Northern Slope Apricot Blossoms
- Poetry of Wang Anshi
The winding stream knots each flower tight,
All shadows vie for spring's sovereign right.
Rather be wind-blown snowflakes born—
Than roadside dust by cartwheels torn.
This poem was composed during Wang Anshi's retirement at Dinglin Mountain in Jiangning after his dismissal as chancellor. Appointed twice as prime minister from 1070 (Xining era) and dismissed twice, he ultimately withdrew to a life of quietude in the mountains. Yet though physically removed from court, his convictions remained unshaken. During his Jiangning years, he often expressed his unyielding character and political stance through poetry. This work, born from a state of serene detachment, uses mountain spring blossoms as a metaphor for his refusal to conform to vulgar trends, revealing his transcendent attitude toward political setbacks and his resolute character.
一陂春水绕花身，花影妖娆各占春。
纵被春风吹作雪，绝胜南陌碾成尘。
- 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.
- A Boat in Spring on Jo-Ya Lake
- Night at Longxing Temple
- The Abbot’s Hut
- Passing by Monk Rong’s Hermitage
- Farewell to Magistrate Jia Heng
- Winter Night at My Lodging: To Imperial Archivist Chu
- Night in the Taoist Cosmos
- The Temple in Crimson Mist
- Inscription at Zhao Yin Temple: Elder Xuan’s Chamber
- Yiai Temple