Chinese Classical Literature

To “Ch’üeh T’a Chih” (IV) by Feng Yen-ssu ~ 冯延巳·《鹊踏枝·花外寒鸡》 with English Translations

《鹊踏枝·花外寒鸡》是唐代词人冯延巳创作的一首词。冯延巳是五代十国时期著名词人、宰相。仕于南唐烈祖、中主二朝,三度拜相,官终太子太傅,卒谥忠肃。他的词多写闲情逸致,文人的气息很浓,对北宋初期的词人有比较大的影响。宋初《钓矶立谈》评其“学问渊博,文章颖发,辩说纵横”,有词集《阳春集》传世。 冯延巳·《鹊踏枝·花外寒鸡》 花外寒鸡天欲曙, 香印成灰, 起坐浑无绪。 檐际高桐凝宿雾, 卷帘双鹊惊飞去。 屏上罗衣闲绣缕, 一晌关情, 忆遍江南路。 夜夜梦魂休谩语, 已知前事无寻处。 To “Ch’üeh T’a Chih” (IV) Feng Yen-ssu Beyond the blossoms, cold cockcrow, the day about to dawn: Incense cakes have turned to ashes; Up or at rest, I am utterly distracted. Tall phoenix trees at the edge of the eaves transfix the overnight […]

To “Ch’üeh T’a Chih” (IV) by Feng Yen-ssu ~ 冯延巳·《鹊踏枝·花外寒鸡》 with English Translations Read More »

To “Ch’üeh T’a Chih” (III) by Feng Yen-ssu ~ 冯延巳·《鹊踏枝·秋入蛮蕉》 with English Translations

《鹊踏枝·秋入蛮蕉风半裂》是唐代词人冯延巳创作的一首词。冯延巳是五代十国时期著名词人、宰相。仕于南唐烈祖、中主二朝,三度拜相,官终太子太傅,卒谥忠肃。他的词多写闲情逸致,文人的气息很浓,对北宋初期的词人有比较大的影响。宋初《钓矶立谈》评其“学问渊博,文章颖发,辩说纵横”,有词集《阳春集》传世。 冯延巳·《鹊踏枝·秋入蛮蕉》 秋入蛮蕉风半裂, 狼籍池塘, 雨打疏荷折。 绕砌蛬声芳草歇, 愁肠学尽丁香结。 回首西南看晚月, 孤雁来时, 塞管声呜咽。 历历前欢无处说, 关山何日休离别。 To “Ch’üeh T’a Chih” (III) Feng Yen-ssu Autumn has come to banana leaves, blown now half to shreds; Tattered and torn, the ponds and pools, Where rain beats down and breaks off scattered lotus. Around the steps the cries of crickets die away

To “Ch’üeh T’a Chih” (III) by Feng Yen-ssu ~ 冯延巳·《鹊踏枝·秋入蛮蕉》 with English Translations Read More »

To “Ch’üeh T’a Chih” (II) by Feng Yen-ssu ~ 冯延巳·《鹊踏枝·谁道闲情》 with English Translations

《鹊踏枝·谁道闲情抛掷久》是五代十国时期南唐词人冯延巳的词作。此词以细腻、敏锐的笔触,描写闲情的苦恼不能解脱。上阕紧扣首句提出的复杂矛盾的心情回环反复,表现内心感情的痛苦纠结;下阕进一步抒发这种与时常新、难以排解的闲情愁绪。全词语言清丽流转,感情深致含蓄,写尽了一个“愁”字。 冯延巳·《鹊踏枝·谁道闲情》 谁道闲情抛掷久, 每到春来, 惆怅还依旧。 日日花前常病酒, 不辞镜里朱颜瘦。 河畔青芜堤上柳, 为问新愁, 何事年年有? 独立小楼风满袖, 平林新月人归后。 To “Ch’üeh T’a Chih” (II) Feng Yen-ssu Who would have thought a carefree heart could be cast away for ever? Ever year when spring arrives, Sorrow and remorse abide unchanged. In bygone days beside the blossoms I was always drunk on wine; Oh,

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I Step Forward But Hold My Tongue by Hanshan ~ 寒山·《花上黄莺子》 with English Translations

