English Rendering
Lotus mirrors fish like floating calligraphy,
Woodcutter's boat rides time's crease through geography.
Rain-sharpened springs split hairs of perception—
Why must South Lake claim reflection's perfection?
After Rain at Rippling Pavilion: Wind Rhyme
- Poetry of Zeng Gong
《雨后环波亭次韵四首 · 次绾得风字韵》Original Text (中文原文)
荷芰东西鱼映叶，樵舟朝暮客乘风。
清泉雨后分毛发，何必南湖是镜中。
Analysis & Context
This poem was composed during the Northern Song Dynasty as a response to a friend's verse, written during a visit to Huanbo Pavilion after rain. "次韵" refers to composing poetry by following the rhyme scheme of the original poem, with "绾" likely being the name of the poet friend. "得风" serves as the rhyme character in this poem. The verses depict the scenery of the lakeside pavilion after rainfall, blending natural vitality with the poet's philosophical reflections. They showcase both meticulous observation and a serene, far-reaching state of mind, highlighting Zeng Gong's remarkable ability to craft poetic imagery—a quality that complements his status as one of the "Eight Great Prose Masters of the Tang and Song."
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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- Bamboos by South Veranda
- The Condensed Incense Studio
- 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 )
The Masters' Directory
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