Chinese Classical Literature

Tao Yuanming: Reading the Book of Mountains and Seas ~ 陶渊明·《〈读山海经〉十三首·其二》 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·其二》 玉台凌霞秀,王母怡妙颜。 天地共俱生,不知几何年。 灵化无穷已,馆宇非一山。 高酣发新谣,宁效俗中言! Reading the Book of Mountains and Seas Tao Yuanming II O ye, Mountains of Jade, Beauties enthroned, On which sits smiling our Queen of the West! With Heaven and Earth was she born and bred, For no one knows how many millenniums. Endlessly her ethereal nature transforms itself, And […]

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Zhu Xi: A Reply to Old Huang Song ~ 朱熹·《答黄嵩老》 with English Translations

朱熹(1130年10月18日-1200年4月23日),字元晦,又字仲晦,号晦庵,晚称晦翁。祖籍徽州府婺源县(今江西省婺源),生于南剑州尤溪(今属福建省尤溪县)。中国南宋时期理学家、思想家、哲学家、教育家、诗人。 朱熹·《答黄嵩老》 大抵人情若干由于,多致因循,一向懒废。今但心所欲为,向前便做,不要迟疑等待。即此目下顷刻之间,亦须渐见功效矣。 年运易往,时不待人,况中年以后,尤宜汲汲也! 《朱文公文集》 A Reply to Old Huang Song 1 Zhu Xi People are generally apt to hesitate time and again before doing things, which often leads to delay or failure. If you want to do anything, just go ahead without any hesitation. Your efforts can begin to have effect even in a

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Liu Rushi: Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone ~ 柳如是·《梦江南·怀人·其五》 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·其五》 人去也, 人去绿窗纱。 赢得病愁输燕子, 禁怜模样隔天涯。 好处暗相遮。 Dream of the South: Thinking of Someone Liu Rushi V He is gone, Gone from the green window gauze. All gain is frail sickness. Lighter than a swallow, Pitiful is my lone self, now that we are far apart. Secretly we hide sweet memories in our hearts.

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Chinese Fable Stories – The Fur and the Hide

皮之不存,毛将焉附是一个汉语成语。意思是皮都没有了,毛往哪里依附呢?比喻事物失去了借以生存的基础,就不能存在。 古代寓言《皮之不存,毛将焉附》 魏文候出游,见路人反裘而负刍。 文候曰:“胡为反裘而负刍?” 对曰:“臣爱其毛。” 文候曰:“若不知其里尽而毛无所恃也?” ——《新序》 The Fur and the Hide While on a tour of the country, Marquis Wen of the state of Wei saw a man wearing a fur with the hide outside, carrying a bundle of straw. “Why wear your fur inside out to carry straw?” asked the marquis. “To protect

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T’eng Han-ch’ing: The Statue of the Weaver Girl by K’un-ming Lake ~ 童翰卿·《昆明池织女石》 with English Translations

童翰卿是宣宗和懿宗年间工于诗词的著名才子,《昆明池织女石》是他的诗词之一。 童翰卿·《昆明池织女石》 一片昆明石,千秋织女名。 见人虚脉脉,临水更盈盈。 苔作轻衣色,波为促杼声。 岸云连鬓湿,沙月对眉生。 有脸莲同笑,无心鸟不惊。 还如朝镜里,形影两分明。 The Statue of the Weaver Girl by K’un-ming Lake T’eng Han-ch’ing Made of a single portion of lovely K’un-ming stone, Ever through endless ages as Weaver Maiden known, Dazzling, glinting, flashing, starlike it seems to sway, Floating as if in beauty o’er limpid waves away. Graceful its

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Wu Zao: Man jiang hong ~ 吴藻·《满江红》 with English Translations

吴藻(1799~1862),女,清代著名女曲作家、词人,字苹香,自号玉岑子,浙江仁和(今杭州)人,祖籍安徽黟县。幼而好学,长则肆力于词,又精绘事,自绘饮酒读骚图,又题饮酒读骚图曲。著有《花帘词》一卷、《香南雪北词》一卷、《饮酒读骚图曲》(又名《乔影》)、《花帘书屋诗》等。 吴藻·《满江红》 门掩斜阳, 满院里、零花瘦草。 疏帘卷、纸窗风紧,玉炉烟袅。 天末数声征雁过, 林边几点归鸦噪。 悄无人、落叶冷空阶,红谁扫。 题不尽, 伤心稿。 消不尽, 闲烦恼。 算眼前愁境, 又添诗料。 翠影自怜双袖薄, 病魂已约三秋老。 待巡檐、索笑问寒梅, 春还早。 Man jiang hong Wu Zao A gate shut in twilight, A yard full of forlorn flowers, thinning grasses! The sparse shades rolled up, The wind presses the papered window As smoke from the jade urn curls out.

