Inscription at Zhao Yin Temple: Elder Xuan’s Chamber
- Poetry of Qiwu Qian
Long has the sage led souls to liberation’s shore,
Where empty cliffs drown in flowers’ misted lore.
Men see but his meditation’s grace,
Not the heart that acts with no trace.
His hermitage door faces the ravine’s sigh,
Farmers’ paths hide where woods run high.
He speaks of Dharma’s true nature—
His return outshines gold’s lure.
This poem, composed during Qiwu Qian’s visit to Zhaoyin Temple in the Tang Dynasty, reflects the deep cultural interplay between literati and Buddhism in medieval China. The "Abode of Xuan" refers to the dwelling of a revered monk named Xuan Gong, embodying the Tang elite’s fascination with monastic life. Through delicate depictions of mountain solitude and meditative stillness, Qiwu contemplates the essence of spiritual practice—where nature’s tranquility mirrors the Dharma’s ineffable truth.
开士度人久，空岩花雾深。
徒知燕坐处，不见有为心。
兰若门对壑，田家路隔林。
还言证法性，归去比黄金。
- 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.