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 …
Read MoreBitter Love
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 …
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 MoreSpring Dawn
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 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 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 …
Read MoreSeeing Off Guo Liangfu As He Journeys East
Seeing Off Guo Liangfu As He Journeys East Li Duan (743-782?) I’d offer you advice but nothing comes,Your carriage quickly heads back east to Qin;These twilight years you drive a thousand miles—As sun sets on ten thousand homes in spring. Chinese 送郭良輔下第東歸李端 獻策不得意馳車東出秦暮年千裏客落日萬家春 Pronunciation Sòng Guō Liángfǔ Xià Dì …
Read More