Chinese Classical Literature

《菜根谭》(穷当益工、不失风雅)with English Translations

《菜根谭》是元末明初道人洪应明收集编著的一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录世集。本节大意:清廉而有容忍的雅量,仁慈而又能当机立断,精明而不防害细察,刚正而又不至执撒,这种道理就像蜜饯虽然浸在糖里即不过分的甜,海产的鱼虾虽然腌在缸里却不过分的咸,一个人要能把持住不偏不倚的尺度才算是处人 做事的美德。 《菜根谭》(穷当益工、不失风雅) 贫家勤扫地,贫女净梳头,景色虽不艳丽,气度自是风雅。士君子一当穷愁寥落,奈何辄自废弛哉? The poor man sweeps his floor until it is spotless. The poor woman combs her hair until it is neat and tidy. Neither produces a wonderful sight, but these actions bespeak a sensibility of elegance. So how can a man of learning get downhearted when he encounters poverty and misfortune, and […]

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《菜根谭》(君子懿德、中庸之道) with English Translations

《菜根谭》是元末明初道人洪应明收集编著的一部论述修养、人生、处世、出世的语录世集。本节大意:清廉而有容忍的雅量,仁慈而又能当机立断,精明而不防害细察,刚正而又不至执撒,这种道理就像蜜饯虽然浸在糖里即不过分的甜,海产的鱼虾虽然腌在缸里却不过分的咸,一个人要能把持住不偏不倚的尺度才算是处人 做事的美德。 《菜根谭》(君子懿德、中庸之道) 清能有容,仁能善断,明不伤察,直不过矫。是谓蜜饯不咸,海味不咸,才是懿德。 To be honest and clean oneself and yet have patience and tolerance towards others; to have a benevolent heart, and yet show discernment at the same time; to have clear insight, and yet have the forbearance to refrain from over-harsh judgements; to be upright and outspoken, and yet have the self-control

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Liu Yanshi: Appreciating Wild Chinese Flowering Quince ~ 刘言史·《看山木瓜花二首》 with English Translations

刘言史,洛阳(今属河南)人,或谓邯郸(今属河北)人。与孟郊友善。王武俊为恒冀邯团练观察使时对他颇为赏识,曾举荐其为枣强县令,他辞疾不就。世重之,仍称”刘枣强”。后李夷简节度汉南时辟为司功椽。工诗,风格近李贺。皮日休撰《刘枣强碑》云:”所有歌诗千首,其荚丽恢赡,自贺外,世莫得比。”《全唐诗》录其诗1卷。或误为王言史。 刘言史·《看山木瓜花二首》 裛露凝氛紫艳新,千般婉娜不胜春。 年年此树花开日,出尽丹阳郭里人。 柔枝湿艳亚朱栏,暂作庭芳便欲残。 深藏数片将归去,红缕金针绣取看。 Appreciating Wild Chinese Flowering Quince Liu Yanshi (1) The charming, fresh and violet florets, bathed in dew and enveloped in vapour, Are too tender and slender to be graced by vernal splendour. Annually on the day of their efflorescence, All the inhabitants in the suburb of Danyang wend out

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《红楼梦》·《灯谜诗二·宝玉》 with English Translations

《灯谜诗·天上人间两渺茫》是曹雪芹在《红楼梦》首诗,是作品中贾宝玉所作,与薛宝钗的《灯谜诗·镂檀镌梓一层层》、林黛玉的《灯谜诗·騄駬何劳缚紫绳》都出自小说第五十回。 《红楼梦》·《灯谜诗二·宝玉》 天上人间两渺茫,琅玕节过谨提防。 鸾音鹤信须凝睇,好把唏嘘答上苍。 Twixt heaven and earth amidst the clouds so high, Bamboo gives warning to the passer-by. Eyes strain some feathered traveler to descry, Who’ll bear my answer back into the sky. (David Hawkes 译) In Heaven and among men, both of vast extent. The red jade festival passes. Be careful to take

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Lu Yu: The Merchant’s Joy ~ 陆游·《估客乐》 with English Translations

陆游(1125—1210),字务观,号放翁。汉族,越州山阴(今浙江绍兴)人,南宋著名诗人。少时受家庭爱国思想熏陶,高宗时应礼部试,为秦桧所黜。孝宗时赐进士出身。中年入蜀,投身军旅生活,官至宝章阁待制。晚年退居家乡。其一生笔耕不辍,今存九千多首,内容极为丰富。与王安石、苏轼、黄庭坚并称”宋代四大诗人”,又与杨万里、范成大、尤袤合称”南宋四大家”。著有《剑南诗稿》、《渭南文集》、《南唐书》、《老学庵笔记》等。 陆游·《估客乐》 长江浩浩蛟龙渊,浪花正白蹴半天。 轲峨大艑望如豆,骇视未定已至前。 帆席云垂大堤外,缆索雷响高城边。 牛车辚辚载宝货,磊落照市人争传。 倡楼呼卢掷百万,旗亭买酒价十千。 公卿姓氏不曾问,安知孰秉中书权。 儒生辛苦望一饱,趑趄光范祈哀怜; 齿摇发脱竟莫顾,诗书满腹身萧然。 自看赋命如纸薄,始知估客人间乐。 The Merchant’s Joy Lu Yu The wide wide Yangtze, dragons in deep pools; wave blossoms, purest white, leap to the sky. The great ship, tall-towered, far off no bigger than a bean; my wondering eyes have not come to rest when it’s here before

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Tang Xianzu: To the Tune of Dielianhua ~ 汤显祖·《蝶恋花》 with English Translations

