Chinese Classical Literature

Po Chü-I: Wandering at Cloud-Dwelling Monastery ~ 白居易·《游云居寺·赠穆三十六地主》 with English Translations

《游云居寺赠穆三十六地主》是唐代诗人白居易创作的一首七言绝句。白居易(772—846),字乐天,晚年号香山居士。贞元十六年进士,元和年间任左拾遗及左赞善大夫。后因上表请求缉拿刺死宰相武元衡的凶手,得罪权贵,被贬为江州司马。后官至刑部尚书,在文学上,主张“文章合为时而著,歌诗合为事而作”,是新乐府运动的倡导者。其诗通俗易懂,相传其诗作要老妪听懂为止。与元稹并称“元白”,与刘禹锡首开中唐文人倚声填词之风。有《白氏长庆集》。 白居易·《游云居寺·赠穆三十六地主》 乱峰深处云居路,共踏花行独惜春。 胜地本来无定主,大都山属爱山人。 Wandering at Cloud-Dwelling Monastery Po Chü-I Deep beneath a confusion of peaks, wandering among wildflowers together on Cloud-Dwelling Road, we alone cherish all this spring. It’s hard of such beauty, and there’s never been lord or master here. Mountain realms are themselves a mountain monk’s tender welcome. (David Hinton 译)

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Zhu Xi: Portraits ~ 朱熹·《送郭拱辰序》 with English Translations

《送郭拱辰序》是南宋朱熹所作的一篇序文。该文文词峻洁而含义颇深,篇幅精粹而意善转折。作者先写郭君画技高超,烘托出其“麇鹿之姿,林野之性”。后写他将出游,欲画隐君子之形以归,而以郭君不能从行为憾,隐约透露出国土日蹙、贤人在野之意。语短意隽,余韵无穷。 朱熹·《送郭拱辰序》 世之传神写照者,能稍得其形似,已得称为良工。今郭君拱辰叔瞻,乃能并与其精神意趣而尽得之,斯亦奇矣。 予顷见友人林择之、游诚之称其为人,而招之不至。今岁惠然来自昭武,里中士夫数人欲观其能,或一写而肖,或稍稍损益,卒无不似,而风神气韵,妙得其天致,有可笑者。为予作大小二像,宛然麋鹿之姿,林野之性。持以示人,计虽相闻而不相识者,亦有以知其为余也。 然予方将东游雁荡,窥龙湫,登玉霄,以望蓬莱,西历麻源,经玉笥,据祝融之绝顶,以临洞庭风涛之壮;北出九江,上庐阜,入虎溪,访陶翁之遗迹;然后归而思自休焉。彼当有隐君子者,世人所不得见,而予幸将见之,欲图其形以归。而郭君以岁晚思亲,不能久从予游矣。予于是有遗恨焉。因其告行,书以为赠。 Portraits Zhu Xi It has always been considered first-class work in portrait painting, even for the most skilful artist, when the result is a likeness, more or less exact, of the mere features. Such skill is now possessed by Kuo Kung-ch’en; but what is still more marvelous, he catches the

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Mao His-chen: “Song of Ho Man-tzu” (Ho Man-tzu)(II) ~ 毛熙震·《何满子·其二》 with English Translations

毛熙震,约公元九四七年前后在世]字不详,蜀人。生卒年均不详,约后晋高祖天福中前后在世。曾为后蜀秘书监。熙震善为词,今存二十九首,(见《唐五代词》)辞多华丽。 毛熙震·《何满子·其二》 无语残妆淡薄, 含羞亸袂轻盈。 几度香闺眠过晓, 绮窗疏日微明。 云母帐中偷惜, 水晶枕上初惊。 笑靥嫩疑花坼, 愁眉翠敛山横。 相望只教添怅恨, 整鬟时见纤琼。 独倚朱扉闲立, 谁知别有深情? “Song of Ho Man-tzu” (Ho Man-tzu)(II) Mao His-chen She does not speak, her make-up is smudged and thin. She is shyly timid, her sleeves hang light and easy. How often in her fragrant rooms has he slept past dawn? The morning

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Mao His-chen: “Song of Ho Man-tzu” (Ho Man-tzu)(I) ~ 毛熙震·《何满子·其一》 with English Translations

毛熙震,约公元九四七年前后在世]字不详,蜀人。生卒年均不详,约后晋高祖天福中前后在世。曾为后蜀秘书监。熙震善为词,今存二十九首,(见《唐五代词》)辞多华丽。 毛熙震·《何满子·其一》 寂寞芳菲暗度, 岁华如箭堪惊。 缅想旧欢多少事, 转添纯思难平。 曲栏丝垂金柳, 小窗弦断银筝。 深院空间燕语, 满院闲落花轻。 一片相思休不得, 忍教长日愁生。 谁见夕阳孤梦, 觉来无限伤情。 “Song of Ho Man-tzu” (Ho Man-tzu)(I) Mao His-chen She is disconsolate that her youth is slipping away. The years pass with the startling speed of an arrow. She thinks of lost joys, so much rushes back to memory. Her ever-rising desire

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Du Fu: Autumn Moods(1) VI ~ 杜甫·《秋兴·其六》 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·其六》 瞿塘峡口曲江头,万里风烟接素秋。 花萼夹城通御气,芙蓉小苑入边愁。 珠帘绣柱围黄鹄,锦缆牙墙起白鸥。 回首可怜歌舞地,秦中自古帝王州。 Autumn Moods(1) VI Du Fu From this gorge to where the river winds past the palaces, A thousand leagues of storm and smoke under the autumn sky. Oh, that imperial splendour in Calyx Tower and Hibiscus Park(2) Should pale before the flames of the Tartar rebellion! Time was when

