Chinese Classical Literature

Wei Ch’eng-pan: “The Magnolia Flower” (Mu-lan hua) ~ 魏承班·《木兰花》 with English Translations

《木兰花·小芙蓉》是唐末五代词人魏承班的词作。全词上片二十六字,下片二十八字,描写美女相思的情状。 魏承班·《木兰花》 小芙蓉, 香旖旎, 碧玉堂深清似水。 闭宝匣, 掩金铺, 倚屏拖袖愁如醉。 迟迟好景烟花媚, 曲渚鸳鸯眠锦翅。 凝然愁望静相思, 一双笑靥嚬香蕊。 “The Magnolia Flower” (Mu-lan hua) Wei Ch’eng-pan The hibiscus comes to tiny bloom. Their scent flutters on the air. In the jade hall, her feelings are like the deepest water. She shuts away her make-up case. She closes fast the golden door. By […]

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Chinese Fable Stories – Who Deserved the Place of Honour?

这是一则来源于《汉书·霍光传》的寓言故事,《汉书》,又称《前汉书》,是中国第一部纪传体断代史,“二十四史”之一。由汉朝东汉时期史学家儒客大家班固编撰,前后历时二十余年,于建初年中基本修成,后唐朝颜师古为之释注。其中《汉书》八表由班固之妹班昭补写而成,《汉书》天文志由班固弟子马续补写而成。《汉书》是继《史记》之后中国古代又一部重要史书,与《史记》、《后汉书》、《三国志》并称为“前四史”。《汉书》全书主要记述了上起汉高祖元年(公元前206年),下至新朝王莽地皇四年(公元23年)共230年的史事。 《古代寓言·谁该坐上座》 客有过主人者,见其灶直突,傍有积薪。客谓主人:“更为曲突,远徙其薪。不者,且有火患。”主人嘿然不应。俄而家果失火。邻里共救之,幸而得息。于是杀牛置酒,谢其邻人:灼烂者在于上行,余客以功次座。而不录言曲突者。人谓主人曰:“乡使听客之言,不费牛酒,终无火患。今论功而请宾,曲突徙薪之恩泽,焦头烂额为上客耶?”主人乃寤而请之。 ——《汉书》 Who Deserved the Place of Honour? A man passing a friend’s house noticed that the kitchen chimney was straight, and a pile of fuel was stacked beside the stove. “You had better build another chimney with a bend in it,” he advised the householder. “and move that fuel away, otherwise it

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Feng Zizhen: Tune: Song of Parrot ~ 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·山亭逸兴》 with English Translations

《鹦鹉曲·山亭逸兴》是元代散曲家冯子振所创作一篇散曲。这是一首淡泊名利,追求归园田居、返璞归真生活境界的曲文。这篇散曲前部分作者自嘲的是一介不聪明的樵夫,所以移居到了山间;后半部分作者道出了自己的志向:即便有朋友劝自己出山,他也会坚持说,山居固然清苦,但回到朝廷则痛苦更多。这篇散曲语言简洁,典故的运用非常巧妙。 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·山亭逸兴》 嵯峨峰顶移家住, 是个不唧口留樵父。 烂柯时树老无花, 叶叶枝枝风雨。 [么]故人曾唤我归来, 却道不如休去。 指门前万叠云山, 是不费青蚨买处。 Tune: Song of Parrot A Hermit’s Pleasure in the Mountain Pavilion Feng Zizhen I move my house atop the frowning hill; As a woodman I am a green hand still. I play chess till flowers fall from old trees, Branch on branch, leaf on leaf,

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Ku Hsiung: “Willow Branches” (Yang-liu chih) ~ 顾夐·《杨柳枝》 with English Translations

《杨柳枝·秋夜香闺思寂寥》是五代时期诗人顾夐创作的一首词,主要写女主人公独处孤居,思念情人的怨苦情绪。 顾夐·《杨柳枝》 秋夜香闺思寂寥, 漏迢迢。 鸳帏罗幌麝烟销, 烛光摇。 正忆玉郎游荡去, 无寻处。 更闻帘外雨潇潇, 滴芭蕉。 “Willow Branches” (Yang-liu chih) Ku Hsiung In her room on an autumn night, her thoughts are lonely. A distant water clock sounds. The fragrance fades from the silk curtains and hangings. Light flickers from a candle. She thinks of that handsome gentleman gone away for

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Feng Zizhen: Farmers Longing for Rain To the Tune of Parrot ~ with English Translations

《鹦鹉曲·农夫渴雨》是元代文学家冯子振创作的一首散曲。这首小令描写了农夫希望降雨的场景。作者采用农民的口吻写,文风极为质朴自然,富有生活气息。曲子格律严密,虚实结合,实为佳作。这支小令写农夫渴雨,用农民的口吻来写,极为质朴自然,富有生活气息。 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·农夫渴雨》 启德留学(重庆) 年年牛背扶犁住, 近日最懊恼杀农父。 稻苗肥恰待抽花, 渴煞青天雷雨。 [么]恨残霞不近人情, 截断玉虹南去。 望人间三尺甘霖, 看一片闲云起处。 Farmers Longing for Rain To the Tune of Parrot Feng Zizhen Following the plough year after year, Farmers are vexed of late and fear. Paddy seedlings are just in the ear, Longing for a storm from the blue they peer. Much to their regret

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Feng Zizhen: Autumn Thoughts at the South of the City ~ 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·城南秋思》 with English Translations

