Walking from Xiamen and Looking at the Blue Sea
- Poetry of Cao Cao

《观沧海》

English Rendering

East of Jieshi mountain, I gaze at the blue sea.

The water dances so gently, the mountain island towers.

Trees here grow thick, a hundred grasses are lush.

The autumn wind soughs, great waves rise up.

The path of the sun and moon, seems to come from within.

The splendid Milky Way, seems to come from inside.

Oh, I am so lucky, to be singing my song!

Walking from Xiamen and Looking at the Blue Sea by Cao Cao
Walking from Xiamen and Looking at the Blue Sea by Cao Cao

Original Text (中文原文)

东临碣石,以观沧海。

水何澹澹,山岛竦峙。

树木丛生,百草丰茂。

秋风萧瑟,洪波涌起。

日月之行,若出其中;

星汉灿烂,若出其里。

幸甚至哉,歌以咏志。

Analysis & Context

The poem not only reflects the image of the ocean, but also gives it character.

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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