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Yu Xuanji: Hearing a Friend Has Returned from a Fishing Trip ~ 鱼玄机·《闻李端公垂钓回寄赠》 with English Translations

《闻李端公垂钓回寄赠》是唐代女诗人鱼玄机的作品。此诗前二句写女主人公担心夏天在荷塘垂钓的李端公回不了家;后二句写希望自己是鸳鸯,可以在垂钓处与李端公相陪伴。全诗情感表白大胆,充分体现了鱼玄机浪漫豪放的诗风。 鱼玄机·《闻李端公垂钓回寄赠》 无限荷香染暑衣,阮郎何处弄船归。 自惭不及鸳鸯侣,犹得双双近钓矶。 Hearing a Friend Has Returned from a Fishing Trip Yu Xuanji An endless stretch of lotuses— their scent perfumes my summer dress; where have you been, my friend, where have you sailed your boat? I only regret I cannot be one of the Mandarin ducks; at least I’d be able to

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Yu Xuanji: Bedroom Lament ~ 鱼玄机·《闺怨》 with English Translations

《闺怨》是唐代女诗人鱼玄机创作的一首七言律诗。该诗首联写思妇盼望归人,眼泪汪汪等到傍晚,结果是“闻道邻家夫婿归”;颔、颈二联说四时轮回,光阴荏苒,怨相思永续不变,哀信息久候不见;尾联谓自己久盼的人不到家,思妇的情绪自然是更加倍感孤独凄凉。全诗情景交融,表现出女子孤零零一人黯然神伤的情绪。 鱼玄机·《闺怨》 蘼芜盈手泣斜晖,闻道邻家夫婿归。 别日南鸿才北去,今朝北雁又南飞。 春来秋去相思在,秋去春来信息稀。 扃闭朱门人不到,砧声何事透罗帏。 Bedroom Lament Yu Xuanji Fragrant grass fills her hands as she weeps in the setting sun; she heard that the neighbor’s man has just come back from the front. Swans of the south had only gone north just the other day; now northern geese are flying south on this

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Yu Xuanji: Mourning for Another ~ 鱼玄机·《代人悼亡》 with English Translations

鱼玄机,女,晚唐诗人,长安(今陕西西安)人。初名鱼幼微,字蕙兰。咸通(唐懿宗年号,860—874)中为补阙李亿妾,以李妻不能容,进长安咸宜观出家为女道士。后被京兆尹温璋以打死婢女之罪名处死。鱼玄机性聪慧,有才思,好读书,尤工诗。与李冶、薛涛、刘采春并称唐代四大女诗人。鱼玄机其诗作现存五十首,收于《全唐诗》。有《鱼玄机集》一卷。其事迹见《唐才子传》等书。 鱼玄机·《代人悼亡》 曾睹夭桃想玉姿,带风杨柳认蛾眉。 珠归龙窟知谁见,镜在鸾台话向谁。 从此梦悲烟雨夜,不堪吟苦寂寥时。 西山日落东山月,恨想无因有了期。 Mourning for Another Yu Xuanji Fresh peaches I have seen remind me of her delicate form; in windswept willows I recognize her feathery, moth-like brows. The pearl has returned to the dragon cave; who will see her now? The mirror’s still here, but the phoenix is gone; how can

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Yu Xuanji: To a Friend, Feeling in Late Spring ~ 鱼玄机·《暮春有感寄友人》 with English Translations

暮春时期,诗人独自一人生活,在一个将晓未晓的凌晨被黄莺的鸣声惊醒,于是起床走出房间,看到窗外的景色,诗人感觉心情压抑,想起了一些事情,于是写下了这首诗。 鱼玄机·《暮春有感寄友人》 莺语惊残梦,轻妆改泪容。 竹阴初月薄,江静晚烟浓。 湿觜衔泥燕,香须采蕊蜂。 独怜无限思,吟罢亚枝松。 To a Friend, Feeling in Late Spring Yu Xuanji The chatter of the nightingale disrupts fragmented dreams; a light dusting of powder hides a face tear-stained. In the shadow of bamboos, the early moon is thin; over the quiet of the river, the evening mist is thick. Wetting its

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Yu Xuanji: Rhyming with a Friend ~ 鱼玄机·《和友人次韵》 with English Translations

鱼玄机,女,晚唐诗人,长安(今陕西西安)人。初名鱼幼薇,字蕙兰。咸通(唐懿宗年号,860—874)中为补阙李亿妾,以李妻不能容,进长安咸宜观出家为女道士。与文学家温庭筠为忘年交,唱和甚多。后被京兆尹温璋以打死婢女之罪名处死。鱼玄机性聪慧,有才思,好读书,尤工诗。与李冶、薛涛、刘采春并称唐代四大女诗人。其诗作现存五十首,收于《全唐诗》。有《鱼玄机集》一卷。其事迹见《唐才子传》等书。 鱼玄机·《和友人次韵》 何事能销旅馆愁,红笺开处见银钩。 蓬山雨洒千峰小,嶰谷风吹万叶秋。 字字朝看轻碧玉,篇篇夜诵在衾裯。 欲将香匣收藏却,且惜时吟在手头。 Rhyming with a Friend Yu Xuanji What can melt away the melancholy of lodging at an inn? When I open the red notepaper, I see the fine lines of your writing. Rain sprinkles Penglai all other peaks grow small, The wind blows in Xie Valley myriad leaves touched by

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