Inscribed for Official Shen Dongmei’s Mountain Pool​​​
- Poetry of Qiwu Qian

《题沈东美员外山池》
Inscribed for Official Shen Dongmei’s Mountain Pool​​​ by Qiwu Qian
English Translation

This immortal lord loves the Way divine,

His pond carved like Isles of Blest design.

Fish follow their whims in joy and play,

Boats drift or stay as they may.


Like Qin folk who knew fowl from hound,

Or Yao’s men who hermits found.

Returning home past my wicker gate,

I’m charmed by twilight’s tranquil state.

This poem was composed during the mid-Tang Dynasty, a period of relative stability when scholar-officials often vacillated between political engagement and reclusive aspirations. Qiwu Qian, renowned for his landscape and reclusive poetry, embodied a tranquil disposition, disdaining worldly power while embracing Daoist ideals of simplicity and natural harmony.

Shen Dongmei, a friend of Qiwu and a minor official (yuanwai, rank 6b), shared this philosophical inclination. In his leisure, Shen constructed a mountain pool modeled after the mythical Penglai Isles—a celestial realm in Daoist lore where immortals dwelled. Among Tang literati, such gardens were not merely physical retreats but spiritual sanctuaries, symbolizing an idealized existence detached from worldly clamor.

Upon visiting this secluded haven, Qiwu was deeply moved by its serenity and composed this poem—both a tribute to his friend’s refined taste and a meditation on the allure of reclusion.

中文原文( Chinese )

仙郎偏好道，凿沼象瀛洲。

鱼乐随情性，船行任去留。

秦人辨鸡犬，尧日识巢由。

归客衡门外，仍怜返景幽。

- Last updated: 2025-10-22 14:34:31
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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.

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