English Rendering
The autumn moon and lake-light blend in calm accord;
A windless face, like unburnished silver, lies the ford.
From far, the hills and lake in emerald hue are seen —
A jade green conch posed on a giant plate of sheen.
Gazing at Lake Dongting
Poetry of Liu Yuxi
《望洞庭》
Original Text (中文原文)
湖光秋月两相和，潭面无风镜未磨。
遥望洞庭山水翠，白银盘里一青螺。
Meaning & Analysis
This poem was composed during Liu Yuxi's exile as Marshal of Langzhou. In 805 AD, the 34-year-old Liu Yuxi, having participated in the failed "Yongzhen Reforms," was expelled from the court. He fell from a high-spirited reformer to a disgraced official relegated to a remote corner. Langzhou, located in northwestern Hunan, was a poor and isolated place, bearing no resemblance to the former splendor of Chang'an.
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.
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