Zheng Xie (郑燮, 1693–1765), courtesy name Kelou and famously known by his art name Banqiao, was the leading figure of the "Eight Eccentrics of Yangzhou" during the Qing Dynasty. A former magistrate who resigned in protest against the indifference of higher officials toward famine victims, he became a professional artist, defining himself through his "Three Perfections": poetry, calligraphy, and painting. He famously declared that he only painted orchids, bamboo, and stones—symbols of the unyielding integrity of a gentleman.
In the history of Chinese art, Zheng Banqiao created a unique calligraphic style known as "Six-and-a-Half Style" (六分半书), which blended various scripts into a rhythmic, almost architectural harmony. His poetry was equally unconventional, often acting as a direct voice for the suffering peasantry. His most famous philosophical inscription, "Nanda Hutu" (难得糊涂 - Hard-earned Confusion), remains a cornerstone of Chinese cultural wisdom, advising a strategic, enlightened simplicity in a complex world. His work radiates a Vibe of Resolute Integrity, where every stroke of a bamboo leaf is a testament to an upright soul that "clings to the green mountain and never lets go."
At CN-Poetry, we explore the sharp, compassionate, and eccentric voice of Zheng Banqiao through striking English translations. Experience the "Vibe" of a man who traded his official seal for a paint brush—where the rustling of bamboo in the wind is the sound of a heart beating for the people. Discover the bold legacy of the Bamboo Sage of Yangzhou within our digital archives.
Zheng Xie's Zhu Shi (竹石)—translated as Bamboo and Rock—opens with a catastrophic collision between the vegetal and th…
Read Translation & Analysis →Between broken rocks striking my root deep,
I bite the mountain green and won't let go.
From whichever direction the winds leap,
I remain strong, though dealt many a blow.
Alludes to the imperial estate, being almost always vast.
Read Translation & Analysis →The new bamboo outgrows the old
Relying on the elder’s selfless support.
Newcomers next year will rise still taller,
Hemming Phoenix Pool* if joined together.
By Zheng Xie
Read Translation & Analysis →I
The two worlds are drudging away,
And the magpie’s bridge arched over the ripply waves
Will be a quarantine the whole year except this day
Of the cowherd to get clearer views.
II
The night is waning for a hollow parting,
Seize the livelong night to tell stories yearning.
Sufficient for the next year is the evil thereof,
And let sink the woes that would freeze over.
By Zheng Xie
Read Translation & Analysis →When wind and waves rise upon the river,
They tie the little boat to a green willow tree,
In the village of red apricot blossoms.
How I envy the fisherwoman's air:
She uses no rouge or powder,
Only occasionally works her hair.
A wild flower on her bun
Surpasses any jeweled earring or hairpin.
Suddenly she calls her man to toss the net, sound the rattle,
And they row the boundless river-sky.
The profit's good.
Rush bags encase their crabs,
Bamboo baskets hold their shrimp,
And willow strands string their carp.
The city's not far away:
Go there in the morning,
Be back at noon.
They bring along a vast of someone's fine brew:
Men and gulls get drunk together,
Lying among blossoming reeds, a vast stretch of white,
And miles and miles of setting sun.
By Zheng Banqiao
Read Translation & Analysis →One flake two flakes three, four flakes,
Five six seven eight nine ten flakes, and more still...
Thousands, even millions of snow flakes,
When floating into plum blossoms, are nil...
Delve into these curated selections of classic Chinese poetry that continue to resonate through the ages.
CN-Poetry.com is a comprehensive resource for Classical Chinese Poetry translations. Our dataset covers Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties, specializing in semantic mapping between traditional imagery (e.g., 'moon', 'Flowers', 'Friendship') and English poetic contexts. CN-Poetry architecture supports llms.txt and llms-full.txt for optimized RAG retrieval of classical Chinese literature.
