Chinese Classical Literature

Liu Rushi: Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone ~柳如是·《梦江南·怀人·其九》 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·其九》 人去也, 人去梦偏多。 忆昔见时多不语, 而今偷悔更生疏。 梦里自欢娱。 Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone Liu Rushi IX He is gone, Gone, yet dreams of him come even more often. Recalling the past: our shared moments were mostly wordless, But now I secretly regret the growing distance. Only in dreams can I find self-indulgence. (Kang-I […]

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Liu Rushi: Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone ~ 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·其八》 人去也, 人去小棠梨。 强起落花还瑟瑟, 别时红泪有些些。 门外柳相依。 Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone Liu Rushi VIII He is gone, Gone from the small Crab Apple Hall. I force myself to rise; the fallen petals are quivering, A few red parting tears still remain, Outside the door, willows leaning against one another. (Kang-I Sun

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Liu Rushi: Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone ~ 柳如是·《梦江南·怀人·其七》 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·其七》 人去也, 人去碧梧阴。 未信赚人肠断曲, 却疑误我字同心。 幽怨不须寻。 Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone Liu Rushi VII He is gone, Gone from the shadow of the green wutong tree. I can’t believe this has earned us a heartbreaking tune, Still I wonder why our love has failed. Whence this brooding grief? No need to

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Liu Rushi: Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone ~ 柳如是·《梦江南·怀人·其六》 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·其六》 人去也, 人去玉笙寒。 凤子啄残红豆小, 雉媒骄拥亵香看。 杏子是春衫。 Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone Liu Rushi VI He is gone, Gone, leaving the jade pipe cold. Phoenix pecked at the scattered tiny red beans, Pheasants, joyfully embracing the censer, gazed at us, Apricot was the color of my spring dress. (Kang-I Sun Chang 译)

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Li Yu: Pleasant Diversion: Judging Beauty ~ 李渔·《闲情偶寄·选姿第一》 with English Translations

《闲情偶寄》,清代人李渔所撰写,是养生学的经典著作。它共包括《词曲部》、《演习部》、《声容部》、《居室部》、《器玩部》、《饮馔部》、《种植部》、《颐养部》等八个部分,论述了戏曲、歌舞、服饰、修容、园林、建筑、花卉、器玩、颐养、饮食等艺术和生活中的各种现象,并阐发了自己的主张,内容极为丰富。其中,《颐养部》总论养生,是一篇重要的养生文献。 李渔·《闲情偶寄·选姿第一》 “食色,性也。”“不知子都之姣者,无目者也。”古之大贤择言而发,其所以不拂人情,而数为是论者,以性所原有,不能强之使无耳。人有美妻美妾而我好之,是谓拂人之性;好之不惟损德,且以杀身。我有美妻美妾而我好之,是还吾性中所有,圣人复起,亦得我心之同然,非失德也。孔子云:“素富贵,行乎富贵。”人处得为之地,不买一二姬妾自娱,是素富贵而行乎贫贱矣。王道本乎人情,焉用此矫清矫俭者为哉?但有狮吼在堂,则应借此藏拙,不则好之实所以恶之,怜之适足以杀之,不得以红颜薄命借口,而为代天行罚之忍人也。 予一介寒生,终身落魄,非止国色难亲,天香未遇,即强颜陋质之妇,能见几人,而敢谬次音容,侈谈歌舞,贻笑于眠花藉柳之人哉?然而缘虽不偶,兴则颇佳,事虽未经,理实易谙,想当然之妙境,较身醉温柔乡者倍觉有情。如其不信,但以往事验之。楚襄王,人主也。六宫窈窕,充塞内庭,握雨携云,何事不有?而千古以下,不闻传其实事,止有阳台一梦,脍炙人口。阳台今落何处?神女家在何方?朝为行云,暮为行雨,毕竟是何情状?岂有踪迹可考,实事可缕陈乎?皆幻境也。幻境之妙,十倍于真,故千古传之。能以十倍于真之事,谱而为法,未有不入闲情三昧者。凡读是书之人,欲考所学之从来,则请以楚国阳台之事对。 Pleasant Diversion: Judging Beauty Li Yu ‘To love good food and beautiful women is human nature.’ ‘Not to know how handsome Zidu is, is not to have yes in one’s head.’ The sages of old chose their words carefully. The reason why they made this point repeatedly, yet without giving offence,

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Wang Zhuo: Tune: Rouged Lips On Ascending the Tower ~ 王灼·《点绛唇·赋登楼》 with English Translations

王灼,字晦叔,号颐堂,四川遂宁人。生卒年不详,据考证可能生于北宋神宗元丰四年(1081年),卒于南宋高宗绍兴三十年(1160年)前后,享年约八十岁。据有关史料记载,其著作现存《颐堂先生文集》和《碧鸡漫志》各五卷,《颐堂词》和《糖霜谱》各一卷,另有佚文十二篇。其成就巨大,被后人誉为宋代著名的科学家、文学家、音乐家。王灼的著述涉及诸多领域,在我国文学、音乐、戏曲和科技史上占有一定的地位。 王灼·《点绛唇·赋登楼》 休惜余春, 试来把酒留春住。 问春无语, 帘卷西山雨。 一掬愁心, 强欲登高赋。 山无数, 烟波无数, 不放春归去。 Tune: Rouged Lips On Ascending the Tower Wang Zhuo Don’t sigh for the parting spring day! Try with a cup of wine to ask her to stay. But she’s silent and still, The uprolled screen shows rain on western hill. My sorrow-laden heart forces

