Chinese Classical Literature

Zhao Mengfu: At King E’s Tomb ~ 赵孟頫·《岳鄂王墓》 with English Translations

《岳鄂王墓》是宋元之际诗人赵孟頫创作的一首七言律诗,为一首怀古七言律诗。这首诗以反映这样的现实入笔,表达了作者对抗金英雄被害屈死的叹息和哀悼,谴责南宋君臣苟安误国,流露了深沉的故国之思。首联入题,写景抒情,反映了诗人凄苦苍凉的心绪。颔联两句直斥宋高宗违背古训,本末倒置,是非混淆,置中原百万百姓生死于不顾。颈联感叹岳飞被害、南宋颓势难挽;天下中分,偏安一隅的局面也不能支撑下去。尾联与入题呼应,嘱人嘱已,“莫向西湖歌此曲”,否则必会引得湖光山色、天地万物同悲不已。 赵孟頫·《岳鄂王墓》 鄂王坟上草离离,秋日荒凉石兽危。    南渡君臣轻社稷,中原父老望旌旗。    英雄已死嗟何及,天下中分遂不支。    莫向西湖歌此曲,水光山色不胜悲。 At King E’s Tomb Zhao Mengfu Grass grows thick All across King E’s tomb. These autumn days The fields are desolate. Stone animals Stand tall, Alone. But lords and ministers In their Southern exile Drank and danced Indifferent to the fate of their country. How the […]

Zhao Mengfu: At King E’s Tomb ~ 赵孟頫·《岳鄂王墓》 with English Translations Read More »

Strategy Twenty-Five Steal the Beams and Change the Pillars ~ 《三十六计》(并战计) 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》(并战计) 第二十五计 偷梁换柱 频更其阵,抽其劲旅,待其自败,而后乘之。曳其轮也。 第二十六计 指桑骂槐 大凌小者,警以诱之。刚中而应,行险而顺。 第二十七计 假痴不癫 宁伪作不知不为,不伪作假知妄为。静不露机,云雷屯也。 第二十八计 上屋抽梯 假之以便,唆之使前,断其援应,陷之死地。遇毒,位不当也。 第二十九计 树上开花 借局布势,力小势大。鸿渐于陆,其羽可以为仪也。 第三十计 反客为主 乘隙插足,扼其主机,渐之进也。 Strategy Twenty-Five Steal the Beams and Change the Pillars Change the enemy’s formation frequently, dislocate its main force and deal the blow when it tends toward defeat. Stop the wheel. Strategy Twenty-Six Point at the

Strategy Twenty-Five Steal the Beams and Change the Pillars ~ 《三十六计》(并战计) with English Translations Read More »

Su Shi: On Duty at Court on New Year’s Eve ~ 苏轼·《除夜直都厅,囚系皆满。日暮不得返舍,因题一诗于壁。》 with English Translations

熙宁四年作。此诗作者于元祐五年(一〇九〇)守杭州时有自和诗,题云:“熙宁中,轼守此郡,除夜直都厅,囚系皆满,日暮不得返舍,因题一诗于壁,今二十年矣!衰病之余,后忝郡寄,再经除夜,庭事萧然,三圄皆空。盖同僚之力,非拙朽所致,因和前篇……。”这就是“前篇”,题目是我从作后题中摘出的。 苏轼·《除夜直都厅,囚系皆满。日暮不得返舍,因题一诗于壁。》 除日当早归,官事乃见留。 执笔对之泣,哀此系中囚。 小人营糇粮,堕网不知羞。 我亦恋薄禄,因循失归休。 不须论贤愚,均是为食谋。 谁能暂纵谴,闵默愧前修。 On Duty at Court on New Year’s Eve Su Shi On New Year’s Eve, I should go home early. But am by official duties detained. With tears in my eyes I hold my brush, And feel sorry for those in chains. The poor are trying to make

Su Shi: On Duty at Court on New Year’s Eve ~ 苏轼·《除夜直都厅,囚系皆满。日暮不得返舍,因题一诗于壁。》 with English Translations Read More »

Yuan Hongdao: Yamen Runners Pressganging Fishermen on a River ~ 袁宏道·《江上见数渔舟为公卒所窘》 with English Translations

