English Rendering
A strip of water's spread in the setting sun,
Half the river's emerald, half is red.
I love the third night of the ninth month,
The dew is like pearl; the moon like a bow.
Song of Sunset on the River
- Poetry of Bai Juyi
《暮江吟》
Original Text (中文原文)
一道残阳铺水中，半江瑟瑟半江红。
可怜九月初三夜，露似真珠月似弓。
Analysis & Context
This poem was written before Bai Juyi became the Governor of Hangzhou, around the second year of Changqing (822). At that time, he passed through Hangzhou and stood by the river, where the beautiful scenery before him touched his soul. Through this poem, the poet expresses his love for nature and the tranquility and harmony he feels in the peaceful natural environment.
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.
- Yiai Temple
- Early Spring
- The Zither
- On Qiantang Lake in Spring
- Spring View in Hangzhou
- Song of Willow Branch
- 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 )
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