Plum Blossoms
- Poetry of Wang Anshi

《梅花》
Plum Blossoms by Wang Anshi
English Translation

The plum blossoms at the corner of the wall

Blossom all alone in the chilly snowfall;

You can’t mistake them for snow mass from afar,

For a subtle fragrance keeps coming forth.

As the symbol of perseverance, hope, and purity, the plum blossom has been a constant theme in traditional Chinese literature. While other flowers wait for the warm breeze of spring to make their appearance, the plum blossom makes its appearance amidst the chilly wind and snow, charming passers-by with its subtle fragrance.

中文原文( Chinese )

墙角数枝梅，凌寒独自开。

遥知不是雪，为有暗香来。

- Last updated: 2025-05-11 21:32:18
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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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