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.
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。
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.
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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