Chinese Classical Literature

A Fiery Temper ~ <<籍川笑林>> with English Translations

大意:有一个慢性子的人,冬天与别人围炉取暖,见别人衣服的边角被火烧着了,于是慢吞吞地对那人说:“有一件事,我早就发现了,想对您说,又怕您沉不住气;不对您说,又怕您损失太多,那么到底是说好呢还是不说好呢?”那人问到底是什么事。回答说:“火烧着您的衣服边了。”那人于是赶快把火灭了,对他吼道:“既已发现,为什么不早告诉我?”慢性子人说:“我说您会性急的吧,果不其然!” 《火烧裳尾》 有人性宽缓,冬日共人围炉,见人裳尾为火所烧,乃曰:“有一事,见之已久,欲言之,恐君性急;不言,恐君伤太多,然则言之是耶,不言之是耶?”人问何事,曰:“火烧君裳。”隧收衣火灭,大怒曰:“见之久,何不早道?”其人曰:“我言君性急,果是。” –宋无名氏<<籍川笑林>> A Fiery Temper A group of people were sitting around a stove on a wintry day when one man of phlegmatic temperament suddenly announced to one of those present: “I have noticed something going on for some time now, but have hesitated to tell you, since I know you are hot-tempered. […]

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Meng Haoran: Seeing off Mr. Du to the South China ~ 孟浩然·《送杜十四之江南》 with English Translations

《送杜十四之江南》是唐代诗人孟浩然创作的一首七绝。此诗从写景入笔,通过淼茫春江与孤舟一叶的强烈对照,发出深情一问,对朋友的关切和依恋在这一问中表达得淋漓尽致。诗人遥望渐行渐远的行舟,送行者放眼天涯,极视无见,不禁情如春江,汹涌澎湃。“断人肠”将别情推向高潮,在高潮中结束全诗,离愁别恨,悠然不尽。此诗用散行句式,如行云流水,近歌行体,写得颇富神韵,不独在谋篇造语上出格,自然流畅地表现了诗人对友人的深切怀念,也体现出诗人与友人之间的真挚友谊。 孟浩然·《送杜十四之江南》 荆吴相接水为乡,君去春江正渺茫。 日暮征帆何处泊?天涯一望断人肠。 Seeing off Mr. Du to the South China Meng Haoran The land of Jing borders with kingdom of Wu by water, SpringYangtze is mist-covered when you are away, sir. Towards dusk at where will your boat anchor? I’m heartbroken as I look in the remotest corner.

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Meng Haoran: Asking the Way of a Passenger While Crossing the Qiantang River ~ 孟浩然·《渡浙江问舟中人》 with English Translations

《渡浙江问舟中人》是唐代诗人孟浩然(一作崔国辅)的作品。此诗通过“引领”遥望和向舟中人探问,表现对越地的向往。首句即写“江落潮平”,点明正适宜轻舟快渡,但诗人却“时时引领”遥望,足见心情的急切。末句一问,寄托着对越地山川之美的渴慕。全诗笔调朴素,意境浑融。 孟浩然·《渡浙江问舟中人》 潮落江平未有风,扁舟共济与君同。 时时引领望天末,何处青山是越中? Asking the Way of a Passenger While Crossing the Qiantang River Meng Haoran The tide has receded and wind becomes quiet, Of weal and woe we shall share in a small boat. From time to time at the remote distance I gazed, And where is the Yue State among the hills

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Yang Wan-li: feeling sad for the farmers ~ 杨万里·《悯农》 with English Translations

《悯农》是宋代杨万里创作的一首七言绝句。此诗前两句叙述今年的灾情:由于久早无雨,稻田缺水,秧苗大半枯死;后两句揭示农民忧心如焚的内心活动:本来早已料到今冬要受饥挨饿,谁知偏偏又遇上闰年,日子更难过。此诗语言朴实自然,层层渲染,步步加深,将农民的灾难描写得十分具体、深刻,字里行间流露出诗人同情劳动人民的一片赤诚之心。 杨万里·《悯农》 稻云不雨不多黄,荞麦空花早著霜。 已分忍饥度残岁,不堪岁里闰添长。 feeling sad for the farmers –yang wanli the rice field looks like a rack of clouds but there wasn’t enough rain really the field has turned yellow in the drought and the yellowed ears have not matured an early frost nipped the buckwheat so the farmers will have to suffer but

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Yang Wan-li: Cold Sparrows ~ 杨万里·《麻雀》 with English Translations

