The Battle Map Du Fu (712-770) The deeds today do not exceed those timesWhen battles broke our bloody lands in three.As rivers flow, the stones stay still within:The three states would not join in unity. Chinese 八陣圖杜甫 功蓋三分國名成八陣圖江流石不轉遺恨失吞吳 Pronunciation Bā Zhèn TúDù Fǔ Gōng gài sān fēn guóMíng gāo bā …
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Bitter Love Li Bai (701-762) The beauty sits behind a jeweled screen,Lamenting him with lovely, furled brows.When all I see are cheeks stained wet with tears,I wonder, where’s the one who broke his vows? Chinese 怨情李白 美人捲珠簾深坐蹙蛾眉但見淚痕濕不知心恨誰 Pronunciation Yuàn QíngLǐ Bái Měi rén juǎn zhū liánShēn zuò cù é méiDàn …
Read MoreThoughts on a Quiet Night
Thoughts on a Quiet Night Li Bai (701-762) Before my bed the bright moon shines its light,Perhaps the frost now covers all the ground;I lift my head to see the shining moon,I bow my head to see my native town. Chinese 靜夜思李白 床前明月光疑是地上霜舉頭望明月低頭思故鄉 Pronunciation Jìng Yè SīLǐ Bái Chuáng qián …
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Spring Dawn Meng Haoran (689/691–740) Asleep in spring, unconscious of the dawn,The chirp chirp song of birds is everywhere.Last night the thunder, wind, and rain came long—How many blossoms now remain out there? Chinese 春曉孟 浩 然 春眠不覺曉處處聞啼鳥夜來風雨聲花落知多少 Pronunciation Chūn XiǎoMèng Hàorán Chūn mián bù jué xiǎoChǔ chǔ wén tí …
Read MoreGazing at Zhongnan’s Snow
Gazing at Zhongnan’s Snow Zu Yong (699-746?) As snow on Zhongnan Mountain floats in bloomsTo form beyond the peak in cloudy netsThe forest clears in brightly colored hues—But in the town, the cold and darkness sets. Chinese 終南望餘雪祖詠 終南陰嶺秀積雪浮雲端林表明霽色城中增暮寒 Pronunciation Zhōng Nán Wàng Yú XuěZǔ Yǒng Zhōng nán yīn lǐng …
Read MoreFor Mother
For Mother Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283) This noble wife and mother’s time has comeTo rise for heaven in the gods’ embrace;Her grave forever near the hare and fox,With tears that feel like hail upon my face. Chinese 母第一百四十一文天祥 何時太夫人上天回哀眷墓久狐兔鄰嗚呼淚如霰 Pronunciation Mǔ Dì Yī Bǎi Sì Shí YīWén Tiānxiáng Hé shí tài …
Read MoreFarewell to Mystic Mountain
Farewell to Mystic Mountain Huangfu Ran (~ 716-769) All day the water flows until it fades, unseen,At dusk, when grass grows deep in spring and earth recedes—At times, it’s true, the dogs will bark and chickens squawk,But who would pull an almond nut from berry seeds? …
Read MoreBefore the Duke of Zhou
Before the Duke of Zhou Yu Xin (513-581) One dawn I had a home; today it’s gone,An orchid rooted out and set to burn.As one would tell a tale of long lost friendsI live my life to watch the world turn. Chinese 集周公處連句詩庾信 市朝一朝變蘭艾本同焚故人相借問平生如所聞 Pronunciation Jí Zhōu Gōng Chǔ …
Read MoreFresh Wood (for Luo Xue)
Fresh Wood (for Luo Xue) Wen Tianxiang (1236-1283) A sigh, sigh sound from woods up high to low;We close the gate and cover up with fur—Spring feelings flow along the mountain gorge;At dawn I rise to touch and look at her. Chinese 贈羅雪崖樵青文天祥 蕭蕭山下人閉門衣裘單春心動溪谷曉起捫松看 Pronunciation Zèng Luó Xuě Yá …
Read MoreSpringtime Sun
Springtime Sun Yin Qiqi (~800) In times of doubt I sing to spring’s fresh sunAnd free the knots tied up within my gut—Your young man’s left his home and not come backBut winter’s snow will wash the willow’s smut. Chinese 陽春曲殷七七 愁見唱陽春令人離腸結郎去未歸家柳自飄香雪 Pronunciation Yáng Chūn QūYīn Qīqī Chóu jiàn chàng …
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