Chinese Classical Literature

Xiao Cha: Lily ~ 萧詧·《百合》 with English Translations

梁宣帝萧詧(519年-562年),字理孙,南兰陵(今江苏省常州市武进区)人。西梁开国皇帝(555年―562年在位),梁武帝萧衍之孙,昭明太子萧统第三子。自幼好学,精通佛法。初以皇孙,封曲江县公。中大通三年,加封岳阳王,拜东扬州刺史,迁雍州刺史等职。太清三年,河东王萧誉受到湘东王萧绎攻击,率众攻伐江陵,兵败逃亡,向西魏称藩借兵。承圣三年(554年),西魏大将军杨忠攻破江陵。梁元帝去世后,萧詧正式即位,建立西梁,年号大定。大定四年(558年),派遣大将王操掠取湘州长沙、武陵、南平等郡。大定八年(562年),驾崩,谥号宣皇帝,庙号中宗,葬于平陵。 萧詧·《百合》 接叶有多种,开花无异色。 含露或低垂,从风时偃仰。 Lily Xiao Cha The foliages are multiform in appearance, No variegation presents itself in efflorescence. Occasionally, kissing the dew, she droops as she pleases, And, at intervals, bends or lifts her head with the breezes.

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Zeng Rui: Seeing Trough the World To the Tune of Joy in Advent of Spring ~ 曾瑞·《喜春来·阅世》 with English Translations

不论是吟诗唱和,还是任情高歌,抑或是簪花饮酒又婆娑,都可见出自得其乐的逍遥之意和超凡脱俗的高洁神韵,真令人无比羡慕。然而,仔细读来,便又见出几分无奈的苦衷。世人皆是先饮后醉复又醒,然而曲中却是先言醒复言醉又言饮。作者的独异处即是方醒又醉,即醉再饮。醉了,醒了,复又沉沉醉去。似是在学李白 “但愿长醉不愿醒”,然而又少了太白 “天生我才必有用,千金散尽还复来” 的洒脱。昔日阮籍好饮,是因 “魏晋之际,天下多故,名士少有全者”,由此而“不与世事,遂酣饮为常”。(《晋书》) 隋末唐初王绩也叹道: “眼看人尽醉,何忍独为醒。” 他们或为避祸,或因愤世而好酒,然而醉翁之意皆不在酒。 曾瑞·《喜春来·阅世》 佳章软语醒时和, 白雪阳春醉后歌, 簪花饮酒且婆娑。 开闷锁, 闲看恶风波。 Seeing Trough the World To the Tune of Joy in Advent of Spring Zeng Rui Chanting poems and replying in chorus when sobering up, Singing Spring Snow to your heart’s content when in your cup, Wearing flowers and dancing gracefully while

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Ceng Rui: Lamenting the Times (1) to the tune of Sheep on the Hillside ~ 曾瑞·《山坡羊·叹世(一)》 with English Translations

曾瑞(生卒年不详), 元代散曲作家。字瑞卿,自号褐夫。大兴(今北京市大兴区)人。因喜江浙人才风物而移家南方。《录鬼簿》记他“临终之日,诣门吊者以千数”,可知他当时已有盛名。由于志不屈物,不解趋附奉承,所以终身不仕,优游市井,赖江淮一带熟人馈赠为生。善绘画,能作隐语小曲,散曲集有《诗酒馀音》行于当世,今佚。 曾瑞·《山坡羊·叹世(一)》 鸡鸣为得, 鸦栖收计, 几曾得觉囫囵睡? 使心计, 昧神祗, 区区造下弥天罪, 富贵一场春梦里。 财, 沤泛水; 人, 泉下鬼。 Lamenting the Times (1) to the tune of Sheep on the Hillside Ceng Rui Profit-making begins at a cock’s crow And ends as ravens back to their nests go. When do we have enough time to sleep? We against others plotting

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Yuan Zhen: On Hearing the News that My Friend Bai Juyi Is Relegated to Jiujiang ~ 元稹·《闻乐天授江州司马》 with English Translations

《闻乐天授江州司马》是唐代诗人元稹所作的七绝。这首诗创作于作者得知白居易遭贬之后。此诗以景衬情,以景写情,叙事抒情,表现作者对白居易的一片殷殷之情。首句描写了自己所处之阴暗的背景,衬托出被贬谪有处于病中的作者心境的凄凉和痛苦;次句点明题意;第三句写当听说白居易被贬的消息时的情景,表现了诸多的意味;末句,凄凉的景色与凄凉的心境融恰为一,情调悲怆。全诗表达了作者知道好友被贬后极度震惊和心中的悲凉。 元稹·《闻乐天授江州司马》 残灯无焰影幢幢,此夕闻君谪九江。 垂死病中惊坐起,暗风吹雨入寒窗。 On Hearing the News that My Friend Bai Juyi Is Relegated to Jiujiang Yuan Zhen The going-out lamp seems flameless, looms dim and flickering; This evening I hear my friend’s relegated to Jiujiang, Which makes me startled and sit up although I am dying, Into my window a dark wind with

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Shun che pun pun(James Legge) ~ 《国风·鄘风·鹑之奔奔》 with English Translations

