Snow Clear on Lunar January 6th
- Poetry of Zeng Gong
Mountains exhale their soul as snow departs,
Spring's breath licks the world—winter's last art.
Tomorrow the apricot grove will explode in pink riot,
Quick! Call the flower-watchers—let's start the quiet.
Composed during the Xining era of Emperor Shenzong's reign, this poem captures a moment of seasonal transition in Qizhou (modern Jinan, Shandong), where Zeng Gong served as prefect. Written after a snowfall on the cusp of spring's arrival, it celebrates nature's reawakening while expressing anticipation for shared joys with friends. The work reflects Zeng's characteristic blend of administrative diligence and poetic sensitivity to natural rhythms—a testament to his belief in governance that harmonizes with cosmic order.
雪消山水见精神，满眼东风送早春。
明日杏园应烂漫，便须期约看花人。
- 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.
- A Boat in Spring on Jo-Ya Lake
- Night at Longxing Temple
- The Abbot’s Hut
- Passing by Monk Rong’s Hermitage
- Farewell to Magistrate Jia Heng
- Winter Night at My Lodging: To Imperial Archivist Chu
- Night in the Taoist Cosmos
- The Temple in Crimson Mist
- Inscription at Zhao Yin Temple: Elder Xuan’s Chamber
- Yiai Temple