Chinese Culture Blog

卜算子·我住长江头 李之仪 （1048 — 1127） 我住长江头，君住长江尾。 日日思君不见君，共饮长江水。 此水几时休，此恨何时已。 只愿君心似我心，定不负相思意。 Song of Divination: I Live at River-source Li Zhiyi (1048 – 1127) I live at river-source; you live at river-mouth. Day after day I think on you but see you not, though we drink from the same river. When will the river stop; when will my pining cease? I would that your heart be as my heart; then my longing thoughts will not be in vain.

鹊桥仙·纤云弄巧 秦观 （1049 — 1100） 纤云弄巧，飞星传恨，银汉迢迢暗度。 金风玉露一相逢，便胜却人间无数。 柔情似水，佳期如梦，忍顾鹊桥归路。 两情若是久长时，又岂在朝朝暮暮。 Deities on Magpie Bridge: Wispy Cloud Adeptly Plays Qin Guan (1049 – 1100) Wispy cloud adeptly plays, shooting star regret conveys; The distant, distant milky way doth quietly float past. A golden breeze, a jadelike dew, a single yearly date; all common lovers’ counterparts assuredly surpassed. Tender love akin to water, hours sweet as dreams; ‘tis suffering to turn around and home

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