The Recumbent Green Pavilion of Fahui Temple
- Poetry of Su Shi

《法惠寺横翠阁》

English Rendering

At dawn I see the hills recumbent lie; At dusk I see them towering high.

It is true these green hills are full of grace, Trying to please you by changing their face.

A recluse has built a pavilion here, With nothing round but solitude far and near And this ridge with its thousand-pace-high crest Extending curtain-like from east to west.

Spring comes but brings for me not a home-coming dream; If autumn is sad, then spring is much sadder still.

On the lake I recall the Brocade-washing Streaml; And of Mount Brows ? 

reminds me the recumbent hill. How long can the carved railings be good to behold?

The man who leans on them will easily grow old.

More lamentable is dynastic rise and fall!

We can foretell briers will grow in this painted hall. If a rambler looks for the place where have rambled I, 

He' ll but find the recumbent hills before his eye.

The Recumbent Green Pavilion of Fahui Temple by Su Shi
The Recumbent Green Pavilion of Fahui Temple by Su Shi

Original Text (中文原文)

朝见吴山横,暮见吴山纵。

吴山故多态,转折为君容。

幽人起朱阁,空洞更无物。

惟有千步冈,东西作帘额。

春来故国归无期,人言秋悲春更悲。

已泛平湖思灌锦,更看横翠忆峨帽。

雕栏能得几时好,不独凭栏人易老。

百年兴废更堪哀,悬知草莽化池台。

游人寻我旧游处,但觅吴山横处来。

Analysis & Context

1073

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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