Chinese Classical Literature

Su Zhe: Camellia ~ 《茶花》 苏辙 with English Translations

《茶花二首》是宋朝诗人苏辙的作品之一。是一首七言律诗。诗人在诗中描写了茶花的生长时节和茶花的形态,淡淡清香扑鼻,和梅花相比闻不见梅香,其秀丽姿态能与岭梅比肩。茶花在生长过程中经过严寒的洗礼仍不屈服,在一亩荒园倔强生长,最终开遍原野。整首诗表达了作者对茶花的赞美与喜爱,和对茶花精神的高度赞扬。 《茶花》 苏辙 细嚼花须味亦长,新芽一粟叶间藏。 稍经腊雪侵肌瘦,旋得春雷发地狂。 开落空山谁比数,烝烹来岁最先尝。 枝枯叶硬天真在,踏遍牛羊未改香。 Camellia Su Zhe An exquisite aftertaste lingers everlastingly after the floret tassels are carefully masticated, Amidst the foliage is veiled a grain of gemma in generation. The snow in the Twelfth Moon render her to be emaciated, Shortly thereafter, she runs riot and rampant with a clap of […]

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Cao Xueqin: Willow Down (To the Tune Sugary Ditty) ~ 《唐多令·咏柳絮》 曹雪芹 with English Translations

接着探春、宝玉的词后,黛玉便写出这首“缠绵悲感”的《唐多令》。黛玉从飘游无定的柳絮,联想到自己孤苦无依的身世,预感到薄命的结局,把一腔哀惋缠绵的思绪写到词中去。曾游百花洲的西施,居住燕子楼的关盼盼,都是薄命的女子,似乎是信手引来,实际是有意自喻。柳絮任东风摆布,正是象征黛玉在命运面前无能为力。李纨等人看了这首诗,都点头感叹:“太作悲了。”除了这类悲戚语外,这个可怜的少女还能说出什么更乐观的话呢? 《唐多令·咏柳絮》 曹雪芹 粉堕百花洲, 香残燕子楼。 一团团、逐队成球。 飘泊还如人命薄, 空缱绻,说风流! 草木也知愁, 韶华竟白头。 叹今生、谁舍谁收? 嫁与东风春不管, 凭尔去,忍淹留! Willow Down (To the Tune Sugary Ditty) As pollen littered over the Flowers Island, So fragrance faded about the Swallow Villa. All flying off as though in files and flocks, O patches of willow-down being driven apart, You’re just like humans, homeless,

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Yu Hsuan-chi: Replying to a Poem by a New Graduate Lamenting the Loss of His Wife ~ 《和新及第悼亡诗二首·其一》 鱼玄机 with English Translations

鱼玄机,唐代女诗人。初名鱼幼微,字蕙兰。长安(今陕西西安)人,生卒年不详。咸通(唐懿宗年号,公元860—874年)中,为补阙李亿为妾,为李妻不能容,出家于长安咸宜观为女道士,改名鱼玄机。后因杀侍婢绿翘,为京兆尹温璋处死。鱼玄机性聪慧,好读书,有才思,尤工诗歌,与李郢、温庭筠等有诗篇往来。其诗作见于《全唐诗》,现存有五十余首,有《鱼玄机集》一卷。 《和新及第悼亡诗二首·其一》 鱼玄机 仙籍人间不久留,片时已过十经秋。 鸳鸯帐下香犹暖,鹦鹉笼中语未休。 朝露缀花如脸恨,晚风敧柳似眉愁。 彩云一去无消息,潘岳多情欲白头。 Replying to a Poem by a New Graduate Lamenting the Loss of His Wife Yu Hsuan-chi Immortals don’t stay long in the world of men; You’ve passed another fall, already ten. Pairs of ducks on a curtain, beneath, her fragrance lingers; In the parrot’s cage her words are

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Yu Hsuan-chi: To Tzu-an ~ 《寄子安》 鱼玄机 with English Translations

