The morning glow shone on the painting screen
- Poetry of Wen Tingyun

《菩萨蛮》

English Rendering

The morning glow shone on the painting screen,

you smiled to stroke your hairs and snowy skin.

Lazy to draw the eyebrows,spoonily waited for someone.


The silver mirror reflected your angelic silhouette,

you looked to touch those lavenders and snowy violet.

Embroidered two mandarin ducks,spoonily yearned for someone.

The morning glow shone on the painting screen by Wen Tingyun
The morning glow shone on the painting screen by Wen Tingyun

Original Text (中文原文)

小山重叠金明灭,鬓云欲度香腮雪。

懒起画蛾眉,弄妆梳洗迟。

照花前后镜,花面交相映。

新帖绣罗襦,双双金鹧鸪。

Analysis & Context

By Wen Tingyun

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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