Chinese Culture Blog

山居秋暝 王维 （699 — 761） 空山新雨后，天气晚来秋。 明月松间照，清泉石上流。 竹喧归浣女，莲动下渔舟。 随意春芳歇，王孙自可留。 Autumn Dusk: A Hermit on the Mountain Wang Wei (699 – 761) Bare mountain after fresh rain; autumn arrives on evening air. Bright moon shines between pines; clear springs run over rocks. Bamboos rattle as washing women return; lotus jostle as fishing boats plunge. Let the spring flowers droop as they may; he, for one, chose here to stay. Picture from sugger88.

无题·昨夜星辰昨夜风 李商隐 （约813 — 858） 昨夜星辰昨夜风，画楼西畔桂堂东。 身无彩凤双飞翼，心有灵犀一点通。 隔座送钩春酒暖，分曹射覆蜡灯红。 嗟余听鼓应官去，走马兰台类转蓬。 Untitled (Last night’s constellations, Last night’s breeze) Li Shangyin (about 813 – 858) Last night’s constellations, last night’s breeze | on ornate building’s west slopes, to Osmanthus Hall’s east. Beside me nay beautiful phoenix for tandem flight | inside us yea spirits twine of single thread. Sitting apart for Pass the Hook with genial spring wine | choosing teams for guessing

嫦娥 李商隐 （约813 — 858） 云母屏风烛影深， 长河渐落晓星沉。 嫦娥应悔偷灵药， 碧海青天夜夜心。 The Goddess in the Moon Li Shangyin (about 813 – 858) On a mica folding screen, illuminated shadows retreat, The Milky Way curves slowly down, stars fade come morning. She who surely regrets stealing the elixir of immortality, Her heart sees only jade sea and teal sky, night after night. Read the Legend of Chang E Artist Liu Danzhai paints the picture of Chang E.

相见欢   李煜 （937 — 978） 无言独上西楼，月如钩。 寂寞梧桐深院锁清秋。 剪不断，理还乱，是离愁。 别是一般滋味在心头。 The Joy of Togetherness Li Yu (937 – 978) Wordless, a solitary ascent to dreary eaves. The moon looks like a hook. A lone parasoltree fettered in a dark courtyard by autumn’s chill. Unshakeable, unreasonable is the agony of separation— a distinctive flavor on the palate of my mind. Picture from Hongshuliangyuxiu.

望海潮·东南形胜 柳永 （984 — 1053） 东南形胜，三吴都会，钱塘自古繁华。 烟柳画桥，风帘翠幕，参差十万人家。 云树绕堤沙，怒涛卷霜雪，天堑无涯。 市列珠玑，户盈罗绮，竞豪奢。 重湖叠巘清嘉，有三秋桂子，十里荷花。 羌管弄晴，菱歌泛夜，嬉嬉钓叟莲娃。 千骑拥高牙，乘醉听箫鼓，吟赏烟霞。 异日图将好景，归去凤池夸。 Watching for the Sea’s Tide: The Southeast Lands Lie Favorably Liu Yong (984 – 762) The southeast lands lie favorably | their three Wu prefectures form a metropolis | Qiantang (the capital) has been flourishing since ancient times. Misty willows, ornate bridges | windbreaking curtains, turquoise draperies | a sprawl

夜宿山寺 李白 （701 — 762） 危楼高百尺， 手可摘星辰。 不敢高声语， 恐惊天上人。 Staying the Night in a Mountain Temple Li Bai (701 – 762) From building of precipitous height, a hand can pluck stars out sky. Men dare not raise their voices, lest they startle the ones on high. Click to Read the Story of Great Poet Li Bai The picture is Wangwu Mountain, taken by Wang Yu. Translator: Nathan J. Stoltzfus

登科后 孟郊 （751 — 814） 昔日龌龊不足夸， 今朝放荡思无涯。 春风得意马蹄疾， 一日看尽长安花。 Passing the Imperial Examination Meng Jiao (751 – 814) Once unrefined and not worth an utter, today I let loose and let my thoughts flutter. With Spring’s gust of pride and swift hoof of horse, I saw all Chang'an’s flowers in a single day’s course. Note: Chang'an was the capital city of Tang Empire (618 – 907). Translator: Nathan J. Stoltzfus

Cyan is a lucky color in Chinese culture, which represents hope and honor. In Chinese mythology, Cyan Dragon is in charge of the east...

Pure white is an ambivalent color in Chinese culture. The Chinese character of white, from Oracle Bone Script to current one, has been...

Bright yellow used to be royal’s color in the history of China, exclusively. However, it was originally a popular color for everyone....