Chinese Classical Literature

Xue Tao: Sending off Mr. Yao, a Supernumerary ~ 薛涛·《送姚员外》 with English Translations

薛涛(约768~832年),是一个带有传奇色彩的唐代女诗人,字洪度。长安(今陕西西安)人。16岁入乐籍,与韦皋,元稹有过恋情,恋爱期间,薛涛自己制作桃红色小笺用来写诗,后人仿制,称“薛涛笺”。脱乐籍后终身未嫁。成都望江楼公园有薛涛墓” 。薛涛与刘采春,鱼玄机,李冶,并称唐朝四大女诗人。卓文君、薛涛、花蕊夫人、黄娥并称蜀中四大才女。流传至今诗作有90余首。 薛涛·《送姚员外》 万条江柳早秋枝,袅地翻风色未衰。 欲折尔来将赠别,莫教烟月两乡悲。 Sending off Mr. Yao, a Supernumerary Xue Tao Of countless willows one early autumn branch: Wind-swept, earth-draping, its colors remain. I’d break it off to make a farewell gift, So mist and moon at two spots will not feel sad.

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Xue Tao: A Pilgrimage to Wu Mountain Shrine ~ 薛涛·《谒巫山庙》 with English Translations

薛涛(约768~832年),是一个带有传奇色彩的唐代女诗人,字洪度。长安(今陕西西安)人。16岁入乐籍,与韦皋,元稹有过恋情,恋爱期间,薛涛自己制作桃红色小笺用来写诗,后人仿制,称“薛涛笺”。脱乐籍后终身未嫁。成都望江楼公园有薛涛墓” 。薛涛与刘采春,鱼玄机,李冶,并称唐朝四大女诗人。卓文君、薛涛、花蕊夫人、黄娥并称蜀中四大才女。流传至今诗作有90余首。 薛涛·《谒巫山庙》 乱猿啼处访高唐,路入烟霞草木香。 山色未能忘宋玉,水声犹是哭襄王。 朝朝夜夜阳台下,为雨为云楚国亡。 惆怅庙前多少柳,春来空斗画眉长。 A Pilgrimage to Wu Mountain Shrine Xue Tao I visit Gaotang where anarchic apes cry, Where all roads end in mist and fragrant plants. The mountain hues can never forget Song Yu, And water sounds still mourn the Prince of Xiang. Day and night below the Sun-Cloud Terrace

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Xue Tao: Listening to a Monk Playing the Reed Flute ~薛涛·《听僧吹芦管》 with English Translations

薛涛(约768~832年),是一个带有传奇色彩的唐代女诗人,字洪度。长安(今陕西西安)人。16岁入乐籍,与韦皋,元稹有过恋情,恋爱期间,薛涛自己制作桃红色小笺用来写诗,后人仿制,称“薛涛笺”。脱乐籍后终身未嫁。成都望江楼公园有薛涛墓” 。薛涛与刘采春,鱼玄机,李冶,并称唐朝四大女诗人。卓文君、薛涛、花蕊夫人、黄娥并称蜀中四大才女。流传至今诗作有90余首。 薛涛·《听僧吹芦管》 晓蝉鸣咽暮莺愁,言语殷勤十指头。 罢阅梵书劳一弄,散随金磬泥清秋。 Listening to a Monk Playing the Reed Flute Xue Tao Dawn’s sobbing cicadas or sad orioles at night Such earnest speech is of ten digits born. Just play when you have read the Sanskrit tome: It will join gold bells to mix with autumn.

