Spring South of the River
- Poetry of Du Mu
《江南春》
English Translation
Orioles call for a thousand li, green's reflected in the river;
Waterside village; hillside rampart; wine; a banner in the wind.
In the time of the southern dynasties, there were four hundred and eighty temples;
How many pavilions there are now in the mist and rain.
This poem was written between 847 and 859 AD during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. At the time, Du Mu was traveling through the Jiangnan region, captivated by the vibrant spring scenery. Inspired by the beauty around him, he composed this poem, which not only depicts the splendor of Jiangnan's spring but also reflects on the rise and fall of history, blending emotion with scenery in a deeply evocative way.
中文原文( Chinese )
千里莺啼绿映红，水村山郭酒旗风。
南朝四百八十寺，多少楼台烟雨中。
- 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.