Chinese Classical Literature

Xi Shi ~《红楼梦》·《五美吟·西施》 with English Translations

《五美吟·西施》出自清代小说家曹雪芹所著小说《红楼梦》,是一首七言绝句,在小说中由林黛玉所作。前两句直写西施的不幸,后两句写西施和一般女子一样,红颜多薄命。这首诗是林黛玉以西施自况,发出了预感命运不幸的悲叹,悲哀自已红颜薄命。这首诗引用了东施效颦之典,化用王维《西施咏》和《洛阳女儿行》诗意,增强了全诗的悲叹基调。 《红楼梦》·《五美吟·西施》 一代倾城逐浪花,吴宫空自忆儿家。 效颦莫笑东村女,头白溪边尚浣纱。 Xi Shi(David Hawkes 译) That kingdom-quelling beauty dissolved like the flower of foam. In the foreign palace, Xi Shi, did you yearn for your old home? Who laughs at your ugly neighbor with her frown-and-simper now, Still steeping her yam at the brook-side, and the hair snow-white on her brow? His-shih(B. […]

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Green Pear ~ 《红楼梦》·《五美吟·绿珠》 with English Translations

《五美吟·绿珠》出自清代小说家曹雪芹所著小说《红楼梦》,是一首七言绝句,在小说中由林黛玉所作。诗中的前两句意思是说,石崇视明珠如瓦砾,不曾真心看重过包括绿珠在内的美貌女子。后两句谓,石崇的福份是前生注定的,虽然他不见得真正爱绿珠,而绿珠却甘心为他殉情。此诗借歌咏绿珠,抒发了林黛玉对于把女性彻底玩物化的封建权贵的愤慨,同时也对受封建伦理道德观念毒害,丧失起码人格的女性表示哀叹。这首诗运用了比喻和引用的手法,以此来加重全诗的悲剧色彩。 《红楼梦》·《五美吟·绿珠》 瓦砾明珠一例抛,何曾石尉重娇娆? 都缘顽福前生缘,更有同归慰寂寥。 Green Pear l(David Hawkes 译) Pebble or pearl—to Shi Chong it was only a rich man’s whim: Do you really believe your undoubted charms meant so very much to him? It was fate, from some past life preordained, that made him take his rash stand, And the carving to have a

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Ru-meng-ling ~ 《红楼梦》·《柳絮词·如梦令》 with English Translations

《如梦令·柳絮词》是清朝时期的一首词,作者是曹雪芹。此为曹雪芹《红楼梦》中人物 史湘云 所作,为五首柳絮词之一。史湘云见暮春柳絮飞舞,偶成小令。诗社就发起填词,每人各拈一小调,限时做好。史湘云写的就是这首《如梦令·柳絮》。 五首柳絮词其实都是每个人未来的自况。湘云后来与 卫若兰 结合,新婚是美满的,所以词中不承认用以寄情的柳絮是衰残景象。对于她的幸福,有人可能会触痛伤感,有人可能会羡慕妒忌,这也是很自然的。她父母双亡,寄居贾府,关心她终身大事的人可能少些,她自诩”纤手自拈来”,总是凭某种见面机会以”金麒麟”为信物而凑成的。十四回写官客为秦氏送殡时曾介绍卫若兰是”诸王孙公子”,可见所谓”才貌仙郎”也必须以爵禄门第为先决条件,不能想象如史湘云那样的公侯千金会单凭才貌选择一个地位卑贱的人作为自己的丈夫。词中从占春一转而为惜春、留春,而且情绪上是那样地无可奈何,这正预示着她的所谓美满婚姻也是好景不长的。 《红楼梦》·《柳絮词·如梦令》 岂是绣绒残吐, 卷起半帘香雾, 纤手自拈来, 空使鹃啼燕妒。 且住, 且住! 莫放春光别去。 Ru-meng-ling(David Hawkes 译) Not chewed-off ends of the sky’s embroidery? “What are they?”—”Raise the blind a bit and see.” A white hand snatches some and draws it in, pursued by the swallows’ chiding din. Oh stay, oh stay! The lovely spring drifts

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Thirty-six Strategies – Strategy Nineteen Remove Firewood from Under the Caldron ~ 《三十六计》(混战计) with English Translations

