English Rendering
I see the peach leaves in the book,
it said lover could revive if you throw leaves in river.
Now i drop by the Peach-leaves Ferry,
leaves on the river like the boats that conjure the soul,wind blows.
The Peach-leaves Ferry
- Poetry of Xu Wei
《桃叶渡》
Original Text (中文原文)
书中见桃叶，相忆如不死。
今过桃叶渡，但见一条水。
Analysis & Context
Xu Wei,the greatest painter in Ming dynasty,he is called"Chinese Van Gogh",he also is good at poems,plays and calligraphy.He was living in Shaoxing city,but no one knew his name.He was a talent,but couldn't find a way to get the fame he longed.Finally,he became crazy and used the awl to impale his ears.People thought he as a trash.In the end of his life,he died of poverty,no one cared him.
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.
- 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 →