On Qiantang Lake in Spring
- Poetry of Bai Juyi
West of Jia Pavilion and north of Lonely Hill,
Water brims level with the bank and clouds hang low.
Disputing for sunny trees, early orioles trill;Pecking vernal mud in,
young swallows come and go.A riot of blooms begins to dazzle the eye;
Amid short grass the horse hoofs can barely be seen.
I love best the east of the lake under the sky;
The bank paved with white sand is shaded by willows green.
This poem was composed by the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi during his visit to West Lake in Hangzhou, depicting the beauty of early spring there. Bai Juyi once served as the governor of Hangzhou, and the emotions in this poem reflect his deep affection for West Lake and his appreciation of its natural beauty. Through vivid descriptions of spring scenery, the poet conveys a sense of inner tranquility and joy while also expressing his admiration for nature. West Lake’s stunning landscape was well known during the Tang Dynasty, and through this poem, Bai Juyi seamlessly merges the beauty of nature with personal emotions, showcasing the delicate sensitivity and life philosophy of Tang poets.
孤山寺北贾亭西，水面初平云脚低。
几处早莺争暖树，谁家新燕啄春泥。
乱花渐欲迷人眼，浅草才能没马蹄。
最爱湖东行不足，绿杨阴里白沙堤。
- Why Chinese poems is so special?
- The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
- How to read a Chinese poem?
- Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.