The autumn insects under the grass, the frost on the leaves –
The vermilion balustrade presses down the light on the lake.
The hare is chilly, the toad cold, the cassia flower white:
On such a night, Heng-o would surely break her heart.
草下阴虫叶上霜，朱栏迢递压湖光。
兔寒蟾冷桂花白，此夜姮娥应断肠。
This poem exemplifies the quintessential artistic features of Li Shangyin’s poetic oeuvre, including an ingenious conceptualization and an opulent, ornate stylistic register, and ranks among his most celebrated representative works of descriptive and lyrical 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.
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.
Journey through the dynasties. Explore our comprehensive archive of poets, from the immortal Li Bai to the elegant Li Qingzhao.
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