Going upstream, I see mountain on mountain high;
The twelve green peaks with Sunny Terrace scrape the sky.
The king in hunting caught by sudden evening shower
Slept there and dreamed of the Goddess in Sunny Bower.
To her charm added the mist-veiled rainbow dress bright;
Away she flew with faded stars and clouds in flight.
However far I stretch my eyes, she can't be found;
Hearing the monkey's wail, in longing tears I'm drowned.
巴江上峡重复重，阳台碧峭十二峰。
荆王猎时逢暮雨，夜卧高丘梦神女。
轻红流烟湿艳姿，行云飞去明星稀。
目极魂断望不见，猿啼三声泪滴衣。
This poem takes the legend of the Goddess of Wushan as its central theme, blending depictions of the Three Gorges scenery, visions of the goddess, and the emotions of a traveler to create an ethereal and enchanting artistic realm. While sailing through the upper reaches of the Ba River's gorges, the poet is deeply moved by the mountain and river landscapes and mythological tales. Drawing upon ancient accounts of dreaming about the goddess, he skillfully merges reality with legend, presenting both the beauty of nature and profound reflections on life.
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.
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.
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