Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
《山中问答》
English Translation
They ask me why I live in the green mountains.
I smile and don't reply; my heart's at ease.
Peach blossoms flow downstream, leaving no trace -
And there are other earths and skies than these.
This poem written by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai during his seclusion in the verdant mountains. At the time, the 30-year-old Li Bai was living in seclusion on Baizhao Mountain in Anlu and had deeply fallen in love with the tranquil natural surroundings. Through this poem, he expresses his passion for the reclusive life and his detachment from worldly affairs.
中文原文( Chinese )
问余何意栖碧山，笑而不答心自闲。
桃花流水窅然去，别有天地非人间。
- 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
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- 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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