Chrysanthemums
- Poetry of Yuan Zhen
《菊花》
English Translation
Around the cottage like Tao's autumn flowers grow;
Along the hedge I stroll until the sun slants low.
Not that I favor partially the chrysanthemum,
But it is the last flower after which none will bloom.
This work "Chrysanthemums" was composed by Yuan Zhen in 802 CE during the late autumn of Emperor Dezong's Zhenyuan era, inspired by chrysanthemum viewing in Chang'an. At this time, Yuan Zhen was at the dawn of his political career, yet untouched by its later tribulations. More than a pastoral vignette, the poem reflects his admiration for the flower's steadfast spirit, standing apart among Tang-era chrysanthemum odes.
中文原文( Chinese )
秋丛绕舍似陶家，遍绕篱边日渐斜。
不是花中偏爱菊，此花开尽更无花。
Next：Dream and No Dream
- 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.