《三十六计》是一部集历代兵家诡道之大成的兵书,总结了以往战争中施计用诈的实践经验,包含有朴素的军事辩证法思想,有较高的参考价值。时至今日,它已经突破了军事领域,广泛运用于政治、经济、外交、生活等各个领域,成为人们克敌制胜的法宝和国内外家喻户晓的著作。胜战计是三十六计第一套计,是处于绝对优势地位之计谋。君御臣、大国御小国之术也。与他相关的计谋:敌战计、攻战计、混战计、并战计、败战计。 《三十六计》(混战计) 第十九计 釜底抽薪 不敌其力,而消其势,兑下乾上之象。 第二十计 混水摸鱼 乘其阴乱,利其弱而无主。随,以向晦入宴息。 第二十一计 金蝉脱壳 存其形,完其势;友不疑,敌不动。巽而止蛊。 第二十二计 关门捉贼 小敌困之。剥,不利有攸往。 第二十三计 远交近攻 形禁势格,利从近取,害以远隔。上火下泽。 第二十四计 假道伐虢 两大之间,敌胁以从,我假以势。困,有言不信。 Thirty-six Strategies Strategy Nineteen Remove Firewood from Under the Caldron Avoid a contest of strength with the enemy but seek to weaken its position in accordance with the image of Dui underneath Qian. Strategy Twenty

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Du Fu: The River of Heaven ~ 杜甫·《天河》 with English Translations

此当是乾元二年七月在秦州作,故有”伴月落边城”之句。王柏曰:天河,从北极分为两头,至于南极,随天而转入地下过,水之气也。《广雅》:云汉、星汉、河汉、银河、绛河、天津、汉津,皆天河名。 杜甫·《天河》 常时任显晦,秋至辄分明。 纵被微云掩,终能永夜清。 含星动双阙,伴月照边城。 牛女年年渡,何曾风浪生。 The River of Heaven Du Fu The moon forever turns obscure or bright, But clearest in the autumn, though sometimes A floating cloud may darken it a while, Keeps purely shining through the endless night. The stars that move through the gates of night and day Companion the moon

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Liu Shen-xu: The Way I Know ~ 刘慎虚·《阙题》 with English Translations

《阙题》是唐代诗人刘眘虚创作的一首五律。阙题即缺题。殷璠《河岳英灵集》辑录此诗时便没有题目,后人因以”阙题”名之。此诗描绘的是通向一座深山别墅沿途的幽美环境,它不是写诗人自己山居的闲适,而是写友人山中隐居的幽趣。全诗清新自然,婉转流畅,按空间顺序写来,由远及近,从外向里而行,余韵萦绕,有一种异乎寻常的艺术魅力。 刘慎虚·《阙题》 道由白云尽,春与青溪长。 时有落花至,远闻流水香。 闲门向山路,深柳读书堂。 幽映每白日,清辉照衣裳。 The Way I Know Liu Shen-xu The way I know. Beyond the clouds it lies, following the trail of spring along a sparkling stream, an endless stream of drifting flowers that carry the sweetness of the mountains to the outer world. The way I know. To a door seldom

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Chen Zi-ang: Parting Gift ~ 陈子昂·《送东莱学士无竞》 with English Translations

《送东莱学士无竞》,是唐代诗人陈子昂创作的一首五律。前二句以衬垫方式来写宝剑千金珍贵、平生未认可别人,突显出王无竞才华横溢,二者之间的深厚情谊。三四句聊表惜别之情,借宝剑的千金之贵,侧面赞扬了王无竞的才志和品格。五六句借”孤松””众木”勉励王无竞,不避风刀霜剑与严寒搏斗,不与权贵同流合污,保持顽强性格和高尚情操。末两句写诗人劝勉和鼓励友人振奋精神,亦借此警醒自身不甘沉沦,奋发有为的凌云豪情,流露出自己政治上遭受挫折的不平与愤懑。 陈子昂·《送东莱学士无竞》 宝剑千金买,生平未许人。 怀君万里别,持赠送交亲。 孤松宜晚岁,众木爱芳春。 已矣将何道,无令白发新。 Parting Gift Chen Zi-ang This sword that cost me so dear, never have I offered it to anyone. Now that you are going away—far, far away—my dear friend, let it go by your side. Trees of the common sort delight in springtime; it’s the lone pine that to the

