The Waterfall at Lu Shan
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
《望庐山瀑布》
English Translation
In sunshine, Censer Peak breathes purple mist.
A jutting stream, the cataract hangs in spray
Far off, then plunges down three thousand feet -
As if the sky had dropped the Milky Way.
Composed in 753 AD during Li Bai's visit to Mount Lu, this poem captures the magnificent waterfall that has made the mountain famous. Facing this spectacular natural wonder, the poet's emotions surge, and with grand momentum and extraordinary imagination, he portrays the scene as dreamlike and fantastical, full of romanticism. The poem is not only a tribute to Mount Lu's waterfall but also a perfect demonstration of Li Bai's bold and unrestrained poetic style.
中文原文( Chinese )
日照香炉生紫烟，遥看瀑布挂前川。
飞流直下三千尺，疑是银河落九天。
Pre： A Song of Qiu-pu
- 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.
Famous Chinese Poems
- Seven Poems on Kaiyuan Era: Dancing Horses
- Midnight Song of the Four Seasons: Summer
- In Reply to Pimei’s Poem Written During Illness
- Ten Odes on Tea Utensils: Tea Vale White Lotus
- Spring Thoughts II
- The Arcane Celadon of Yue Kiln
- Lodging by Riverside Tower
- Along the River for Flowers Alone I
- The Cottage by the Stream
- The Lotus-Gathering Song
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