Through the Dynasties · LD10

Tang

Cosmopolitan peak and golden age of classical arts

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Classical Poetry

Orthodox classical Chinese poetry spanning archaic ballads to Tang regulated verse.55 works
  1. Thoughts in the Quiet NightLi Bai · Regulated QuatrainsLifting my head, I gaze at the bright moon; lowering my head, I dream of home.
  2. Spring ViewDu Fu · Regulated OctavesBeacon fires have burned through three months; a letter from home is worth ten thousand pieces of gold.
  3. Song of Everlasting RegretBai Juyi · Old-Style SongsTurning with a single smile, a hundred charms arose; all the beauties of the palace faded without color.
  4. Clear and Even Melody · Part 1 (Clouds Recall Her Raiment)Li Bai · Regulated QuatrainsClouds recall her floating robes, blossoms her radiant face; spring breezes brush the balustrade in heavy glistening dew.
  5. Farewell to a Friend · Frosty Night on the Reed WatersXue Tao · Regulated QuatrainsIn watery reaches reeds glisten with night frost; chill moonlight and mountain peaks merge in deep azure.
  6. Lament on Colored SilkShangguan Wan'er · Regulated QuatrainsLeaves fall over Lake Dongting at autumn's start, longing for you across ten thousand miles. Chilly dew cools the quilt as the moon sets over vacant screens.
  7. Red CliffDu Mu · Regulated QuatrainsHad the east wind not aided Master Zhou, spring in the Bronze Sparrow Tower would have locked away the Two Qiaos.
  8. The Bailiff at ShihaoDu Fu · Old-Style SongsThe living merely eke out their days; the dead are gone for evermore!
  9. Farewell to Vice-Magistrate Du on His Posting to ShuWang Bo · Regulated OctavesIf within the four seas a bosom friend remains, heaven's farthest edge is next door.
  10. Song on Ascending the Youzhou TerraceChen Zi'ang · Old-Style SongsBefore me I see not the ancients; behind me I see not those to come. Pondering the boundless infinity of heaven and earth, alone in grief my tears stream down!
  11. Occasional Poem on Returning HomeHe Zhizhang · Regulated QuatrainsLeaving young and returning old, my native accent remains while temple hair has thinned. Children meet me but recognize me not, smilingly asking: 'Whence comes our guest?'
  12. Autumn Twilight in the Mountain DwellingWang Wei · Regulated OctavesBright moon shines among the pines; clear spring flows over rocks. Though spring blossoms fade at will, the noble recluse may naturally stay.
  13. Mission to the FrontierWang Wei · Regulated OctavesAcross the vast desert a lone column of smoke rises straight; over the long river the setting sun hangs round.
  14. Visiting an Old Friend's CottageMeng Haoran · Regulated OctavesGreen trees encircle the village edge; emerald mountains slant beyond outer walls. Opening windows toward threshing yards, winecups in hand we talk of mulberries and hemp.
  15. Farewell to Dong DaGao Shi · Regulated QuatrainsWorry not that no kindred spirits lie on the road ahead; under heaven, who does not recognize your renown?
  16. Song of White Snow in Farewell to Assistant Magistrate Wu Returning to the CapitalCen Shen · Old-Style SongsAs if overnight a spring breeze had arrived, thousands of trees blossom with pear flowers. Beyond winding peaks you vanish from sight, leaving only horseshoe tracks in deep white snow.
  17. Going Beyond the FrontierWang Changling · Regulated QuatrainsThe moon of Qin, the border passes of Han; after ten thousand leagues of marching, our soldiers have not returned. If only the Flying General of Dragon City were still here, no barbarian cavalry would ever cross the Yin Mountains.
  18. On Ascending Stork TowerWang Zhihuan · Regulated QuatrainsThe bright sun slants along the mountains and sinks; the Yellow River surges into the eastern sea. If you desire to see a thousand leagues afar, ascend yet another story higher.
  19. The Hard Road to ShuLi Bai · Old-Style SongsAh, alas, how perilous and towering! The road to Shu is harder than climbing to the cerulean blue sky!
  20. The Hard RoadLi Bai · Old-Style SongsA time will come to ride the winds and cleave the waves; I shall hoist cloud-high sails straight across the azure sea!
  21. Departing Early from Baidi CityLi Bai · Regulated QuatrainsWhile gibbons on both shores wail incessantly, my swift light skiff has slipped past ten thousand fold mountain ranges.
  22. Gazing on Mount TaiDu Fu · Regulated OctavesSomeday I shall surely mount the highest peak, and look down upon all other mountains dwarf-small!
