Chinese Classical Literature

Zhu Shuzhen: Qingping yue: Going to the Lake on a Summer’s Day ~ 朱淑真·《清平乐·夏日游湖》 with English Translations

《清平乐·夏日游湖》是宋代朱淑真创作的一首词。这首词描写作者和情人夏日幽会、情意缠绵缱绻的过程。上片写女主人公随同恋人一起游湖玩乐的情景。下片写她在玩乐中忘记了一切,回家后又陷入孤寂愁苦的境地。这首词感情表达坦率大胆,充满热情,人物感情十分融洽、真切,把少女热烈的爱情表达淋淋尽致。 朱淑真·《清平乐·夏日游湖》 恼烟撩露, 留我须臾住。 携手藕花湖上路, 一霎黄梅细雨。 娇痴不怕人猜, 和衣睡倒人怀。 最是分携时候, 归来懒傍妆台。 Qingping yue: Going to the Lake on a Summer’s Day Zhu Shuzhen Mist and dew, painfully enticing, For a moment detain me here. On the road beside the lake, we hold hands among the lotus plants: A moment of “yellow plum rain.”(1) I act foolishly, […]

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《群书治要·六韬》 with English Translations

《六韬》是一部集先秦军事思想之大成的著作,《六韬》的基本理论和范畴,主张柔弱胜刚强、韬晦不露和安静玄默等,同时又引用“黄帝”之书,通过周文王、武王与吕望对话的形式,论述治国、治军和指导战争的理论、原则,对后代的军事思想有很大的影响,被誉为是兵家权谋类的始祖。 古代名言翻译 太公曰:”天下有粟。圣人食之。天下有民。圣人收之。天下有物。圣人裁之。利天下者取天下。安天下者有天下。爱天下者久天下。仁天下者化天下。”——《群书治要·六韬》 Jiang Taigong said: “The sage should arrange the distribution of food, accommodate plebs, and rule things in the world. He who fosters the world could get it. He who pacifies the world could hold it. He who loves the world could govern it for a long time. He who is merciful to

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Sailing to the South Lake by Chan Fang-sheng ~ 湛方生·《帆入南湖》 with English Translations

《帆入南湖》是东晋诗人湛方生创作的一首五言古诗。这首诗前四句是对湖光山色的描写,中间两句转入深沉的思考。最后四句,是对宇宙无穷、人生有限的感叹。全诗不仅表现了作者胸襟的廓大,而且抒写出对祖国山川美景由衷的喜悦赞美之情。此诗平易淡远,虽理涉玄机,但有形象,有意境,雄浑开阔,意趣悠远。 湛方生·《帆入南湖》 彭蠡纪三江,庐岳主众阜。 白沙净川路,青松蔚岩首。 此水何时流?此山何时有? 人运互推迁,兹器独长久。 悠悠宇宙中,古今迭先后。 Sailing to the South Lake Chan Fang-sheng P’eng-li commands three rivers. Mount Lu masters other hills. White sand cleans the waterway. Green pines cover hanging crags. This water: since when, its flow? This mountain: since when, its being? Man’s fate changes from this to that! These forms alone

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Hearing a Startled Bird During Stayover at Chin-Ch’ang Pavilion by Li Shang-yin ~ 李商隐·《宿晋昌亭闻惊禽》 with English Translations

《宿晋昌亭闻惊禽》是晚唐诗人李商隐创作的一首七言律诗。此诗作于大中五年深秋赴梓州幕前。首联谓羁人人夜愁悒不眠,偶闻惊起之禽,知是失群之羽。颔联谓惊禽飞来曲渚。暮云方合,来不知其所自来也;过尽南塘.林木深深,去不知其所从去也。颈联谓天下之不堪闻者,不独惊禽,若胡地失群之马。塞上征夫之笛,三峡猿鸣,橘村思妇捣衣之砧声,皆不忍闻也。此以己悲推及天下一切不幸者之悲。末联谓失群者、挂木者,何其多也;即使远隔天涯,亦同病相怜也。黄侃日:“此诗以惊禽兴起己之离绪,以胡马、楚猿陪衬惊禽,通体惟羁绪一句,自道本怀耳。” 李商隐·《宿晋昌亭闻惊禽》 羁绪鳏鳏夜景侵,高窗不掩见惊禽。 飞来曲渚烟方合,过尽南塘树更深。 胡马嘶和榆塞笛,楚猿吟杂橘村砧。 失群挂木知何限,远隔天涯共此心。 Hearing a Startled Bird During Stayover at Chin-Ch’ang Pavilion Li Shang-yin Wayworn: wide sleepless yes. A night scene enters. A high open window reveals a startled bird. It flies to the meandering shore: smoke closes in. It passes the South Pond: trees darken their depth. Tartar horses neigh to

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尔身克正,罔敢弗正; with English Translations

《君牙》,《尚书》篇名,属于《周书》。君牙,人名,曾任周穆王时期大司徒一职。 古代名言翻译 尔身克正,罔敢弗正;民心罔中,惟尔之中。——《尚书·君牙》 If you walk the right way, the people will not dare to walk but the right way. When there is no standard for the people’s minds. What you take account of is their own standard for the people’s minds. What you take account of is their own standard.