鱼玄机,唐代女诗人。初名鱼幼微,字蕙兰。长安(今陕西西安)人,生卒年不详。咸通(唐懿宗年号,公元860—874年)中,为补阙李亿为妾,为李妻不能容,出家于长安咸宜观为女道士,改名鱼玄机。后因杀侍婢绿翘,为京兆尹温璋处死。鱼玄机性聪慧,好读书,有才思,尤工诗歌,与李郢、温庭筠等有诗篇往来。其诗作见于《全唐诗》,现存有五十余首,有《鱼玄机集》一卷。 《寄子安》 鱼玄机 醉别千卮不浣愁,离肠百结解无由。 蕙兰销歇归春圃,杨柳东西绊客舟。 聚散已悲云不定,恩情须学水长流。 有花时节知难遇,未肯厌厌醉玉楼。 To Tzu-an Yu Hsuan-chi A thousand goblets at the farewell feast can’t dilute my sorrow, my heart at separation is twisted in a hundred unyielding knots. Tender orchids wilt and wither, return to the garden of spring; willow trees, here and there, moor traveler’ boats. In meeting and

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Wang Guan: Qing Qing Zhao Man ~ 王观·《庆清朝慢·踏青》 with English Translations

《庆清朝慢·踏青》是北宋词人王观的词作。词咏踏青,以工丽、尖新的笔触,从春日里天气的变化和姑娘们的踏青活动两方面入手来描绘春景,将两者和谐地组合成一幅风流楚楚、生意盎然的春景图。全词在铺叙与描写的技巧、手法上继承和发展了柳永的艺术表现方法,而在内容上又富有生活气息,读来令人耳目为之一新。 王观·《庆清朝慢·踏青》 调雨为酥, 催冰做水, 东君分付春还。 何人便将轻暖, 点破残寒? 结伴踏青去好, 平头鞋子小双鸾。 烟郊外, 望中秀色, 如有无间。    晴则个, 阴则个, 饾饤得天气有许多般。 须教镂花拨柳, 争要先看。 不道吴绫绣袜, 香泥斜沁几行斑。 东风巧, 尽收翠绿, 吹上眉山。 Qing Qing Zhao Man Wang Guan Mixing rain into crumpet dough, Inculcating ice to melt, The East Wind has ordered the return of spring. Who has expelled the remaining chill With a

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Wen Tien Shiang: Yangtse River ~ with English Translations

作者李重元共作有四首《忆王孙》,分别题作“春词”、“夏词”、“秋词”、“冬词”。此词是第一篇。这首词主要是写景,通过写景传达出一种伤春怀人的意绪,那一份杳渺深微的情思是通过景色的转换而逐步加深加浓,逐步显示的。在场景的转换上,词作又呈观一种由大到小,逐步收敛的特征。全词用一连串带有伤感的暮春景物来衬托相思的伤感,深切动人。 李重元·《忆王孙》 萋萋芳草忆王孙, 柳外楼高空断魂。 杜宇声声不忍闻。 欲黄昏, 雨打梨花深闭门。 Yangtse River Wen Tien Shiang Few days’ touring north sea with favorable wind, Back again at the start of great My loyal heart to His Majesty is like a compass, It will never stop if not pointing at the south.

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Wen Tien Shiang: Yangtse River ~ 文天祥·《扬子江》 with English Translations

《扬子江》是南宋诗人文天祥创作的一首七言绝句。这首诗首二句纪行,叙述他自镇江逃脱,回到长江口的艰险经历。末二句抒情,以“磁针石”比喻忠于宋朝的一片丹心。这首诗语言浅近,运用比兴手法,触景生情字,里行间表现出坚定不移的爱国主义精神。 文天祥·《扬子江》 几日随风北海游,回从扬子大江头。 臣心一片磁针石,不指南方不肯休。 Yangtse River Wen Tien Shiang Few days’ touring north sea with favorable wind, Back again at the start of great My loyal heart to His Majesty is like a compass, It will never stop if not pointing at the south.