寒山:唐代著名高僧,长住天台山客岩幽窟中。与拾得、丰干皆隐栖天台山国清寺,故称“国清三隐”。寒山好峰谤唱偈,每有篇句,即题于石间树上。寥山诗有鲜明的乐府民歌风,通俗易懂,机趣昂然,多作佛门警世语。全唐诗汇编成《寒山子诗阜》一卷,收录诗歌三百余首。 寒山·《花上黄莺子》 花上黄莺子,关关声可怜。 美人颜似玉,对此弄鸣弦。 玩之能不足,眷恋在龆年。 花飞鸟亦散,洒泪秋风前。 I Step Forward But Hold My Tongue Hovering over the spring flowers, A golden oriole trills its aubade. Nearby, a lovely girl, jade-complected, replies, Her fingers lingering on the zither’s strings. She would play forever, she believes: Such are the love-thoughts of her spring years. But let the petals

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The Mansion of Willowby Liu Dakui ~ 刘大魁·《游万柳堂记》 with English Translations

《游万柳堂记》 是清代文学大家刘大櫆创作的一篇游记散文。这篇散文第一段是叙述部分的前导,说明富贵人家修建林园别墅是没有什么意义的。中间两段是记叙,以精练的笔触叙写了三次游览万柳堂的情况。最后一段写万柳堂的变化,进一步引起作者的议论。这篇文章采用了夹叙夹议的写法,层次清楚,主题思想明确。 刘大魁·《游万柳堂记》 昔之人贵极富溢,则往往为别馆以自娱,穷极土木之工而无所爱惜。既成,则不得久居其中,偶一至焉而已,有终身不得至者焉。而人之得久居其中者,力又不足以为之。夫贤公卿勤劳王事,固将不暇于此;而卑庸者类欲以此震耀其乡里之愚。 临朐相国冯公,其在廷时无可訾,亦无可称。而有园在都城之东南隅。其广三十亩,无杂树,随地势之高下,尽植以柳,而榜其堂曰”万柳之堂”。短墙之外,骑行者可望而见其中。径曲而深,因其洼以为池,而累其土以成山;池旁皆兼葭,云水萧疏可爱。 雍正之初,予始至京师,则好游者咸为予言此地之胜。一至,犹稍有亭榭。再至,则向之飞梁架于水上者,今欹卧于水中矣。三至,则凡其所植柳,斩焉无一株之存。 人世富贵之光荣,其与时升降,盖略与此园等。然则士苟有以自得,宜其不外慕乎富贵。彼身在富贵之中者,方殷忧之不暇,又何必朘民之膏以为苑囿也哉! The Mansion of Willow Liu Dakui When people in the past became extremely exalted and rich, they would build garden villas for their pleasure, exhausting all the superb workmanship of the building craft, sparing nothing within their reach. But after the completion of the villas, they could not

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Hanshan: I Considered Painting Two Flowers ~ 寒山·《重岩我卜居》 with English Translations

寒山:唐代著名高僧,长住天台山客岩幽窟中。与拾得、丰干皆隐栖天台山国清寺,故称“国清三隐”。寒山好峰谤唱偈,每有篇句,即题于石间树上。寥山诗有鲜明的乐府民歌风,通俗易懂,机趣昂然,多作佛门警世语。全唐诗汇编成《寒山子诗阜》一卷,收录诗歌三百余首。 寒山·《重岩我卜居》 重岩我卜居,鸟道绝人迹。 庭际何所有,白云抱幽石。 住兹凡几年,屡见春冬易。 寄语钟鼎家,虚名定无益。 I Considered Painting Two Flowers Perhaps wind and rain etch my life in the cliffs, Or the birds record my solitary promenades. My courtyard? Clouds and tumbled stone. Winter melts into forests year by year, And I number each spring quietly. Below me great men cast bronze bells, Carve

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Lu Chi: On Originality ~ 陆机·《文赋·戒雷同》 with English Translations

《文赋》是晋代陆机的文艺理论作品。该赋序言说明创作缘由和意图,指出“意不称物,文不逮意”的困惑,认为对写作的认识,虽然可以借览前人的经验,但主要靠个人在实践中摸索。 陆机·《文赋·戒雷同》 或藻思绮合,清丽千眠。炳若缛绣,凄若繁弦。必所拟之不殊,乃暗合乎曩篇。虽杼轴於予怀,怵佗人之我先。苟伤廉而愆义,亦虽爱而必捐。 On Originality Lu Chi The mind weaves elaborate tapestries with elegant, multicolored foliage. The composition must move the heart like music from an instrument with many strings. There are no new ideas, only those that rhyme with certain classics. The shuttle has worked in my heart as it worked the hearts of

