Crossing the Strait in June on the 20th Day
- Poetry of Su Shi

《六月二十日夜渡海》

English Rendering

The dark night is fading for the break of dawn,

The stars, Hunter and Dipper, dimming away.

At last the endless wind and rain come to an end,

Giving way to a bright moon and beaming waves; -

Free of murky haze, free of extras as contrast,

Just a pure world by nature, a serene seascape.

No regret for the deadly journey at world’s edge,

I’ve lived it to the fullest, to the most exotic quest;-

A real taste of Confucius floating life on the sea,

A rough touch of Xuanyuan’s music and philosophy.

Crossing the Strait in June on the 20th Day by Su Shi
Crossing the Strait in June on the 20th Day by Su Shi

Original Text (中文原文)

参横斗转欲三更,苦雨终风也解晴。

云散月明谁点缀,天容海色本澄清。

空余鲁叟乘桴意,粗识轩辕奏乐声。

九死南荒吾不恨,兹游奇绝冠平生。

Analysis & Context

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, wishing to settle at his favorite place Changzhou (常州) , away from the chaos of the political platform. Unfortunately, the 7-year hardship in the desolate south borders took its toll, leaving him only a year in this world. So this is one of the last poems he composed.

Reader's Companion

The Essence of the Verse

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.

Reading Between the Lines

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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