English Rendering
Mountains cover the white sun,
And oceans drain the golden river;
But you widen your view three hundred miles
By going up one flight of stairs.
At Heron Lodge ( Climbing Stork Tower )
- Poetry of Wang Zhihuan
《登鹳雀楼》#Philosophy #Sun #River
Original Text (中文原文)
Simplified Chinese
白日依山尽，黄河入海流。
欲穷千里目，更上一层楼。
Traditional Chinese
白日依山盡， 黃河入海流。
欲窮千里目， 更上一層樓。
Analysis & Context
Composed during the golden age of Tang Dynasty, this is one of Wang Zhihuan's most celebrated works. The poet ascended the Stork Tower (located in present-day Yongji, Shanxi) and, beholding the magnificent sunset over the Yellow River, penned this verse. It captures not only nature's vast splendor but also the poet's surging passion and progressive aspirations. Renowned for its concise language and profound vision, this poem has been hailed through the ages as an unparalleled masterpiece among seven-character quatrains.
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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- Invitation to Wine
- Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Cold sheet
- Coming Home ( Returning Home )
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