冯子振,元代散曲名家,1253-1348,字海粟,自号瀛洲洲客、怪怪道人,湖南攸县人。自幼勤奋好学。元大德二年(1298)登进士及第,时年47岁,人谓“大器晚成”。朝廷重其才学,先召为集贤院学士、待制,继任承事郎,连任保宁(今四川境内)、彰德(今河南安阳)节度使。晚年归乡著述。世称其“博洽经史,于书无所不记”,且文思敏捷。下笔不能自休。一生著述颇丰,传世有《居庸赋》、《十八公赋》、《华清古乐府》、《海粟诗集》等书文,以散曲最著。 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·城南秋思》 新凉时节城南住, 灯火诵鲁国尼父。 到秋来宋玉生悲, 不赋高唐云雨。 [么]一声声只在芭蕉, 断送别离人去。 甚河桥柳树全疏, 恨正在长亭短处。 Autumn Thoughts at the South of the City to the tune of Parrot Feng Zizhen I live in the south of the city when it is cool, And often read Confucius under a lamplight. Autumn comes, I would feel sad as would Song Yu1 do,

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Feng Zizhen: Meditation on the Past at Red Cliff To the Tune of Parrot ~ 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·赤壁怀古》 with English Translations

《鹦鹉曲·赤壁怀古》是元代散曲家冯子振创作的一首散曲。曲中写了诸葛亮被刘备劝诱出南阳草庐,辅助其三分天下,却忘记了原来的出处,功成之后未能归去;幺篇中感叹英雄业绩已被长江波涛淘洗一空,只是那些渔夫樵子还偶然谈起。全曲以善意的嘲讽统领,对于诸葛亮的智慧采取了平视甚至俯视的态度,构思立意奇特而独到,对历史兴亡和功业成败表现了幻灭感和惋惜情绪。 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·赤壁怀古》 茅庐诸葛亲曾住, 早赚出抱膝梁父。 谈笑间汉鼎三分, 不记得南阳耕雨。 [么]叹西风卷尽豪华, 往事大江东去。 彻如今话说渔樵, 算也是英雄了处。 Meditation on the Past at Red Cliff To the Tune of Parrot Feng Zizhen This thatched hut Zhuge Liang personally resided, He left his hut where the poem was once recited. By his strategy into three kingdoms the empire was divided, He forgot the days

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Feng Zizhen: Tune: Song of Parrot Parting Grief ~ 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·别意》 with English Translations

冯子振,元代散曲名家,1253-1348,字海粟,自号瀛洲洲客、怪怪道人,湖南攸县人。自幼勤奋好学。元大德二年(1298)登进士及第,时年47岁,人谓“大器晚成”。朝廷重其才学,先召为集贤院学士、待制,继任承事郎,连任保宁(今四川境内)、彰德(今河南安阳)节度使。晚年归乡著述。世称其“博洽经史,于书无所不记”,且文思敏捷。下笔不能自休。一生著述颇丰,传世有《居庸赋》、《十八公赋》、《华清古乐府》、《海粟诗集》等书文,以散曲最著。 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·别意》 花骢嘶断留侬住, 满酌酒劝据鞍父。 柳青青万里初程, 点染阳关朝雨。 [幺]怨春风雁不回头, 一个个背人飞去。 望河桥敛衽频啼, 早蓦到长亭短处。 Tune: Song of Parrot Parting Grief Feng Zizhen Your dappled horse neighs when I ask you to stay. I fill your cup with wine to detain you in vain. The green willows will see you go far, far away To see the Sunny Pass dotted

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Feng Zizhen: Meditation on the Past at Red Cliff ~ 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·野渡新晴》 with English Translations

《鹦鹉曲·野渡新晴》是元代文人冯子振的一首散曲。起首的这两句如果非要对照题目的话,恐怕只能应上一个“野”字。作者撇开“野渡”暂不交代,到三、四句先述出“新晴”。下片的起首两句,便顺势写出了出村所见的春天景色。从末两句宕开一笔的诘问中,读者足以明确作者已远远走出了孤村。再掩卷细细领味,方发觉处处是伏笔隐线。全词笔力劲健,笔势游动,恰恰契合了作者回归大自然的旷达心情。 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·野渡新晴》 孤村三两人家住, 终日对野叟田父。 说今朝绿水平桥, 昨日溪南新雨。 [幺]碧天边云归岩穴, 白鹭一行飞去。 便芒鞋竹杖行春, 问底是青帘舞处? Meditation on the Past at Red Cliff To the Tune of Parrot Feng Zizhen Two or three households in the solitary village, You can see nobody but famers around the cottage. Due to the fresh rain yesterday to the south of the stream, Good news

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Feng Zizhen: False Reputation of Hermits To the Tune of Parrot~ 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·处士虚名》 with English Translations

冯子振,元代散曲名家,1253-1348,字海粟,自号瀛洲洲客、怪怪道人,湖南攸县人。自幼勤奋好学。元大德二年(1298)登进士及第,时年47岁,人谓“大器晚成”。朝廷重其才学,先召为集贤院学士、待制,继任承事郎,连任保宁(今四川境内)、彰德(今河南安阳)节度使。晚年归乡著述。世称其“博洽经史,于书无所不记”,且文思敏捷。下笔不能自休。一生著述颇丰,传世有《居庸赋》、《十八公赋》、《华清古乐府》、《海粟诗集》等书文,以散曲最著。 冯子振·《鹦鹉曲·处士虚名》 高人谁恋朝中住, 自古便有个巢父。 子陵滩钓得虚名, 几度桐江春雨。 [幺]睡神仙别有陈抟, 拂袖华山归去。 漫纷纷少室终南, 怎不是神仙隐处?  False Reputation of Hermits To the Tune of Parrot Feng Zizhen Never attached to officialdom are trusty hermits, Chao Fu is the best example in history for his merits. Somewhat hypocritic is the Hermit Yan Guang, As his secluded life did not last so long.

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