English Rendering
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.
The Temple on the Summit
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
《题峰顶寺》
Original Text (中文原文)
夜宿峰顶寺，举手扪星辰。
不敢高声语，恐惊天上人。
Analysis & Context
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.
Reader's Companion
The Essence of the Verse
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Reading Between the Lines
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
- The Song of a Southern Maid V
- Observing the Moon
- Su Wu
- Ancient Air: A Northern Belle
- Awaiting the Wine That Doesn’t Come
- Consoling Myself
- The Summit Temple
- <Prelude to Water Melody> Sent to Ziyou on Mid-autumn Festival
- Invitation to Wine
- Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Cold sheet
- Coming Home ( Returning Home )
The Masters' Directory
Journey through the dynasties. Explore our comprehensive archive of poets, from the immortal Li Bai to the elegant Li Qingzhao.
View All Poets →