《国风·鄘风·鹑之奔奔》是中国古代第一部诗歌总集《诗经》中的一首诗。古代学者一般认为此诗是谴责、讽刺卫国国君的诗,现代学者一般认为这是写女子责怪男人的诗。全诗二章,每章四句。上下两章前两句完全一样,只是位置发生了改变,造成一种回环与交错的效果。每章后两句,虽然只有一字之差,却避免了反复咏唱时容易引起的单调的感觉。 《国风·鄘风·鹑之奔奔》 鹑之奔奔,鹊之彊彊。 人之无良,我以为兄? 鹊之彊彊,鹑之奔奔。 人之无良,我以为君? Shun che pun pun(James Legge 译) Boldly faithful in their pairings are quails; Vigorously so are magpies. This man is all vicious, And I consider him my brother! Vigorously faithful in their pairings are magpies; Boldly so are quails. This woman is all vicious, And I regard her as

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Li Pai: Ballad of the Ching Rivers ~ 李白·《清溪行》 with English Translations

《清溪行》是唐代大诗人李白创作的一首诗。此诗是李白被“赐金返还”离开京城后游池州时所作,前六句从不同角度描写清溪水的清澈,末二句表现出悲凉的气氛。全诗创设了一个悲切凄凉的清寂境界,寄寓诗人喜清厌浊的情怀,流露出诗人因远离家乡、思念家乡内心的孤寂与落寞,以及胸怀济世之才的诗人内心难以言传的抑郁悲伤之情。 李白·《清溪行》 清溪清我心,水色异诸水。 借问新安江,见底何如此? 人行明镜中,鸟度屏风里。 向晚猩猩啼,空悲远游子。 Ballad of the Ching Rivers(Rewi Alley 译) Li Pai These rives so clear that they cleanse my heart to stare into them, so different are they from other river waters; I asked this Hsinan River why it was so clean? If you see a man walking on its banks,

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Li Pai: Climbing Hsinping Tower ~ 李白·《登新平楼》 with English Translations

《登新平楼》是唐代大诗人李白创作的一首五律。此诗描述了暮秋时节诗人登新平城楼远望帝都长安所见的景象,诗中用“落日”“寒流”“秦云”“胡雁”勾画出一幅凄凉的暮秋景色,暗寓诗人极度思念帝都长安,塑造出诗人怀归忧国、报国无门的渺茫失落形象,流露出诗人壮志未酬、处境困窘的忧伤之情。全诗借景抒情,情含景中,末句的“令人愁”和次句的“伤暮秋”,遥相呼应,构成了全诗的统一情调。 李白·《登新平楼》 去国登兹楼,怀归伤暮秋。 天长落日远,水净寒波流。 秦云起岭树,胡雁飞沙洲。 苍苍几万里,目极令人愁。 Climbing Hsinping Tower(Rewi Alley 译) Li Pai Leaving my native place, I came and climbed the old tower here at the end of autumn, thinking of home; now it seems that the day is long, and sunset far away; looking down I see waves that make me feel cold,

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Li Pai: To the Pavilion for Washing Feet ~ 李白·《洗脚亭》 with English Translations

《洗脚亭》是唐代伟大诗人李白的作品。此诗乃送行之作,题内似有缺文。开头写送别的地点;接着描绘周围的环境,写得情景交融;最后写离别之时依依不舍的情形,体现了送行人与行人之间的深情厚谊。 李白·《洗脚亭》 白道向姑熟,洪亭临道傍。 前有昔时井,下有五丈床。 樵女洗素足,行人歇金装。 西望白鹭洲,芦花似朝霜。 送君此时去,回首泪成行。 To the Pavilion for Washing Feet Li Pai A wide road leading to Kushu1 and erected by it a little pavilion; fronting which is an ancient well, with a stone bench beside; here lasses coming down from gathering firewood, stop a while and wash their pretty feet, then

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Strategy Thirty-One Beauty Trap ~ 《三十六计》(败战计) 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》(败战计) 第三十一计 美人计 兵强者,攻其将;将智者,伐其情。将弱兵颓,其势自萎。利用御寇,顺相保也。 第三十二计 空城计 虚者虚之,疑中生疑。刚柔之际,奇而复奇。 第三十三计 反间计 疑中之疑。比之自内,不自失也。 第三十四计 苦肉计 人不自害,受害必真。假真真假,间以得行。童蒙之吉,顺以巽也。 第三十五计 连环计 将多兵众,不可以敌,使其自累,以杀其势。在师中吉,承天宠也。 第三十六计 走为上 全师避敌。左次无咎,未失常也。 Strategy Thirty-One Beauty Trap If the enemy forces are strong, try to subdue their general; if the general is wise, try to crush his willpower. When the general becomes infirm and the soldiers listless, their

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Sadula: Early Summer, Huai River Valley ~ 萨都剌·《初夏淮安道中》 with English Translations

《初夏淮安道中》是元代诗人萨都剌创作的一首七言绝句。诗的前两句描写了出网的鱼虾,著枝的梅杏;后两句描写了雨后初晴,路上行人来往的景象。全诗语言清新俊逸,生机勃勃,很有感染力。 萨都剌·《初夏淮安道中》 鱼虾泼泼初出网,梅杏青青已著枝。 满树嫩晴春雨歇,行人四月过准时。 Early Summer, Huai River Valley Sadula Flip, Flop, Fish jump out of the net, Shrimps jump of the net. Green, Blue, Plumes grow into fruit, Apricots grow into fruit. How the touch of spring Sinks into sunny trees When rain washes them clean! In this fourth month of the year What

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