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Ma Yuan’s Letter to His Nephews, Yen and Jun ~ 《马援戒兄子严敦书》 with English Translations

这封信是马援率兵远征期间写给两个侄儿的书信。在信中,马援针对两个侄子喜欢议论别人,爱结交轻薄侠客的弱点,以自己平生的经验指导他们如何为人处世。马援(前14—后49)字文渊,东汉扶风茂陵(今陕西兴平东北)人。新莽时,为新城大尹。后依附隗嚣,继归刘秀,攻灭隗嚣,为陇西太守。官至伏波将军,封新息侯。后在进击武陵”五溪蛮”时,病死军中。著有《铜马相法》。 《马援戒兄子严敦书》 援兄子严、敦,并喜讥议,而通轻侠客。援前在交趾,还书诫之曰: 吾欲汝曹闻人过失,如闻父母之名:耳可得闻,口不可得言也。好论议人长短,妄是非正法,此吾所大恶也;宁死,不愿闻子孙有此行也。汝曹知吾恶之甚矣,所以复言者,施衿结,申父母之戒,欲使汝曹不忘之耳! 龙伯高敦厚周慎,口无择言,谦约节俭,廉公有威。吾爱之重之,愿汝曹效之。杜季良豪侠好义,忧人之忧,乐人之乐,清浊无所失。父丧致客,数郡毕至。吾爱之重之,不愿汝曹效也。效伯高不得,犹为谨敕之士,所谓刻鹄不成,尚类 者也。效季良不得,陷为天下轻薄子,所谓画虎不成,反类狗者也。讫今季良尚未可知,郡将下车辄切齿,州郡以为言,吾常为寒心,是以不愿子孙效也。 Ma Yuan’s Letter to His Nephews, Yen and Jun Mr. Ma Yuan had two nephews who were fond of making fun of others and also criticizing other. He liked to be with the smart set. So Mr. Ma wrote them a letter exhorting them to be more serious. The

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寒山·《极目兮长望》 with English Translations

大意:我尽力的张开双眼眺望远方,只见四周白云弥漫看不清楚。鹞鹰和乌鸦都吃得饱饱的臃肿得无法高飞,鸾鸟和凤凰却忍饥挨饿彷徨不定。骏马被放逐在无水无草的戈壁滩,跛脚的毛驴却被牵到高堂委与重任。我想要问问苍天,人间为什么这么多不平事,但苍天高高在上无法追问,只好看着鹪鹩自由自在的飞翔在江海之上。 寒山·《极目兮长望》 极目兮长望,白云四茫茫。 鸱鸦饱腲腇,鸾凤饥彷徨。 骏马放石碛,蹇驴能至堂。 天高不可问,鹪鵊在沧浪。 A Traveler Brings Messages, Waiting While I Read From my heights I stare into an opaque sky; Thick clouds, though white, obscure the lower peaks. These rumors abound: the carrion crow eats fresh meat; The phoenix pecks for grubs from village to village; Horses fast as wind are exiled

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Even the Gods Fear Bullies ~ Chinese Humor (Jokes and Tales) with English Translations

出自《古代笑话选》,让人啼笑皆非,于玩笑中讲述道理。 《神像与水沟》 艾子行水,途见一庙,矮小而装饰甚严。前有一小沟,有人行至水,不可涉。顾庙中,而辄取大王像横于沟上,履之而去。复有一人至,见之,再三叹之曰:”神像直有如此亵慢!”乃自扶起,以衣拂饰,捧至坐上,再拜而去。须臾,艾子闻庙中曰:”大王居此为神,享里人祭祀,反为愚民之辱,何不施祸以谴之?”王曰:”然则祸当行于后来者。”小鬼又曰:”前者以履大王,辱莫甚焉,而不行祸;后来之人敬大王者,反祸之,何也?”王曰:”前人已不信矣,又安祸之!”艾子曰:”真是鬼怕恶人也!” Even the Gods Fear Bullies In the course of a trip by boat, Master Ai noticed a temple, not very high but magnificent in its ornamentations. There was a ditch in front of it. Unable to cross the ditch, someone moved an idol off of its pedestal in the temple and laid

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