The Temple on the Summit
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)

《题峰顶寺》

The Temple on the Summit by Li Bai (Li Po)

English Translation

At night I lodge the temple on the peak;

I can touch the stars with my hand.

I dare not speak aloud in the high place

For fear of disturbing the dwellers in the moon.

Composed during Li Bai's early wandering years (though the exact date remains uncertain), this poem stands as one of the most iconic short verses in Chinese poetic history through its transcendent imagination and pure artistic conception. The location of "Peak Temple" is unverifiable, which ironically transforms it into a symbol of all sublime realms, carrying the poet's romantic fantasies about the cosmos and the boundaries between mortal and immortal worlds.

中文原文( Chinese )

夜宿峰顶寺，举手扪星辰。

不敢高声语，恐惊天上人。

Pre： Pure Serene Music: In Misty Vastness of Waters

Next：Dedicated to Yuan Danqiu’s Mountain Home

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.

The Temple on the Summit - Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)

The Temple on the Summit
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)