南宋诗人杨万里的《寒雀》正是一窗寒雀的意境。冬日的午后,刚刚下过雪,天露出了光亮,推开书房窗户望去。有数不清的麻雀飞到空旷的院子里来,在梅梢上有几只麻雀好像在议论雪停的事。不一会儿,窗外开始聒噪起来,让人心烦意乱。又不知道是什么惊到了它们,突然间,院子又恢复了寂静。由寂静到喧嚣,突然又回归到寂静,从声响上留下余音,衬托出更深一层的静。 杨万里·《麻雀》 百千寒雀下空庭,小集梅梢话晚晴。 特地作团喧杀我,忽然惊散寂无声。 sparrows in winter –yang wanli hundreds of sparrows crowd the empty courtyard in winter they puff in their feathers high on the plum branches they are saying what a fine evening this is what a noise they make to disturb me suddenly they disappear in a startled flock and the world

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Ou-yang Hsiu: At a Grave ~ 欧阳修·《祭石曼卿文》 with English Translations

《祭石曼卿文》为唐宋八大家之一欧阳修所作。是作者为悼念诗友石曼卿而作的一篇祭文。作者避免了一般祭文的呆板格式,内容不是为死者作平生概括,而是通过三呼曼卿,先称赞其声名不朽,再写其死后凄凉,特别是渲染墓地的悲凉景象,表达出作者对死者强烈的哀悼之情。文章大体押韵,句式灵活,情调凄婉,体现出作者真挚的感情。 欧阳修·《祭石曼卿文》 [维治平四年七月日,具官欧阳修,谨遣尚书都省令史李敭至于太清,以清酌庶羞之奠,致祭于亡友曼卿之墓下,而吊之以文曰:] 呜呼曼卿!生而为英,死而为灵。其同乎万物生死,而复归于无物者,暂聚之形;不与万物共尽,而卓然其不朽者,后世之名。此自古圣贤,莫不皆然。而著在简册者,昭如日星。 呜呼曼卿!吾不见子久矣,犹能仿佛子之平生。其轩昂磊落,突兀峥嵘,而埋藏于地下者,意其不化为朽壤,而为金玉之精。不然,生长松之千尺,产灵芝而九茎。奈何荒烟野蔓,荆棘纵横,风凄露下,走磷飞萤;但见牧童樵叟,歌吟而上下,与夫惊禽骇兽,悲鸣踯躅而咿嘤!今固如此,更千秋而万岁兮,安知其不穴藏狐貉与鼯鼪?此自古圣贤亦皆然兮,独不见夫累累乎旷野与荒城! 呜呼曼卿!盛衰之理,吾固知其如此,而感念畴昔,悲凉凄怆,不觉临风而陨涕者,有愧乎太上之忘情。尚飨! At a Grave Ou-yang Hsiu O Man-ch’ing, thy birth gave a hero, thy death a God! Like the vulgar herd thou wast born and didst die, returning to the domain of nothingness. But thy earthly form could not perish like theirs. There was that within which could not decay:

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Xue Tao: A Mirror Separated from Its Stand ~ 薛涛·《镜离台》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·《镜离台》 铸泻黄金镜始开,初生三五月徘徊。 为遭无限尘蒙蔽,不得华堂上玉台。 A Mirror Separated from Its Stand Xue Tao The molten gold was poured, a mirror then appeared, A full moon first rising and hanging in the sky. Because it suffered endless layers of dust and grime, It cannot be set on the stand of jade within the splendid hall.

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Xue Tao: Bamboo Separated from a Pavilion ~ 薛涛·《竹离亭》 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·《竹离亭》 蓊郁新栽四五行,常将劲节负秋霜。 为缘春笋钻墙破,不得垂阴覆玉堂。 Bamboo Separated from a Pavilion Xue Tao Exuberant growth, newly planted, four or five rows, Always bearing strong resolve1 they brave the autumn frost. It was because their springtime shoots pierced holes through the wall, They can no longer cast their shade over the jadelike hall.

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Xue Tao: A Hawk Separated from the Gauntlet ~ 薛涛·《鹰离鞲》 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·《鹰离鞲》 爪利如锋眼似铃,平原捉兔称高情。 无端窜向青云外,不得君王臂上擎。 A Hawk Separated from the Gauntlet Xue Tao Talons sharp as blade-point, eyes like bells, To pounce on hares in the meadow suits its noble mood. By accident it disappeared up beyond blue clouds, No longer will it be lifted upon the ruler’s arm.

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