《江上见数渔舟为公卒所窘》是明朝的袁宏道写的一首五言绝句。诗中前两句描写了黎明时分鱼竿上的霜以及沾满了芦苇花绒单薄的衣服渔翁的凄苦景象;后两句记叙了渔夫身后,没有在官府登记的土地也被官差收回的社会现状。表达了作者对不公社会的愤怒和对积贫积弱生活窘破底层人民的同情。 袁宏道·《江上见数渔舟为公卒所窘》 钓竿拂晓霜,衣薄芦花絮。 一亩不籍官,也被官差去。 Yamen Runners Pressganging Fishermen on a River Yuan Hongdao They go fishing at dawn amid frost, Wearing clothes thinly padded with reed catkins. Though there is not a mu of land registered as theirs, They are drafted to do unpaid services all the same.

Yuan Hongdao: Yamen Runners Pressganging Fishermen on a River ~ 袁宏道·《江上见数渔舟为公卒所窘》 with English Translations Read More »

《道德经》(第七十五章) with English Translations

此章经旨,是言在上者治世不善,而导致了民之难治。为君者食民税太多,致使民饥饿;在上者贪求荣华享受,下民仿效而皆求厚生,反而误入了轻生死地。这是治世者造成的恶果。本章是承上章”民不畏死,奈何以死惧之”而申言之。民之所以愚昧,治之所以为难,其责在上不在下。圣人治世,无事而民自富,无欲而民自朴,无为而民自化,好静而民自立,故而绝无”税多民饥”、”有为难治”、”厚生轻死”之类事。在上者为政清廉,以德自守,不以多事扰民;在下者就会以德化心,清静无欲,乐于其生。此便是”贤于贵生”之义。在上者若厚其生,下民皆效而仿之。为了厚生,便轻举妄动,乃至触犯刑律,轻弃其生。太上因当时世俗之弊,故而提出”贤于贵生”的期盼。这对当今社会,其意义尤为深远。 《道德经》(第七十五章) 民之饥, 以其上食税之多, 是以饥。 民之难治, 以其上之有为, 是以难治。 民之轻死, 以其上求生之厚, 是以轻死。 夫唯无以生为者, 是贤于贵生。 Chapter 75(Victor H. Mair 译) Human hunger is the result of overtaxation. For this reason, There is hunger. The common people are not governable because of their superiors’ actions. For this reason, They are not governable. The people make light of death

《道德经》(第七十五章) with English Translations Read More »

《道德经》(第七十四章) with English Translations

本章经旨,是说对待恶人,当立道德以教化,以天理恪除其恶心,使其化恶为善,根除顽恶之性,这才是治本之法。若只用刑杀,不教化其心,其死既不畏,又有何法再加乎?故治国之道,罚之以刑,不如教之以理;杀之其身,不如化之其心,使愚顽之徒转昧为明,知天理昭昭,良心不可逆违。此章通篇宗旨,在于教化世人要以德为本,不可主次颠倒,不可舍本逐末。无论治国治家治身,皆同此理,不可断章取义。 《道德经》(第七十四章) 民不畏死, 奈何以死惧之。 若使民常畏死, 而为奇者, 吾得执而杀之, 孰敢? 常有司杀者杀。 夫代司杀者杀, 是谓代大匠斫, 希有不伤其手者矣。 Chapter 74(Victor H. Mair 译) If the people never fear death, what is the purpose of threatening to kill them? If the people ever fear death, and I were to capture and kill those who are devious, who would dare to be so?

