English Rendering
Of precious ginko wood are these graceful beams,
The eaves are woven lemongrass so sweet.
The lingering clouds between the purlins, it seems,
Would turn to downpour the human world to greet.
The Wenxingguan Hall
Poetry of Wang Wei
《文杏馆》
Original Text (中文原文)
文杏裁为梁，香茅结为宇。
不知栋里云，去作人间雨。
Meaning & Analysis
By Wang Wei
Related Themes
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.
- Deer Enclosure
- An Early Audience at the Palace of Light, Harmonizing Secretary Jia Zhi's Poem
- Watching the Hunt
- The Lake Qi
- The Pepper Garden
- Mengcheng Mound
- The Summit Temple
- <Prelude to Water Melody> Sent to Ziyou on Mid-autumn Festival
- Invitation to Wine
- Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Cold sheet
- Coming Home ( Returning Home )
The Masters' Directory
Journey through the dynasties. Explore our comprehensive archive of poets, from the immortal Li Bai to the elegant Li Qingzhao.
View All Poets →