春。 谁见汀洲上,相思愁白蘋。 At a Farewell Dinner for Wang the Eleventh Setting Out on Travels to the South Liu Changqing A vast expanse of misty water lying ahead, I find myself in tears, waving farewell to you. Off you to like a flying bird to places remote, While I all alone face

Liu Changqing: At a Farewell Dinner for Wang the Eleventh Setting Out on Travels to the South ~ 刘长卿·《饯别王十一南游》 with English Translations Read More »

Chinese Fable Stories – Patience

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·耐性》 一仕官将之官,其厚友送之,嘱曰:“公居官无他难,只要耐烦。”仕者唯唯。 已而再嘱,三嘱,犹唯唯,及于四五,其人忿然怒曰:“君以我为呆子乎?只此二字,奈何言之数四?” 厚友曰:“我才多说两次,尔遂发恼,辄为能耐烦可乎?” ——《雪涛小说》 Patience A man was going to take up an official post. A close friend came to see him off. “One thing you must remember when you become an official,” he said, “Is that you must always be patient.” The man replied that he would. His friend then repeated his

Chinese Fable Stories – Patience Read More »