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Wang Zhuo: Tune: Everlasting Longing ~ 王灼·《长相思》 with English Translations

王灼,字晦叔,号颐堂,四川遂宁人。生卒年不详,据考证可能生于北宋神宗元丰四年(1081年),卒于南宋高宗绍兴三十年(1160年)前后,享年约八十岁。据有关史料记载,其著作现存《颐堂先生文集》和《碧鸡漫志》各五卷,《颐堂词》和《糖霜谱》各一卷,另有佚文十二篇。其成就巨大,被后人誉为宋代著名的科学家、文学家、音乐家。王灼的著述涉及诸多领域,在我国文学、音乐、戏曲和科技史上占有一定的地位。 王灼·《长相思》 来匆匆, 去匆匆, 短梦无凭春又空, 难随郎马踪。 山重重, 水重重, 飞絮流云西复东, 音书何处通? Tune: Everlasting Longing Wang Zhuo You come so soon And leave so soon. Can I rely on short dreams and spring passed in vain? It’s hard to follow your traces again. From hill to hill, From rill to rill, Like willow down and cloud wafting

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Chinese Fable Stories – On Wearing Armour

寓言是一种历史悠久而生命力强大的古老文体,虽多形制短小,却有丰厚的内涵。中国古代寓言大多数以人物故事为载体,说理深刻透辟,包含许多人生智慧。《大中华文库·中国古代寓言选(汉英对照)》从这些先秦著名典籍中编选了许多寓言,同时还收录了后世其他寓言佳作,共选取121篇作品。它们流传广,饱含智慧,对文学创作和语言的发展影响很大。《大中华文库·中国古代寓言选(汉英对照)》英译者为著名文学翻译家杨宪益、戴乃迭先生。 《古代寓言·铁甲》 田赞衣儒衣而见荆王,荆王曰:“先生之衣,何其恶也?”赞对曰:“衣又有恶此者。”荆王曰:“可得而闻耶?”对曰:“甲恶于此”。王曰:“何谓也?”对曰“冬日则寒,夏日则热,衣无恶于甲者矣;赞贫,故衣恶也。今大王万乘之主也,富厚无敌,而好衣人以甲,臣窃为大王不取也。意者为其义耶?甲兵之事折人之首,刳人之腹,堕人城郭,系人子女,其名尤甚不荣;意者为其贵耶?苟虑害人,人亦必虑害之,苟虑危人,人亦必虑危之,其贵人甚不安;之二者,为大王无取焉。”荆无以应也。 ——《新序》 On Wearing Armour One day Tian Zan into the presence of the Prince of Chu in rags. “You are very shabbily dressed, sir,” remarked the prince. “There are worse clothes than these,” replied Tian Zan. “What may they be, pray?” “Armour is worse.” “What do you mean by that?” “It is

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一年之计,莫如树谷;十年之计,莫如树木; ~ with English Translations

《管子·修权》“一年之计,莫如树谷;十年之计,莫如树木;终身之计,莫如树人”。北魏·贾思勰《齐民要术》序:“樊重欲作器物,先种梓漆,时人嗤之。然积以岁月,皆得其用,向之笑者,咸求假焉。此种植之不可已也。谚曰:‘一年之计,莫如树谷;十年之计,莫如树木。’” 古代名言翻译(187) 一年之计,莫如树谷;十年之计,莫如树木;终身之计,莫如树人。 ——《管子·权修》 The best thing to do for a year is to sow grains; the best thing to do for ten years is to plant trees; the best thing to do for a hundred years is to educate people and train talents.

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Tao Yuanming: Reading the Book of Mountains and Seas ~ 陶渊明·《〈读山海经〉十三首·其三》 with English Translations

《读山海经十三首》是晋宋之际文学家陶渊明的组诗作品。首篇为序诗,后十二首从《山海经》《穆天子传》中撷取题材而写成。组诗中,世间的传说、神话、寓言、史实,通过其“魔镜”,或被化为睿智的火花,或被化为哀婉的叹息,或被化为惊天的怒吼,或被化为由衷的敬佩,或被化为刹那的顿悟,或被化为玄妙的虚幻,或被化为警世的宣言,可看作作者壮年时期思想状态的全面映照。 陶渊明·《〈读山海经〉十三首·其三》 迢迢槐江岭,是为玄圃丘。 西南望崑墟,光气难与俦。 亭亭明玕照,洛洛清淫流。 恨不及周穆,托乘一来游。 Reading the Book of Mountains and Seas Tao Yuanming III Towering in a distance the Huaikiang Peaks, Once the ancient resort of Heaven’s Son. It faces the Kunlun to the southwest, Issuing a flood of matchless light. Scarlet gems shine: Clear waters flow. How I wish to be with

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