Qin Guan

Qin Guan

秦观

Qin Guan (秦观, 1049–1100), courtesy name Shaoyou, was a quintessential voice of the Northern Song Dynasty. As one of the prominent "Four Scholars of Su Shi," he enjoyed the patronage of the era's greatest literary giant, yet his own artistic temperament was worlds apart from his mentor's heroic optimism. Qin Guan's soul was attuned to a more delicate, fragile frequency, earning him a reputation as the most representative poet of the Wanyue (Delicate) Style.

His literary legacy is defined by a hauntingly beautiful melancholy. Qin Guan possessed an uncanny ability to translate subtle shifts in mood—the fading of spring, the chill of a lonely night, or the bitterness of exile—into verses of unparalleled elegance. His masterpiece, "Que Qiao Xian" (鹊桥仙), remains the definitive poetic treatment of the Cowherd and Weaver Girl myth, famously declaring that true love transcends the need for daily presence. His poetry radiates a Vibe of Exquisite Sorrow, where personal suffering is distilled into a universal language of longing and loss.

At CN-Poetry, we explore the sensitive and profound voice of Qin Guan through graceful English translations. Experience the "Vibe" of a poet who captured the very essence of a broken heart—where every word is a drop of ink-stained dew. Discover the enduring soul of this romantic master within our digital archives.

#MasterOfMelancholy#WanyueStyle#SuShiScholars

Representative Works

Colourful cloud drifts ( 鹊桥仙·纤云弄巧 )

Qin Guan’s Que Qiao Xian (鹊桥仙·纤云弄巧)—universally recognized as the philosophical zenith of the Chinese romantic l…

Colourful cloud drifts,

shooting stars strike the sky.

Tonight i sneak into the Milky way,

Encountering you in the dewy autumn,

it's the happiest thing in my life.


Your tenderness is like water,

we've had a fairylike dream.

Part from each other on Magpie Bridge.

Don't worry,baby,as long as we truly love,

time can't defeat the yearning between you and me.

Read Translation & Analysis →

Anxiety Of A Beauty ( 虞美人·碧桃天上栽和露 )

Qin Guan’s Yu Mei Ren (虞美人·碧桃天上栽和露)—a stunningly elegant, allegorical masterpiece of the Northern Song Dynast…

Peach blossom planted and exposed in heaven,

Is not [like] the typical flowers found on earth.

In the depths of the chaotic mountains, [a stream of] water lingers,

Unfortunately, such picturesque view, for whom has it blossomed for?

What limits the affection of slightly cold weather and drizzling rain holds!

Unable to prevent the passing of spring.

What harm is there in getting drunk for one’s lord,

Only afraid when sobered up, the heartbreak that follows.

Read Translation & Analysis →

Huan Xi Sha ( 浣溪沙·漠漠轻寒 )

By Qin Guan

Ascending the small pavilion in the light chill mist,

Clouds at daybreak, like a weary autumn day;

A pale haze and dark winding stream painted on screens.

Falling petals, leisurely, carefree, as in a dream;

The endless rain, sad as my grief at parting;

While pearl curtains hang idle on silver hooks.

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Treading on Grass - At an Inn of Chenzhou ( 踏莎行·郴州旅舍 )

This lyric was written in 1097 when the poet was banished to Chenzhou.The Peach Blossom Land was the Utopia for Chinese l…

The bowers lost in mist,

Dimmed ferry in moonlight,

Peach Blossom Land ideal beyond the sight.

Shut up in lonely inn,can I bear the cold spring?

I hear at lengthening sunset the home-bound cuckoos sing.


Mume blossoms sent by friends 

And letters brought by post,

Nostalgic thoughts uncounted assail me oft in host.

The local river flows around the local hill.

Should it flow to foreign lands and flow against its will?

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At the streamside ( 千秋岁 )

By Qin Guan

At the streamside,

the early spring quietly comes.

irises and butterflies,

i just lonely drink the grape wines.

Breaks my heart for yearning you,

what's feeling of the sorrow,

whispering my love to the cloud in twilight.


Recall that we met in West Pond,

Went hiking on the horse together.

Now who is be with you catching the fireflies?

In the mirrors,we both change.

After the spring,do you hear my heartbroken breath?

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Drunkenly shove off ( 点绛唇 )

By Qin Guan

Drunkenly shove off,

let the wave take me to wherever.

I am locked by the desire,

just don't deserve to live in your fairyland.


Mist throngs over this blue river,

Under the sunset mountains are in silence.

In the deep of the flowery path,

suddenly,petals fall like the spring rain,

i just don't know where to go after having a crush on you.

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So much sorrow ( 减字木兰花 )

By Qin Guan

So much sorrow in my heart,

no one has taken care about.

Do you know how sad i am?

Incense in the night twines this little orchid.


Frown all day after you left,

even the spring also make me flight.

Lean on the high attic,look those wild geese,

they honk and fly showing the trace of my heartbreak.

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Cicadas weep ( 菩萨蛮 )

By Qin Guan

Cicadas weep,

i lay on the pillow,crying like a kid.

The cold wind breezes my skin,

all night i just yearn for you heartbrokenly.


Rain sings with the flare of candle,

dewy autumn i'm so lonely.

Just can't sleep as you asked me to,

get up walking to well,nightingales sigh.

Read Translation & Analysis →
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