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Xue Tao: Cicadas ~ 薛涛·《蝉》 with English Translations

薛涛(约768~832年),唐代女诗人,字洪度。长安(今陕西西安)人。因父亲薛郧做官而来到蜀地,父亲死后薛涛居于成都。居成都时,成都的最高地方军政长官剑南西川节度使前后更换十一届,大多与薛涛有诗文往来。 薛涛·《蝉》 露涤音清远,风吹故叶齐。 声声似相接,各在一枝栖。 Cicadas Xue Tao Dew drops bathe their clear, distant tones When wind blows together a few leaves. Sound after sound seems closely joined, Though each lives on a different branch. (Anthony C. Yu 译) Cicadas Xue Tao The clear, pure sounds of dripping dew carry far away; withered leaves blown by

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Xue Tao: A Poetic Gift for Someone Viewing Bamboos after Rain ~ 薛涛·《酬人雨后玩竹》 with English Translations

大意:春雨过后的南竹青翠欲滴,美丽动人,怎比得上冬竹经霜历雪、抗冻耐寒的坚贞品质。北竹中空挺拔、独立不移的坚贞秉性。远古帝王舜南巡,葬于苍梧。娥皇、女英为之啼哭,泪下沾竹,竹尽斑。冬天的时候可以赏竹子修直挺拔刚劲,高尚纯洁的贞操。 薛涛·《酬人雨后玩竹》 南天春雨时,那鉴雪霜姿。 众类亦云茂,虚心宁自持。 多留晋贤醉,早伴舜妃悲。 晚岁君能赏,苍苍劲节奇。 A Poetic Gift for Someone Viewing Bamboos after Rain Xue Tao In southern clime and spring rain times, Who could see faces tried by snow? One species, thriving amidst many, Finds strength in true pudicity. A shelter to drunken Jin worthies, It shares the grief of Shun’s consorts. In

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Cao Pi: The Prince of Suiyang’s Daughter ~曹丕·《谈生》 with English Translations

魏文帝曹丕(187年—226年6月29日),字子桓,沛国谯县(今安徽亳州)人。 三国时期著名的政治家、文学家,曹魏开国皇帝(220年-226年在位)。魏武帝曹操次子,与正室卞夫人的嫡长子 曹丕·《谈生》 谈生者,年四十,无妇。常感激读《诗经》。夜半,有女子可年十五六,姿颜服饰,天下无双,来就生为夫妇,乃言:“我与人不同,勿以火照我也。三年之后,方可照。”为夫妻,生一儿,已二岁;不能忍,夜伺其寝后,盗照视之。其腰以上生肉如人,腰下但有枯骨。她。妇觉,遂言曰:“君负我。我垂生矣,何不能忍一岁而竟相照也?”生辞谢,涕泣不可复止。云:“与君虽大义永离,然顾念我儿。若贫不能自偕活者,暂随我去,方遗君物。”生随之去,入华堂,室宇器物非凡。以一珠袍与之,曰:“可以自给。”裂取生衣裾,留之而去。 后,生持袍诣睢阳王家,买之,得钱千万。王识之,曰:“是我女袍,此必发墓。”乃取考之。生具以实对。王犹不信,乃视女冢;冢完如故。发视之,果棺盖下得衣裾。呼其儿,正类王女。王乃信之。即召谈生,复赐遗衣,以为主婿。表其儿以为侍中。 The Prince of Suiyang’s Daughter Cao Pi A scholar named Tan was still unmarried at forty, which distressed him deeply. One night he was studying the Book of Songs at midnight when a girl of about sixteen came in. Her beauty and splendor had no equal on earth, and she

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乐天大笑生·《解愠编·自冻悟亲》 with English Translations

《解愠编》是明代乐天大笑生纂辑、道遥道人校刊的笑话集。 乐天大笑生·《解愠编·自冻悟亲》 党太尉罢衙,见其子裸体缚跪雪中。问之,知其得罪太夫人,因被缚焉。太尉自裸体,命左右缚于儿之旁,母夫人问:“何故如此?”太尉笑曰:“你冻我儿,我冻你儿。” An official named Dang came home from his office and saw his son kneeling in the snow, naked and tied with ropes. He asked what the matter was. He soon learned that his son was tied because he disobeyed his grandma. The official then undressed himself and ordered his followers to tie

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Xiang Ziyin: Orchid—to the melody of Huan Xi Sha ~ 向子諲·《浣溪沙·宝林山间见兰》 with English Translations