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Jiang Kui: Jasmine ~ 江奎·《茉莉》 with English Translations

江奎,惠安(今属福建)人。理宗淳祐七年(一二四七)进士。尝为泉州教授。事见明嘉靖《惠安县志》卷一二。今录诗二首。这是江奎写的第二首歌咏茉莉花的诗。诗人在短短四句二十八字的小诗中,没有一句直写茉莉花之美,但读后却给读者留下了极为深刻、难忘的印象。可见作者之匠心。 江奎·《茉莉》 虽无艳态惊群目,幸有清香压九秋。 应是仙娥宴归去,醉来掉下玉搔头。 Jasmine Jiang Kui Albeit she fails to surprise the multitudinous fairs due to lack of charming complexion, Luckily, her delicate fragrance suffices to overwhelm all the fall florets through its permeation. This very flower must be, upon the return of fairy Chang E from a feast of jubilation. An incarnate jade

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Cai Ting: Honeysuckle ~ 蔡淳·《金银花》 with English Translations

这首咏金银花绝句寄托了作者感慨之情。首句“金银赚尽世人忙”说人世间,人们来去匆匆,为赚金银,发财致富而奔忙。“赚尽世人”一语,很有通达超脱、看破红尘之意。语中也颇机锋。这是由其花名金银联想到金银,再想到金银这一黄白之物竟有如此神奇魔力,驱使世上之人忙碌终生不已。“花发金银满架香”是写金银花开放时,满架香气充溢。“蜂蝶纷纷成队过”写出了金银花开引来的蜂蝶结队成行。这种现象本是自然之理。花开时,蝶恋舞,蜂采蜜,成群结队,纷至沓来,好一番热闹景象。诗人冷眼看去,却别有心解:“始知物态也炎凉。”原来自然物中也充满着嫌贫爱富,追名逐利炎凉之态啊。这是多么可悲的事情。那蜂蝶闻听“金银”,竟纷纷成队过,趋炎附势,这赚得世人忙的金银的魔力竟然也施展到自然物中了吗?诗人不由得深为叹惋。“始知”即至此我才知道之意,也有点原先意想不到的意思。作者借咏金银花之机,巧借其花名金银这一特点,引申生发,表露了对世俗物欲横流的愤懑之情,是一首有寄托之意的咏物诗。 蔡淳·《金银花》 金银赚尽世人忙,花发金银满架香。 蜂蝶纷纷成队过,始知物态也炎凉。 Honeysuckle Cai Ting The mundane mortals are bustlingly occupied with earning gold and silver. And the honeysuckle effloresces with her perfume pervading the trellis. Behold a swarm of butterflies thronging and flitting around this very flower. And thou wilt be aware that among the animal creatures are likewise present snobbishness and

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Du Fu: Accompanying Mr. Zheng of the Broad Learning Academy on an Outing to General He’s Mountain Villa ~ 杜甫·《陪郑文广游何将军山林·其五》with English Translations

此组诗共十章,当作于公元753年(唐玄宗天宝十二年)初夏,当时杜甫与广文馆博士郑虔同游何将军山林,故作此组诗。 杜甫·《陪郑文广游何将军山林·其五》 剩水沧江破,残山碣石开。 绿垂风折笋,红绽雨肥梅。 银甲弹筝用,金鱼换酒来。 兴移无洒扫,随意坐莓苔。 Accompanying Mr. Zheng of the Broad Learning Academy on an Outing to General He’s Mountain Villa Ten Poems 5 This stream of yours, as though borrowed from the blue Yangzi, this bit of mountain sliced off from the Jieshi rocks1: green dangling, bamboo shoots broken in the wind; red

Du Fu: Accompanying Mr. Zheng of the Broad Learning Academy on an Outing to General He’s Mountain Villa ~ 杜甫·《陪郑文广游何将军山林·其五》with English Translations Read More »