English Rendering
See how Zhongnan Mountain soars
With its white top over floating clouds --
And a warm sky opening at the snow-line
While the town in the valley grows colder and colder.
On Seeing the Snow-peak of Zhongnan
- Poetry of Zu Yong
《终南望馀雪》
Original Text (中文原文)
终南阴岭秀，积雪浮云端。
林表明霁色，城中增暮寒。
Analysis & Context
Five-character-quatrain
Recorded in the twentieth volume of the Chinese Poetry Chronicle, the poem was written by the poet during his examination in Chang An. It is said that the poem was written whilst viewing the snowy scenery, when the poet suddenly felt a surge of cold during that evening, despite how great the scenery is, who is to know just how many poor scholars are suffering in the cold. The poem is just a creative expression of this, it’s meaning refreshingly clear and beautifully simple.
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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