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Liu Zai: Telltale Behaviour ~ 《刘宰》·《增补智囊补》 with English Translations

刘宰(1167—1240)字平国,号漫塘病叟,镇江金坛(今属江苏)人 。绍熙元年(1190)举进士。历任州县,有能声。寻告归。理宗立,以为籍田令。迁太常丞,知宁国府,皆辞不就。端平间,时相收召誉望略尽,不能举者仅宰与崔与之二人。隐居三十年,于书无所不读。既卒,朝廷嘉其节,谥文清。宰为文淳古质直,著有《京口耆旧传》九卷、《漫塘文集》三十六卷,《四库总目》又作有语录,并传于世。 大意:刘宰为泰兴令时,当地百姓报案遗失金钗。案发现场只有主人的两名仆妾在,经过审讯,两人矢口否认行窃。刘宰命两人分别各拿一只葫芦,说:“这葫芦有灵,如果不曾偷取金钗,明天葫芦的大小不会改变;若是偷了金钗,那手上的葫芦就会长大两寸。”第二天刘宰命两人各自拿着葫芦前来,其中一只不变,另外一只却少了两寸,原来那偷金钗的仆妾害怕葫芦长大,所以事先切去两寸。 《刘宰》·《增补智囊补》 宋刘宰为泰兴令,民有亡金钗者,唯二仆妇在。讯之莫肯承,宰命各持一芦去,曰:”不盗者,明日芦自若,果盗明旦则必长二寸。”明视之则一自若,一去芦二寸矣。盖虑其长也,盗遂服。 Telltale Behaviour When Liu Zai was the Magistrate of Taixing District, the loss of a golden hairpin was reported to him. Only two women working as servants were present at the scene. Upon being cross-examined neither admitted to stealing the hairpin. Liu Zai ordered them each to take a reed

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Zhu Shuzhen: A Vehicle for My Feelings [first of two poems] ~朱淑真·《寓怀二首·其一》 with English Translations

朱淑真(约1135~约1180),号幽栖居士,宋代女诗人,亦为唐宋以来留存作品最丰盛的女作家之一。南宋初年时在世,祖籍歙州(治今安徽歙县),《四库全书》中定其为“浙中海宁人”,一说浙江钱塘(今浙江杭州)人。生于仕宦之家。夫为文法小吏,因志趣不合,夫妻不睦,终致其抑郁早逝。又传淑真过世后,父母将其生前文稿付之一炬。其余生平不可考,素无定论。 朱淑真·《寓怀二首·其一》 淡月疏云九月天,醉霜危叶坠江寒。 孤窗镇日无聊赖,编辑诗词改抹看。 A Vehicle for My Feelings [first of two poems] Zhu Shuzhen Pale moon, sparse clouds, the sky in the ninth month. Reckless leaves drunk with frost fall into the chill river. Alone by the window, I pass a day of boredom and lethargy, Editing my poems and songs, experimenting with words

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Zhu Shuzhen: The Double Ninth ~ 朱淑真·《九日》 with English Translations

《九日》是宋朝朱淑真的诗作。朱淑真(约1135~约1180),号幽栖居士,宋代女诗人,亦为唐宋以来留存作品最丰盛的女作家之一。南宋初年时在世,祖籍歙州(治今安徽歙县),《四库全书》中定其为“浙中海宁人”,一说浙江钱塘(今浙江杭州)人。生于仕宦之家。夫为文法小吏,因志趣不合,夫妻不睦,终致其抑郁早逝。又传淑真过世后,父母将其生前文稿付之一炬。其余生平不可考,素无定论。 朱淑真·《九日》 去年九月愁何恨,重上心来益断肠。 秋色夕阳俱淡薄,闺情离思共凄凉。 征鸿有序全无信,黄菊多情更有香。 自觉年来清瘦了,懒将鸾镜照容光。 The Double Ninth Zhu Shuzhen Last year on the Double Ninth I thought my sorrow knew no bounds. This year it breaks my heart still more. Autumn tints and setting sun both pale and weak; Trace of tears, thoughts of parting both chill and bleak. Though the migrating geese

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