Chinese Classical Literature

Shen Yue: Farewell to Fan Ancheng ~ 沈约·《别范安成》 with English Translations

《别范安成》是南朝文学家沈约创作的一首五言诗。这首诗前四句写少年离别之“易”,后四句写老年离别之“难”,在离别的哀愁之中,还含有对人生进行反思的意味,表达了诗人对友人离别的不舍。全诗明白晓畅,情真意切。 沈约·《别范安成》 生平少年日,分手易前期。 及尔同衰暮,非复别离时。 勿言一樽酒,明日难重持。 梦中不识路,何以慰相思? Farewell to Fan Ancheng Shen Yue To say good-bye when we were youthful men, We were sure that we would soon meet again. To say good-bye when we have grown in years, We can no longer part with hope or cheers. Toast, my friend, do drink this cup of […]

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Liu Hui: Lonely Thoughts ~ 刘绘·《有所思》 with English Translations

《有所思》是南朝诗人刘绘创作的一首五言诗。细致刻画了一少妇缠绵的闺思。 刘绘·《有所思》 别离安可再,而我更重之。 佳人不相见,明月空在帏。 共衔满堂酌,独敛向隅眉。 中心乱如雪,宁知有所思? Lonely Thoughts Liu Hui A single separation is enough, And that for me has made my life so tough. So as I cannot see my bosom friend, Alone I watch the brilliant moon ascend. When joy abounds within the banquet hall, I knit my brows alone and face the

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Han Fei Zi: A Recipe for Immortality ~ 《韩非子》 with English Translations

译文:有一个要教燕王学习长生不死方法的客人,燕王派人学习它,派去学习的人还没有学成,这个客卿就死了。燕王大怒,杀了派去学习的人。燕王不知道是客卿欺骗自己,反而认为学习的人学成太晚而惩罚了他。相信不正确的东西,责罚没有罪过的臣子,都是缺乏仔细考察造成的祸患。况且人所迫切关心的莫过于他自己,那个客人不能让自己不死,又怎么能够让燕王长生呢?告诫人们:欲望使人盲目,使人愚蠢,置身事外才能客观,没有调查就没有发言权。 《古代寓言·长生不老的仙方》 客有教燕王为不死之道者,王使人学之,所使学者未及学,而客死,王大怒诛之。王不知客之欺已,而诛学者之晚也,夫信不然之物,而诛无罪之臣,不察之患也,且人所急无如其身,不能自使其无死,安能使王长生哉! ——《韩非子》 A Recipe for Immortality A stranger informed the Prince of Yan that he could make him immortal, and the prince bade one of his subjects learn this art; but before the man could do so the stranger died. Then the prince, in great anger, executed his subject. He failed to see

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Du Fu: The Lone Wild Goose ~ 杜甫·《孤雁》 with English Translations

《孤雁》是唐代诗人杜甫所作的一首五言律诗。这是一首咏物诗,体物曲尽其妙,同时又表达的就是乱离漂泊中失群人的痛苦心情。全诗通过对雁孤苦伶仃的描写来象征诗人自己。 杜甫·《孤雁》 孤雁不饮啄,飞鸣声念群。 谁怜一片影,相失万重云。 望尽似犹见,哀多如更闻。 野鸦无意绪,鸣噪亦纷纷。 The Lone Wild Goose Du Fu Too sad to drink or eat The lone wild goose broods, Giving a mournful cry In his search for the flock Now lost in distant cloud; It strains its eyes looking Into the distance, thinking It can see the others, Replying to cries

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Buying a Pair of Shoes – Ancient Chinese Fables——《韩非子》

译文:郑国有个想要买鞋子的人,先自己量好脚的尺度,并把量好的尺码搁放在了自己的座位上。等到前往市场,却忘了带量好的尺码。已经拿到鞋子,才想起自己忘了带尺码。就对卖鞋的人说:“我忘记带量好的尺码了。”于是返回家去取量好的尺码。等到他返回集市的时候,集市散了,于是没买到鞋。 有人问他说:“为什么不用你的脚试一试鞋的大小呢?”他说:“我宁可相信量好的尺码,也不相信自己的脚。” 这则故事告诉我们对待事物要注重事实,不能太墨守成规。词语解释,用来讽刺只信教条,不顾实际的人。 《古代寓言·买鞋》 郑人有且置履者,先自度其足而置之其坐。 至之市,而忘操之,已得履,乃曰:“吾忘持度。”反归取之。 乃反,市罢,遂不和履。 人曰:“何不试之以足?” 曰:“宁信度,无自信也。” ——《韩非子》 Buying a Pair of Shoes A man in the state of Zheng decided to buy some new shoes. He measured his feet but left the measure on his sea, and went to the market without it. There he found a shoemaker. “Why, I forgot to

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Wei Yingwu: On Setting Out on the Yangtze; For Secretary Yuan ~ 韦应物·《初发扬子寄元大校书》 with English Translations