  23. Song of My Thatched Cottage Wrecked by Autumn GaleDu Fu · Old-Style SongsHow could I secure ten thousand grand mansions, to shelter all destitute scholars under heaven in beaming smiles! Standing unmoved through wind and storm, secure as a mountain.
  24. Climbing HighDu Fu · Regulated OctavesBoundless falling leaves rustle and shower down; unending Yangtze waters surge and roll on. Ten thousand leagues away lamenting autumn, forever a wandering guest; enduring a lifetime of sickness, all alone I climb the high terrace.
  25. Song of the PipaBai Juyi · Old-Style SongsWe both are drifted wanderers cast to heaven's far corners; meeting like this, what need is there for prior acquaintance!
  26. The Brocade ZitherLi Shangyin · Regulated OctavesOn vast azure sea bright moon weeps pearly tears; in Lantian under warm sun fine jade generates mist. Could this deep affection wait only to become a distant memory? Even at that very moment, one was already lost in melancholy daze.
  27. Early Departure from Mount ShangWen Tingyun · Regulated OctavesCockcrow at thatched inn under the moon; footprints upon the frost of wooden bridge. Oak leaves carpet mountain trails; trifoliate orange blossoms brighten post-station walls.
  28. Heaven Answered · ExcerptLiu Zongyuan · Chu ElegiesOriginally all is One Primordial Qi, generating and transforming ceaselessly without prior design. Who governs it? Who rules it? What does Heaven say? The four seasons move, the hundred things are born.
  29. Farewell to a FriendXue Tao · Regulated QuatrainsOver riverside reed-beds night frost settles; chilly moonlight and mountain hues merge in misty azure. Who says a thousand-mile parting begins tonight? In parting dreams my spirit shall still return to you.
  30. Lotuses on the PondXue Tao · Regulated QuatrainsOars stir splashing waters around uneven green lily pads; leaning on the balustrade, breezes sway every fragrant stalk. Grateful to the washing maidens who left them unpicked, allowing rain-sheltering leaves to cover paired mandarin ducks.
  31. To the Neighbor Maiden · Easy to Find a Priceless GemYu Xuanji · Regulated OctavesShy of the sun, shielding with gauze sleeves; melancholy in spring, sluggish to dress. A priceless gem is easy to attain, yet rare indeed is a devoted lover. Weeping secretly upon the pillow, broken-hearted amidst flowers. When you yourself can gaze upon dashing Song Yu, why fret over Wang Chang?
  32. Gazing with Sorrow in Jiangling, Sent to Zi'anYu Xuanji · Regulated OctavesMaple leaves in thousand and ten thousand branches; dusk sails move sluggishly past the river bridge. My heart pining for you is like the West River's surge, coursing eastward day and night without ever ceasing.
  33. Eight ExtremesLi Ye · Regulated QuatrainsMost near yet most distant are East and West; most deep yet most shallow is the crystal brook; most high and most luminous are the Sun and Moon; most intimate yet most estranging are husband and wife.
  34. Bodhi Gatha · Originally Not a Single Thing ExistsHuineng (Sixth Patriarch) · Regulated QuatrainsBodhi originally has no tree, nor does the bright mirror have a stand. From the beginning not a single thing exists—where then could dust ever alight!
  35. Gatha of the Body as Bodhi TreeShenxiu · Regulated QuatrainsThe body is the Bodhi tree; the mind is like a clear mirror on a stand. Constantly and diligently wipe it clean, never allowing dust to collect.
  36. Upon the Lofty Mountain PeakHanshan (Cold Mountain) · Old-Style SongsUpon the lofty mountain peak, looking in four directions stretches boundlessly. Sitting alone unknown to men, a solitary moon illuminates the chilly spring. In the cold spring there is no real moon; the moon abides serene in the blue sky. Chanting this solitary song, the melody ends as the mystery deepens.
  37. People Ask for the Way to Cold MountainHanshan (Cold Mountain) · Old-Style SongsPeople ask the road to Cold Mountain; yet Cold Mountain has no open road. In midsummer ice remains unthawed; when the sun rises, mists drift obscurely. How did someone like me reach here? Because our minds are not the same! If your heart resembled mine, you too could pass right through.
  38. Boundless Is the Sacred Mountain TrailHanshan (Cold Mountain) · Old-Style SongsBoundless is the sacred mountain road, rugged along cold stream banks. Chirping birds chorus around the solitary wandering traveler. Silently the breeze brushes the cheek; thick snowdrifts pile upon the body. Morning by morning seeing no sun, year after year unaware of spring.
  39. Ever Living in Carefree EaseShide · Regulated QuatrainsEver delighting in the carefree charm of clouded mountains, paying no heed to the fickle warmth of worldly manners. A bowl of leftover broth fills the belly; clad in a straw cloak, lying down to gaze at emerald mountain folds.