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A Farewell to Tung Shao-nan by Han Yu ~ 韩愈·《送董邵南游河北序》 with English Translations

《送董邵南游河北序》是唐代文学家韩愈在唐宪宗元和年间写的一遍序文。对董少南怀才不遇深表同情,而又不赞成他投之藩镇,所以序中隐含有规劝之意。该作品通过对于朋友考不取进士到河北去做官,作序相送。 韩愈·《送董邵南游河北序》 燕赵古称多慷慨悲歌之士。董生举进士,连不得志于有司,怀抱利器,郁郁适兹土。吾知其必有合也。董生勉乎哉! 夫以子之不遇时,苟慕义彊仁者,皆爱惜焉;矧燕、赵之士,出乎其性者哉!然吾尝闻风俗与化移易。吾恶知其今不异于古所云邪?聊以吾子之行卜之也。董生勉乎哉! 吾因子有所感矣!为我吊望诸君之墓,而观于其市,复有昔时屠狗者乎?为我谢曰:”明天子在上,可以出而仕矣!” A Farewell to Tung Shao-nan Han Yu In antiquity the lands of Yen and Chao were known for their many brave men who were filled with noble sentiments and vented their frustrations in song. Recently, Master Tung was recommended for the degree of doctor of letters but was repeatedly rejected

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Reflections in the Autumn V by Du Fu ~ 杜甫·《秋兴·其五》 with English Translations

《秋兴八首》是唐代宗大历元年(766)秋杜甫在夔州时所作的一组七言律诗,因秋而感发诗兴,故曰“秋兴”。杜甫自唐肃宗乾元二年(759)弃官,至当时已历七载,战乱频仍,国无宁日,人无定所,当此秋风萧瑟之时,不免触景生情。持续八年的安史之乱,至广德元年(763)始告结束,而吐蕃、回纥乘虚而入,藩镇拥兵割据,战乱时起,唐王朝难以复兴了。此时,严武去世,杜甫在成都生活失去凭依,遂沿江东下,滞留夔州。诗人晚年多病,知交零落,壮志难酬,在非常寂寞抑郁的心境下创作了这组诗。 杜甫·《秋兴·其五》 蓬莱宫阙对南山,承露金茎霄汉间。 西望瑶池降王母,东来紫气满函关。 云移雉尾开宫扇,日绕龙鳞识圣颜。 一卧沧江惊岁晚,几回青琐点朝班。 Reflections in the Autumn V Du Fu Facing the Zhongnan Mountain the Penlai Palace rises high, With brazen poles upholding the dew-plates to sky.(1) One may descry the Grandmother descending her Fairy Pond, And Lao Zi passing Hanggu Pass with purple mist around.(2) When pheasant-tail-fans move like clouds rolling

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Eight Octaves on Autumnal Musings IV by Du Fu ~ 杜甫·《秋兴·其四》 with English Translations

《秋兴八首》是唐代宗大历元年(766)秋杜甫在夔州时所作的一组七言律诗,因秋而感发诗兴,故曰“秋兴”。杜甫自唐肃宗乾元二年(759)弃官,至当时已历七载,战乱频仍,国无宁日,人无定所,当此秋风萧瑟之时,不免触景生情。持续八年的安史之乱,至广德元年(763)始告结束,而吐蕃、回纥乘虚而入,藩镇拥兵割据,战乱时起,唐王朝难以复兴了。此时,严武去世,杜甫在成都生活失去凭依,遂沿江东下,滞留夔州。诗人晚年多病,知交零落,壮志难酬,在非常寂寞抑郁的心境下创作了这组诗。 杜甫·《秋兴·其四》 闻道长安似弈棋,百年世事不胜悲。 王侯第宅皆新主,文武衣冠异昔时。 直北关山金鼓震,征西车马羽书迟。 鱼龙寂寞秋江冷,故国平居有所思。 Eight Octaves on Autumnal Musings IV Du Fu I’ve heard that things in Chang’an are like chess games: Its events these tens of years are seethed with sorrow. The princely, noble mansions have new masters; All civil and martial chiefs are none of years ago. Right north from passes

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A Farmer’s Cottage by Du Fu ~ 杜甫·《田舍》 with English Translations

《田舍》是唐代诗人杜甫创作的五言律诗。此诗上四句叙写村居的荒僻,下四句状言景物的幽闲,给人们描绘了一幅美丽田园画卷。 杜甫·《田舍》 田舍清江曲,柴门古道旁。 草深迷市井,地僻懒衣裳。 榉柳枝枝弱,枇杷树树香。 鸬鹚西日照,晒翅满鱼梁。 My Cottage Du Fu The limpid river winding by my cottage, The wattled gate opens to the old passage. The trails to market town are deep grass-grown, Living remote, I mind not my shabby gown. The willows swing their strings, so frail and fair; The loquats cluster on trees,

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A Curse ~ 游戏主人·《笑林广记选·骂》 with English Translations

《笑林广记》是一部流传久远、影响深广的通俗笑话总集,语言风趣幽默,文字简练生动,形式短小精悍,堪称中国古代文化宝库中的旷世奇珍。此书作者署名清代“游戏主人”,但其内容并非一人一世所作,而是广大劳动者集体智慧的结晶! 游戏主人·《笑林广记选·骂》 一医为人看病。病家费去多金,竟不起,因恨甚,遣仆往骂。少顷归,问:”曾骂否?”曰:”不曾。”问:”何以不骂?”仆答曰:”要骂要打的人,多得紧在那里,叫我如何挨挤得上?” A Curse After having spent a lot of money on a doctor’s treatment, a patient still couldn’t get up. Filled with loathing and spite, he sent a servant to curse the doctor. After a while, the servant came back. “Have you cursed him?” asked the host. The servant answered, “Not yet.” When

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