Hibiscus Mutabilis
- Poetry of Wang Anshi

English Translation

By water, countless cotton roses glow,

Dawn's rouge not yet steeped in petals' flow.

Like a tipsy belle with mirrored strife,

Reluctantly raising her makeup life.

Composed during Wang Anshi's later years in seclusion at Zhongshan, this poem reflects his tranquil state of mind after retiring to Jiangning (modern Nanjing). His poetic style matured into refined elegance during this period. Inspired by the sight of blooming hibiscus by the water's edge during his mountain retreat, the poem draws lyrical parallels between the flower's beauty and feminine grace, creating a vivid and delicate tableau that reveals the poet's keen observation of nature's aesthetics and human charm.

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中文原文( Chinese )

水边无数木芙蓉，露染燕脂色未浓。

正似美人初醉著，强抬青镜欲妆慵。

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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