English Rendering
When sea and land undergo violent change,
Waters seethe, winds rage, the earth heaves and quakes.
While waves turn crimson as whales and dragons contend,
Fish swimming in a deep gully enjoy themselves, oblivious to all this.
Fish in a Gully
- Poetry of Bai Juyi
《涧中鱼》
Original Text (中文原文)
海水桑田欲变时，风涛翻覆沸天池。
鲸吞蛟斗波成血，深涧游鱼乐不知。
Analysis & Context
By Bai Juyi
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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- Invitation to Wine
- Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Cold sheet
- Coming Home ( Returning Home )
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