"Composed in 1078 during Su Shi's governorship of Xuzhou, this cí forms part of a quintet written after successful rain prayers at Stone Pond. Following a devastating drought, the poems document village jubilation with ethnographic precision—…"
"This poem paints a vivid picture of his farm life in Dongpo, where he embraced a self-reliant lifestyle that stood in stark contrast to the chaotic political landscape surrounding him. Indifferent to worldly troubles that ensnared many of hi…"
"(En. trans. by Julia Min)"
"This is a spontaneous piece of composition written right after a delightful trip on December 7, 1084, during the Shenzong era of the Song Dynasty. At that time, Su Shi and Liu Shiyan, the governor of Sizhou on Huainan East Road, visited Xuyi…"
"This is a travelogue in the form of prose poetry. Su Shi’s original calligraphy is still well-preserved and open to the public in Taiwan, at the National Palace Museum. There are many sources available online today introducing this famous p…"
"There’s an interesting story behind this little poem. One day Su Shi was invited to a dinner hosted by Scholar Ho at Huangzhou. A local pastry was served for tea. Dongpo really loved the flaky flavor and asked Ho: “what’s the name and how…"
"Su Shi crafted this 4-line, one stanza poem (jueju 绝句) in response to the Emperor's request for a poem on a festive occasion. In 1093, he was called to the Court from Yangzhou. At that time, he served as the Minister of the Military Depart…"
"Dongpo composed this song in memory of his beloved mentor Lord Ouyang Xiu. It’s another showpiece where an ordinary theme is made unique with the background story of this famous man. Not to mention, the sensational short phrases were wisely…"
"This poem, composed with colloquial language, reads just like the tone of a short message to the Head of Prefecture. It reveals interesting vibes under the lines, where you can easily sense the bright and breezy spirit of Su Shi after he fin…"
"This poem offers a unique perspective to appreciate the coming of a new spring from a 40-year-old man recovering in his sickbed. A cheerful vibe dances in the air as a new sun rises, bringing new hope for himself after enduring a long illnes…"
"Su Shi was banished even further to Huizhou near the southern border in 1094. Such a penalty was generally regarded as a death sentence. Yet, the 57-year-old Dongpo revived again, enjoying fresh local produce that could make some people in t…"
"It was February 1080 when Su Shi and his family arrived in exile at the remote town Huangzhou, a long trip from the capital after being released from his 130 days in prison. It was a new birth for him and his family, just like the promising …"
"Hui Chong（965- 1017）was a Song Dynasty monk, and a painter particularly famous for his landscape paintings with mountains and water features often enriched with geese, ducks and birds – an expression of everyday life in the country, or i…"
"It was a time of success. It was a time of loss. In 1057, Su Shi actually came out first in the Imperial Examination at a young age of 21, an immediate success well-known throughout the country. His younger brother Su Zhe (aged 19) was on th…"
"It is unknown what year Su Shi composed this poem. It could either be around 1073 or around 1089 when he was governor of Hangzhou. Judging from the deep philosophical understanding about fame and fate, critics concluded that it could be li…"
"It was during his 3-year probationary period when Su Shi first met Dong Chuan, and they had been great friends ever since. The two young talents had many enjoyable moments sharing views on life and career, especially their ambitions of great…"
"1089 saw Su Shi governing Hangzhou for the 2nd time amid his second rise in political status after his first banishment to Huangzhou. He was 58 years old then, still the same man with the same character and eloquence, but touched with more c…"
"It was the year 1100 when Dongpo was finally pardoned by the Emperor and granted a return to the north. The New Law and the New Party had met their limits. Su Shi and his followers were on the Court’s agenda again. He was 60 years old, wish…"
"This tea poem was composed during spring in 1100 at Hainan Island, “the end of the world” as often called by ancient Chinese writers. The new season tea could be sourced from local friends or students. Although he was banished as far as hi…"
"This short poem is an improvisational writing when Dongpo saw a painting of him by the famous artist Gonglin (李龙眠, 字公麟). It's a long sigh of deep despair towards his unfulfilled ambition for his country. A strong sadness and self-ridic…"
"It was likely 1084 when Dongpo visited his favorite place again. He was at last released from his banishment at Haungzhou, now on his way north. Lord Ouyang had been a great influence on Su Shi ever since the young lad entered the Imperial…"
"Lantern Festival: The Chinese New Year, usually in February, is a traditional festival to celebrate the starting of the spring season, hence called also “ the Spring Festival”. Lantern Festival is the last day, or more accurately, the 15th…"
"The first line has become a famous saying often used to emphasize how much we should cherish a budding spring night, usually implying sensual enjoyments for lovers. The romantic vibes stream vividly from a blooming garden gilded by the soft…"
"Sheng: a traditional wind musical instrument made with bamboo pipes."
"Dongpo, the Chinese pinyin for ‘东坡’ (meaning east slope), was a barren land on a hillside near the Red Clift outside the old East Gate of Huangzhou Town. The farm life as a criminal politician opened a unique chapter for Su Shi where he …"
"The Chinese Baby Baptism is a traditional ceremony where a newborn is bathed for the first time three days after birth. While most parents and relatives express their best wishes for the child to become handsome, intelligent, and wealthy, Do…"
"It’s a sentimental poem, a spur-of-the-moment yet well-structured with a yin-yang revolving pattern for a dynamic outcome built with words. Your imaginary eye would follow the poet from east to west, and back to east, then from the distant …"
"Imagine Dongpo in a tipsy mood after drinking a few bowls of wine with friends in a gracious garden in its fullest bloom. The place was showered in shimmering golden light except for the shadow which was getting bigger and longer as the sun …"
"Another good example of qijue (4-line poem with 7-character verse) which is very short but nothing short of ambition in exploring the theme to the maximum where the underlined message is far greater than four lines. A glimpse of a short mome…"
"This poem painted a pastoral setting, vividly touched with personified details on the subject and the relation between man and nature. The enduring appeal of a country life has been waving to Dongpo ever since his service in the Royal Court,…"
