At Chan-zhì Temple, Yangzhou
- Poetry of Du Mu
《题扬州禅智寺》This poem was composed in the autumn of 837 AD, during the reign of Emperor Wenzong of Tang. It captures a genuine reflection of Du Mu's inner state at a time when personal concern and a weariness with official life were intertwined. At the time, Du Mu was serving as an Investigating Censor in Luoyang. Upon learning that his younger brother Du Yi, suffering from a severe eye illness that would eventually lead to blindness, was residing at the Chanzi (Zen Wisdom) Temple in Yangzhou, he resolutely requested leave and journeyed there with the renowned physician Shi Gongji to visit him. This trip was not only an act of familial devotion but also a temporary respite from the complexities of his official duties.
One cicada shrills after the rain;
Through pines and cassias blows autumn’s breath.
Green moss has sealed the steps with silent reign;
A white bird lingers, loath to meet its death.
Evening mist thickens in the woods’ deep heart;
The sun slants down the tower, loath to part.
Who knows, west of the path through bamboos, lies
Yangzhou, the town of music, songs, and cries?
雨过一蝉噪，飘萧松桂秋。
青苔满阶砌，白鸟故迟留。
暮霭生深树，斜阳下小楼。
谁知竹西路，歌吹是扬州。
- 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.