English Rendering
Fifteen years ago, under a full moon,
We wrote love poems amid spring blooms.
The garden looks so under the same moon,
If I could remain in the same mood!
(trans. by Julia Min)
Extempore verse
Poetry of Li Qingzhao
《偶成》
Original Text (中文原文)
十五年前花月底，相从曾赋赏花詩。
今看花月浑相似，安得情怀似往時。
Meaning & Analysis
This short verse was probably composed after she settled in Ling’an, the new capital. It’s a popular theme in many of the artistic works created during this period when the new settlers often sensed strong pain missing their lost family members. Obviously our poet revealed her deep yearning for her husband and the happy days they spent together in their Qingzhou home where they experienced the happiest marriage life for over 10 years.
Related Themes
Reader's Companion
The Essence of the Verse
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Reading Between the Lines
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
- From the balcony to the bare distance
- Writing to my Friends from my Hotel at Chang-le
- The River Traffic by Yan’s Fishing Pavilion
- No sooner the jade buds are turned to rosy lips
- In the snowy yard the Spring messenger arrived
- Hidden under leaves shaped like green jade
- The Summit Temple
- <Prelude to Water Melody> Sent to Ziyou on Mid-autumn Festival
- Invitation to Wine
- Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Cold sheet
- Coming Home ( Returning Home )
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