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Wu Tsao: Tune: Hsing-hsiang tzu (Fragrant Wandering: A Song) ~ 吴藻·《行香子》 with English Translations

吴藻(1799~1862),女,清代著名女曲作家、词人,字苹香,自号玉岑子,浙江仁和(今杭州)人,祖籍安徽黟县。幼而好学,长则肆力于词,又精绘事,自绘饮酒读骚图,又题饮酒读骚图曲。著有《花帘词》一卷、《香南雪北词》一卷、《饮酒读骚图曲》(又名《乔影》)、《花帘书屋诗》等。 吴藻·《行香子》 长夜迢迢, 落叶萧萧。 纸窗儿、不住风敲。 茶温烟冷, 炉暗香消。 正小庭空, 双扉掩, 一灯挑。 愁也难抛, 梦也难招。 拥寒衾、睡也无聊。 凄凉景况, 齐作今宵。 有漏声沉, 铃声苦, 雁声高。 Tune: Hsing-hsiang tzu (Fragrant Wandering: A Song) Wu Tsao The night seems endless Leaves whisper as they fall The wind oppresses the paper window nonstop. Steam from the tea grows cold The stove is dark, the incense

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Wu Zao: Ru meng ling ~ 吴藻·《如梦令》 with English Translations

吴藻(1799~1862),女,清代著名女曲作家、词人,字苹香,自号玉岑子,浙江仁和(今杭州)人,祖籍安徽黟县。幼而好学,长则肆力于词,又精绘事,自绘饮酒读骚图,又题饮酒读骚图曲。著有《花帘词》一卷、《香南雪北词》一卷、《饮酒读骚图曲》(又名《乔影》)、《花帘书屋诗》等。 吴藻·《如梦令》 玉笛数声何处, 吹尽落梅飞絮。 楼外有红墙, 不把夕阳围住。 春去,春去, 愁杀好花一树。 Ru meng ling Wu Zao Whence come these notes of the jade flute To blow off flying catkins, fallen plums? Beyond the tower is a red wall That can’t enclose the fading sunlight. Spring leaves… Spring leaves… And grief kills fine flowers of one tree. (Antony C.

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Wu Tsao: Tune: Ju-meng ling (As in a Dream: A Song) ~ 吴藻·《如梦令·燕子》 with English Translations

吴藻(1799~1862),女,清代著名女曲作家、词人,字苹香,自号玉岑子,浙江仁和(今杭州)人,祖籍安徽黟县。幼而好学,长则肆力于词,又精绘事,自绘饮酒读骚图,又题饮酒读骚图曲。著有《花帘词》一卷、《香南雪北词》一卷、《饮酒读骚图曲》(又名《乔影》)、《花帘书屋诗》等。 吴藻·《如梦令·燕子》 燕子未随春去, 飞入绣帘深处。 软语话多时, 莫是要和侬住? 延伫,延伫, 含笑回它:“不许!” Ru meng ling: A Swallow Wu Zao A swallow not having left with spring Flies deep inside embroidered shades, For hours speaking softly. Could his wish be to stay with me? He waits… He waits … I answer him smiling, “You may not!” (Antony C. Yu 译)

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Ho Shao-chi: Mountain Rain ~ 何绍基 ·《山雨》 with English Translations

《山雨》是晚清诗人何绍基创作的一首七言律诗。全诗紧紧围绕“山雨”的题意,首联描写山中未雨之景,颔联写遇雨之景,颈联写雨中之景,尾联写雨后之景。全诗用笔细腻,景象逼真,表达了作者对大自然的喜爱之情。 何绍基 ·《山雨》 短笠团团避树枝。初凉天气野行宜。 溪云到处自相聚,山雨忽来人不知。 马上衣巾任沾湿,村边瓜豆也离披。 新晴尽放峰峦出,万瀑齐飞又一奇。 Mountain Rain Ho Shao-chi In my bamboo rainhat, I avoid tree branches dripping with dew; The first cool weather, just right for a country excursion. Mountain torrent clouds gather everywhere by themselves, And mountain rain arrives suddenly before you know it. Riding on horseback, I let my hat

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