Song of Hawthorn - Visiting Rain Cliff Alone
- Poetry of Xin Qiji

《生查子·游雨岩》

- Last updated: 2024-03-31 16:30:15

中文原文

溪边照影行，天在清溪底。天上有行云，人在行云里。

高歌谁和余？空谷清音起。非鬼亦非仙，一曲桃花水。

English Translation

My walking shadow mirrored in the brook,

Heaven spreads out in deep clear water, look!

The clouds are floating in the sky;

I'm floating 'mid the clouds on high.

I sing but no echo I hear;

From empty vale rise voices clear.

Nor spirits nor fairies of spring

But peach blossoms on water sing.

By Xin Qiji

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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.

List of Chinese poets