English Rendering
The uncommon West Lake in the midst of sixth moon
Displays a scenery to other months unknown.
Green lotus leaves outspread as far as boundless sky;
Pink lotus blossoms take from sunshine a new dye.
The Lakeside Temple at Dawn
- Poetry of Yang Wanli
《晓出净慈寺送林子方》
Original Text (中文原文)
毕竟西湖六月中，风光不与四时同。
接天莲叶无穷碧，映日荷花别样红。
Analysis & Context
Composed circa 1180 during a summer morning at Jingci Temple, this quatrain—the second in a series—captures Yang Wanli's parting gaze upon West Lake's lotus-filled splendor. Written while seeing off friend Lin Zifang, the poem transmutes farewell melancholy into radiant natural imagery, where botanic grandeur becomes emotional subtext.
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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