此诗写作者在乘船离开广陵(今江苏扬州)赴任洛阳(今属河南)的途中,对友人元大的离别之情。首联写别离之“初发”;颔联写友人乘舟归去;颈联写期望重逢;尾联以舟行不定,喻世事之顺逆翻复,难以自主。全诗借景抒情,寓情于景,诗人联想到世事的难测,写得很有情致,也吐露了自己被罢官以后的心情。 韦应物·《初发扬子寄元大校书》 凄凄去亲爱,泛泛入烟雾。 归棹洛阳人,残钟广陵树。 今朝此为别,何处还相遇。 世事波上舟,沿洄安得住。 On Setting Out on the Yangtze; For Secretary Yuan Wei Yingwu Sadly I left my dear, beloved friend; Slowly I drifted into mist and fog—no end— To Luoyang where my family is and dwells; While trees in Guangling echoed curfew bells. Early this morning did we say goodbye, Where

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Li Yi: Meeting with My Cousin Only to Part ~ 李益·《喜见外弟又言别》 with English Translations

此诗描写了诗人同表弟在乱离中不期而遇而又匆匆话别的伤感场面,抒发了真挚的至亲情谊和人生聚散离合无定的感慨,从侧面反映了动乱给人们带来的痛苦。全诗用凝炼的语言,白描的手法,生动的细节,典型的场景,层次分明地再现了社会动乱中人生聚散的独特一幕,具有强烈的生活真实感。 李益·《喜见外弟又言别》 十年离乱后,长大一相逢。 问姓惊初见,称名忆旧容。 别来沧海事,语罢暮天钟。 明日巴陵道,秋山又几重。 Meeting with My Cousin Only to Part Li Yi After ten troubled years of pain, Not till grown-up do we meet again. You seem a stranger at first view, Yet your name tells me who were you. We talk of changes which befell Until we hear the evening bell.

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Liu Yuxi: At the Temple of Liu Bei ~ 刘禹锡·《蜀先主庙》 with English Translations

《蜀先主庙》是唐代诗人刘禹锡创作的一首五言律诗,被选人《全唐诗》中。蜀先主庙原建在夔州(治所在今重庆市奉节县东)白帝山上。刘禹锡曾于唐穆宗长庆元年(821年)到四年(824年)间任夔州刺史,此诗当作于此时。此诗意在赞誉英雄,鄙薄庸碌,赞扬了刘备的功业,慨叹蜀汉事业后继非人,总结蜀汉亡国的历史教训。首联写先主庙堂威势逼人,颔联赞刘备的英雄业绩,颈联为刘备功业未成、嗣子不肖而叹息,尾联感叹后主亡国。全诗措词精警凝炼,对仗警辟工整,风格沉着超迈,前半写功德,后半写衰败,以形象垂戒当世。 刘禹锡·《蜀先主庙》 天地英雄气,千秋尚凛然。 势分三足鼎,业复五铢钱。 得相能开国,生儿不象贤。 凄凉蜀故妓,来舞魏宫前。 At the Temple of Liu Bei Liu Yuxi A hero he was! In Cathay, he had no peers. His lasting name will survive all the passing years. Among the Three Kingdoms, his had the mightiest reign; Our land’s ancient glory, he strove hard to regain. Prestige earned him a

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Emperor Xuanzong: Sacrificing to Confucius and Mourning Him When Passing Through Lu ~ 唐玄宗·《经鲁祭孔子而叹之》 with English Translations

译文:尊敬的孔老夫子,你一生劳碌奔波,周游列国,究竟想要做成什么呢?如今这地方还是鄹县的城邑,你终被安葬在了出生的土地,然而你的旧宅曾被后人毁坏,改建为鲁王宫。在你生活的当时,凤鸟不至,你叹息命运不好;麒麟出现,你又忧伤哀怨,感叹世乱道穷。你一生不如意,看今日你端坐在堂前两楹间,接受后人的顶礼祭奠,正如同你生前梦境中所见的一样,想必你也该稍感慰藉了吧。 此诗嗟叹了孔子复杂坎坷、栖遑不遇的一生,对孔子生前的际遇深表同情,对他寄予了深深的悼念。诗中连用数典,比较集中地概括了孔子心怀壮志而始终不得志的一生,表现了对孔子的尊崇,是中国封建社会中尊儒思想的反映。全诗命意严正,构思精巧,语言朴实,风格沉郁。 唐玄宗·《经鲁祭孔子而叹之》 夫子何为者?栖栖一代中。 地犹鄹氏邑,宅即鲁王宫。 叹凤嗟身否,伤麟怨道穷! 今看两楹奠,当与梦时同。 Sacrificing to Confucius and Mourning Him When Passing Through Lu Emperor Xuanzong For what did you so busily strive, my Sage, Expounding hard your doctrine in your age? This is the shire called Lu in bygone days; A palace in this house Duke Lu did raise. The absence

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Wen Tingyun: To a Youngster ~ 温庭筠·《赠少年》 with English Translations

《赠少年》是唐代诗人温庭筠创作的一首七绝。此诗描写诗人与一少年相逢又相别的场面,表达了无限的离恨别情,抒发了深沉的豪情壮怀。全诗善于用典寄托怀抱,且不着痕迹,自然地与写景叙事融为一体,景中见情,含蓄隽永。 温庭筠·《赠少年》 江海相逢客恨多,秋风叶下洞庭波。 酒酣夜别淮阴市,月照高楼一曲歌。 To a Youngster Wen Tingyun My wandering life far from home sees lots of parting grief, A feeling aroused by South China’s many a leaf. I get mellow with drink at night to leave a shameful place, In a moonlit high building we sing a song with good grace.

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