Tune: Jui-ho hsien- The Fisherman
- Poetry of Zheng Xie

《瑞鹤仙·渔家》

English Rendering

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.

Tune: Jui-ho hsien- The Fisherman by Zheng Xie
Tune: Jui-ho hsien- The Fisherman by Zheng Xie

Original Text (中文原文)

风波江上起,系扁舟绿杨,红杏村里。

羡渔娘风味,总不施脂粉,略加梳洗。

野花插髻,便胜似宝钗香珥。

乍呼郎撒网鸣榔,一棹水天无际。


美利,蒲筐包蟹,竹笼装虾,柳条穿鲤。

市城不远,朝日去,午归矣。

并携来一瓮谁家美酝,人与沙鸥同醉。

卧苇花一片茫茫,夕阳千里。

Analysis & Context

By Zheng Xie

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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