A Xiang River melody comes from a zither played plaintively,
Its every note depicts every green river ripple of Xiang expressively.
Slender fingers over thirteen strings
Stroke and pluck her deep lament delicately.
During the banquet, her eyes languors show,
The zither neck placed at a slant the manner of dashing geese imitate.
When her play comes to a segment that is most mournful,
Her brows are like mountains in spring overcast with clouds that hang low.
哀筝一弄湘江曲，声声写尽江波绿。
纤指十三弦，细将幽恨传。
当筵秋水慢，玉柱斜飞雁。
弹到断肠时，春山眉黛低。
ZHANG Xian
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.
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.
Journey through the dynasties. Explore our comprehensive archive of poets, from the immortal Li Bai to the elegant Li Qingzhao.
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