汤显祖(1550年9月24日—1616年7月29日),江西临川人,字义仍,号海若、若士、清远道人,中国明代戏曲家、文学家。祖籍临川县云山乡,后迁居汤家山(今抚州市)。汤显祖有多方面的成就,而以戏曲创作为最。其戏剧作品《还魂记》、《紫钗记》、《南柯记》和《邯郸记》合称”临川四梦”,其中《还魂记》(即《牡丹亭》)是他的代表作。这些剧作不但为中国人民所喜爱,而且已传播到英、日、德、俄等很多国家,被视为世界戏剧艺术的珍品。其专著《宜黄县戏神清源师庙记》也是中国戏曲史上论述戏剧表演的一篇重要文献,对导演学起了拓荒开路的作用。他还是一位杰出的诗人。诗作有《玉茗堂全集》四卷、《红泉逸草》一卷、《问棘邮草》二卷。 汤显祖·《蝶恋花》 忙处抛人闲处住, 百计思量, 无个为欢处。 白日消磨断肠句, 世间只有情难诉。 玉茗堂前朝复暮, 红烛迎人, 俊得江山助。 但愿相思莫相负, 牡丹亭上三生路。 To the Tune of Dielianhua Tang Xianzu All the men prefer remaining free; Yet howe’er they try, They are as worried as can be. Among the sentimental tales I write, Love is as mysterious as the sea. I write the tale from morning

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Tune: “The Magpie on a Branch” ~ with English Translations

《鹊踏枝·叵耐灵鹊多谩语》是唐五代时期的一首民间词,收录于《敦煌曲子词》。此词写闺中少妇与灵鹊之间的小冲突,含蓄地表达了少妇空闺盼夫的思念之情。这一场小小的冲突,虽然发生于少妇和灵鹊之间,却完全具有人和人之间的性质、意义。上下片采用两种不同的叙事视角,上片以少妇的自述为主,下片以灵鹊的自述为主。全词率性活泼,富有生气,以物拟人手法的运用,显得不事雕饰,朴素自然,逼真入微,情趣横溢。 无名氏·《鹊踏枝》 叵耐灵鹊多谩语, 送喜何曾有凭据。 几度飞来活捉取, 锁上金笼休共语。 比拟好心来送喜, 谁知锁我在金笼里。 欲他征夫早归来, 腾身却放我向青云里。 Tune: “The Magpie on a Branch” Anonymous How can I bear to hear the chattering magpie Announce the happy news on which I can’t rely? So thus I catch it alive when it flies to me again And shut it in a cage where lonely

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《管子·乘马》 with English Translations

《管子·乘马》是春秋时期军事家管仲创作的一篇散文。管子一书是稷下道家推尊管仲之作的集结, 即以此为稷下之学的管子学派。《汉书·艺文志》将其列入子部道家类 ,《隋书·经籍志》列入法家类。《四库全书》将其列入子部法家类。书篇幅宏伟,内容复杂,思想丰富,是研究中国古代特别是先秦学术文化思想的重要典籍。大意是:各项事业都产生于周详的谋略,成功于辛勤努力,失败于骄奢放纵。”生于虑”,就是要未雨绸缪,周密考虑和精心安排各项工作。”成于务”,就是要把各项政策措施落到实处。”失于傲”,就是说形势越好,越要保持清醒头脑,增强忧患意识。 古代名言翻译 事者生于虑,成于务,失于傲。——《管子·乘马》 Projects are the results of planning, success is the result of exertion, and failure is the result of haughtiness.

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Tso Fu: Tune: “Wave-washed Sand” [Lang-t’ao sha] ~ 左辅·《浪淘沙》 with English Translations

本词表达了词人思念故乡却潇洒旷达的思想感情。词人羁旅巴山蜀水,虽然乡梦不断,却不生闲愁,以桃花一枝掷入巴江,希望它带着自己的悠悠乡梦流向大海,显得潇洒而旷达。 左辅·《浪淘沙》 曹溪驿折桃花一枝,数日零落,裹花片投之涪江,歌此送之。 水软橹声柔, 草绿芳洲。 碧桃几树隐红楼。 者是春山魂一片, 招入孤舟。 乡梦不曾休, 惹甚闲愁? 忠州过了又涪州。 掷与巴江流到海, 切莫回头。 Tune: “Wave-washed Sand” [Lang-t’ao sha] Tso Fu [Traveling in Szechwan, I picked a sprig of peach blossom by the Ts’ao Creek Posting-station. When the petals fell a few days later I carefully wrapped one and committed it to the Fu River to

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Liu Rushi: Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone ~ 柳如是·《梦江南·怀人·其十》 with English Translations

柳如是(1618年~1664年),本名杨爱,字如是,又称河东君,因读宋朝辛弃疾《贺新郎》中:“我见青山多妩媚,料青山见我应如是”,故自号如是。浙江嘉兴人 。与马湘兰、卞玉京、李香君、董小宛、顾横波、寇白门、陈圆圆同称“秦淮八艳”。后嫁有“学贯天人”、“当代文章伯”之称的明朝大才子钱谦益为侧室。明末清初女诗人。 柳如是·《梦江南·怀人·其十》 人去也, 人去夜偏长。 宝带乍温青骢意, 罗衣轻试玉光凉。 薇帐一条香。 Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone Liu Rushi X He is gone, Gone, and the nights are longer. How can this jeweled belt warm my thoughts about the black steed? Gently putting on the silk robe in chill jade moonlight, Behind the rosy curtain, a single

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