Mount Lu Viewed from Xunyang at Dusk
- Poetry of Meng Haoran

《晚泊浔阳望庐山》

Mount Lu Viewed from Xunyang at Dusk by Meng Haoran

English Translation

For miles and miles I sail and float;

High famed mountains are hard to seek.

By riverside I moor my boat,

Then I perceive the Censer Peak.

Knowing the hermit's life and way,

I love his solitary dell.

His hermitage not far away,

I hear at sunset but the bell.

-- Poem translator: Xu Yuanchong (许渊冲)

This riverside epiphany demonstrates how sacred geography can collapse historical time - the poet simultaneously sees a mountain, remembers a monk, and hears ancient wisdom. Meng teaches that profound destinations often appear when we cease frantic searching, and that true understanding emerges through layered perception (seeing, reading, hearing). The bell's enduring sound suggests spiritual truths persist beyond individual lives, offering consolation to all who feel belated in their seeking.

中文原文( Chinese )

挂席几千里，名山都未逢。

泊舟浔阳郭，始见香炉峰。

尝读远公传，永怀尘外踪。

东林精舍近，日暮空闻钟。

Pre： Seeing off Du Shisi South of the River

Next：No Data

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.

Mount Lu Viewed from Xunyang at Dusk - Poetry of Meng Haoran

Mount Lu Viewed from Xunyang at Dusk
- Poetry of Meng Haoran