《道德经》(第七十四章) with English Translations Read More »

刘蓉·《习惯说》 with English Translations

刘蓉(1816~1873)字孟容,号霞轩,湖南湘乡人,清朝湘军将领、桐城派古文家,官至陕西巡抚。其代表作为《养晦堂文集》等。《习 惯说》选自刘蓉《养晦堂诗文集》。这篇文章主要采用了记叙和议论的表达方式,揭示的道理是,对于一个人来说,无论是培养好习惯,还是克服坏习惯,都应该从 少年时期开始;因为这个时期,是形成各种习惯的最初阶段,培养好习惯不容易,克服坏习惯也不容易。正如文中所说的:“故君子之学,贵于慎始。”而一个人在 学习时,初始阶段的习惯也非常重要,君子求学,贵在慎重地对待开始阶段的习惯养成。 刘蓉·《习惯说》 蓉少时,读书养晦堂之西偏一室,俯而读,仰而思,思有弗得辄起,绕室以旋。室有洼,径尺,浸淫日广。每履之,足若踬焉。既久,而遂安之。 一日,先君子来室中坐,语之,顾而笑曰:“一室之不治,何以天下家国为?”顾谓童子取土平之。 后蓉复履其地,蹶然以惊,如土忽隆起者。俯视,地坦然,则既平矣。已而复然,又久而后安之。 噫!习之中人甚矣哉!足之履平地,而不与洼适也;及其久,则洼者若平;至使久而即乎其故,则反窒焉而不宁。故君子之学贵乎慎始。 When I was young I studied in a western chamber of the Obscurity House. Sometimes I bent down to read; sometimes I looked up to think. When I could not, after much thinking, figure out the meaning of what I was reading, I rose to my

刘蓉·《习惯说》 with English Translations Read More »

Feng Xiaoqing: My Reflection in Spring Waters ~ 冯小青·《春水照影》 with English Translations

冯小青,名玄玄,字小青。明万历年间南直隶扬州(今属江苏)人。嫁杭州豪公子冯通为妾。讳同姓,仅以字称。工诗词,解音律。为大妇所妒,徙居孤山别业。亲戚劝其改嫁,不从,凄怨成疾,命画师画像自奠而卒,年十八。近现代著名学者潘光旦先生曾著同名传记《冯小青》。 冯小青·《春水照影》 新妆竟与画图争,知在昭阳第几名? 瘦影自怜秋水照,卿须怜我我怜卿。 My Reflection in Spring Waters Feng Xiaoqing After making up I look like a lady in a painting; I wonder what chance I have of becoming a queen. I betake myself to spring waters and look at my lean reflection: Oh my shadow, you must love me as much as I

Feng Xiaoqing: My Reflection in Spring Waters ~ 冯小青·《春水照影》 with English Translations Read More »

《菜根谭》(天理路广、人欲路窄) with English Translations

“天理路广、人欲路窄”出自《菜根谭》,《菜根谭》是元末明初道人洪应明收集编著的一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录世集。本段大意:追求自然真理的正道非常宽广,稍微用心追求,就感觉心胸坦荡开朗;追求个人欲望的邪道非常狭窄,刚一跻身于次,就发现眼前布满了荆棘泥泞,寸步难行。 《菜根谭》(天理路广、人欲路窄) 天理路上甚宽,稍游心,胸中便觉广大宏朗;人欲路上甚窄,才寄迹,眼前俱荆棘泥涂。 The path of heavenly principles is wide. One you set your foot on this path, it takes only a bit of hard thinking for you to become fully enlightened. The path of human desire is narrow. Once you venture onto it you will see nothing but brambles and mud.(保罗·怀特 译) The path

《菜根谭》(天理路广、人欲路窄) with English Translations Read More »

《菜根谭》(杀气寒薄,和气福厚) with English Translations

“杀气寒薄,和气福厚”出自《菜根谭》,《菜根谭》是元末明初道人洪应明收集编著的一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录世集。本段大意:大自然四季运转,春夏和暖万物就获得生长,秋冬寒冷万物就丧失生机。做人的道理也和大自然一样,一个性情高做冷漠的人,他所能得到的福分自 然就淡薄;只有那些个性温和而又热情助人的人,他获得的福分不但丰厚, 他的官位也会久长。 《菜根谭》(杀气寒薄,和气福厚) 天地之气,暖则生,寒则杀。故性气清冷者,受享亦凉薄。唯和气热心之人,其福也厚,其泽也长。 When the essence which pervades nature is warm it promotes the growth of the myriad things. When it is cold it tends to destroy the vitality of the myriad things. Therefore, when a man is cold in nature he receives little in the way of enjoyment. On the other hand,

《菜根谭》(杀气寒薄,和气福厚) with English Translations Read More »