English Rendering
They say the Crosswise River good;
I say the Crosswise River rude.
If winds should blow three days,e'en hills would be blown down,
And waves rise higher than the Temple in the town.
The Crosswise River (One of Six Poems)
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)
《横江词 (六首选一)》
Original Text (中文原文)
人道横江好，侬道横江恶。
一风三日吹倒山，白浪高于瓦官阁。
Analysis & Context
The Temple was 240 feet in height,to the southwest of present-day Nanjing.
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 →