向子諲,字伯恭,号芗林居士,临江(今江西清江县)人。哲宗元符三年(1100)以荫补官。徽宗宣和间,累官京畿转运副使兼发运副使。高宗建炎处任迁江淮发运使。素与李纲善,李纲罢相,子湮也落职。起知潭州,次年金兵围潭州,子諲率军民坚守八日。绍兴中,累官户部侍郎,知平江府,因反对秦桧议和,落职居临江,其诗以南渡为界,前期风格绮丽,南渡后多伤时忧国之作。有《酒边词》二卷。 向子諲·《浣溪沙·宝林山间见兰》 绿玉丛中紫玉条, 幽花疏淡更香饶, 不将朱粉污高标。 空谷佳人宜结伴, 贵游公子不能招, 小窗相对诵《离骚》。 Orchid—to the melody of Huan Xi Sha Xiang Ziyin Amidst the green-jade grove are twigs of violet jade, Still more fragrant and fascinating the secluded flower with delicate shade. Taint not loftiness and integrity with rouge-powder decoration. It is decent to enjoy the companionship of the fair

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Lu You: A Tree of Camellia Incessantly Effloresces in Winter and Posteriorly to the Clear and Bright Day ~ 陆游·《山茶一树自冬至清明后著花不已》 with English Translations

《山茶一树自冬至清明後著花不已》是南宋文学家、史学家、爱国诗人陆游的诗作之一。陆游(1125—1210),宋代爱国诗人、词人。字务观,号放翁,越州山阴(今浙江绍兴)人。他具有多方面文学才能,尤以诗的成就为最,在生前即有“小李白”之称,不仅成为南宋一代诗坛领袖,而且在中国文学史上享有崇高地位,存诗9300多首,是文学史上存诗最多的诗人。 陆游·《山茶一树自冬至清明后著花不已》 东园三日雨兼风,桃李飘零扫地空。 惟有山茶偏耐久,绿丛又放数枝红。 A Tree of Camellia Incessantly Effloresces in Winter and Posteriorly to the Clear and Bright Day Lu You The elements raged for three consecutive days, Consequently, the florets of peach and prunus salicina all drift away with the trees denuded of arrays. The tiny camellia alone lasts long with durability, Amid

Lu You: A Tree of Camellia Incessantly Effloresces in Winter and Posteriorly to the Clear and Bright Day ~ 陆游·《山茶一树自冬至清明后著花不已》 with English Translations Read More »

Dao lianzi: Spring Plaint ~ 徐灿·《捣练子·春怨》 with English Translations

这首小令题为《春怨》,字字句句充满了伤春悲春之情。开头”依旧绿”写春草,春风吹友绿;“为谁红”写春花,春来红满枝。如果说“依旧绿”中感情色彩还是中性的、看不出悲是喜的话,那么“为谁红”则已透露出悲伤之情。下一句则是明出花草、明带感伤;“草草花花满泪丛”。这里的“满泪丛”,可以解释为对着一丛丛的绿草、一丛丛的红花,词人泪流满面。最后两句“欲挽游丝萦好梦,一枝啼血洒春空”,则进一步渲染了悲伤的意境。想要挽留美好的梦,结果只是徒劳;因为游丝连无形的风吹都经受不了,用它来缠绕挽留住春,是根本不可能的。索不住好梦,好梦惊破,听子归鸟“一枝啼血洒春空”。子规,相传为蜀帝杜宇的魂魄所化;常夜啼,声音凄切,故借以抒悲苦哀怨之情。将啼出血洒向春空,让愁怨充塞于天地之间。 徐灿·《捣练子·春怨》 依旧绿, 为谁红。 草草花花满泪丛。 欲挽游丝萦好梦, 一枝啼血洒春空。 Dao lianzi: Spring Plaint Verdant as before; Blooming brightly for whom? Grasses and flowers fill a tearful grove. I would hold to the incense smoke and linger in my sweet dream, But a cuckoo cries on a branch, scattering spring away.

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