  40. Freedom from Anger Is the PreceptShide · Old-Style SongsFreedom from anger is the ultimate precept; a pure mind is true renunciation. When inner nature merges with the cosmic essence, all dharmas are without difference. Patience, patience! The two words 'Patience and Forbearance' are a priceless jewel!
  41. Seeking Lu Hongjian Without Finding HimJiaoran (Monk Jiaoran) · Regulated OctavesThough his new cottage has moved far, the rustic path winds deep into mulberry and hemp. By the hedge chrysanthemums are newly planted, yet to open in early autumn. Knocking on the gate stirs no barking dog; turning to inquire of the western neighbor, who replies: 'He has gone deep into the mountains, returning each day only when the sun slants low.'
  42. Song of Tea Drinking Teasing Governor Cui ShiJiaoran (Monk Jiaoran) · Old-Style SongsThe first sip cleanses drowsiness, stirring bright clarity that fills heaven and earth. The second sip purifies my spirit, like falling rain settling the drifting dust. The third sip leads straight to the Dao—why labor bitterly to break vexations? Who understands that the Way of Tea preserves your authentic nature? Only immortals attain such grace.
  43. Listening to the ZitherLingche (Monk Lingche) · Old-Style SongsAfter guests depart and the wooden gate is barred, the zither rings crystal-pure while night lingers on. Distant and leisurely flows the ancient water melody, serene as the homeland of white clouds. Body and worldly objects rest in quietude; sounds and thoughts are forgotten together in pure emptiness.
  44. Presented to Grand Tutor QianGuanxiu (Monk Guanxiu) · Regulated OctavesNobility presses upon a man leaving little freedom; soaring like dragons and rising like phoenixes, the momentum cannot be checked. In the hall fragrant blossoms intoxicate three thousand guests; a single sword chills fourteen prefectures with icy frost.
  45. Inscribed on a Mountain Dwelling's Wall in Late SpringGuanxiu (Monk Guanxiu) · Regulated OctavesThe brushwood gate stands in quietude as fragrant millet rice steams; mountain hearth smokes curl as spring rains clear into sunlight. Courtyard flowers bloom in moist mist, streams flowing vast and deep; doves call at the valley mouth under mulberry shades. Only the returning moon above the crystal brook shines its pure, timeless light upon the rustic wooden door.
  46. Early Plum Blossoms · Deep in the Snow of the Front VillageQiji (Monk Qiji) · Regulated OctavesTen thousand frozen trees seem ready to snap; solitary roots alone awaken with hidden warmth. Deep in the thick snows of the forward village, last night a single branch blossomed into flower. The breeze wafts secret fragrance forth; birds peer down upon its pure white charm.
  47. The SwordsmanQiji (Monk Qiji) · Regulated QuatrainsDrawing the sword from its sheath, the heavens grow dark; sunlight fades as frost and snow thicken. The sharp blade in hand never strikes in vain, slaying every injustice in the mortal realm!
  48. Quatrain · Quieting Essence and Energy to Nurture the SpiritLü Dongbin (Lü Yan) · Regulated QuatrainsQuieting essence and calming breath to nurture the spirit, closing eyes and delving within to become a True Immortal. Rather than boasting of riches and rank in the human world, it is far better to delight in pristine simplicity beneath the forest boughs.
  49. Invitation to Liu the NineteenthBai Juyi · Regulated QuatrainsAs dusk falls, snow begins to drift—will you join me for a cup?
  50. Song of LiangzhouWang Han · Regulated QuatrainsDo not laugh if we lie drunk upon the battlefield—since ancient times, how many warriors ever return?
  51. Army Life: Part IVWang Changling · Regulated QuatrainsThrough a hundred battles in yellow sands, our golden armors wear thin; until we defeat Loulan, we shall never return.
  52. Song of the Parting SonMeng Jiao · Yuefu BalladsWho could say that the heart of an inch-long blade of grass could ever repay the boundless sunshine of three springs?
  53. After Passing the Imperial ExaminationMeng Jiao · Regulated QuatrainsProud in the spring breeze, my horse's hooves fly fast; in a single day I see all the flowers of Chang'an.
  54. Song of ChangganLi Bai · Old-Style SongsYou came riding a bamboo horse, circling the well-rail, playing with green plums.
  55. Written at Wujiang PavilionDu Mu · Regulated QuatrainsThe young men east of the Yangtze were many and gifted; had he returned, rolling up the dust again, who knows what might have been?

Ci Lyrics

Pinnacle of lyric verse and musical poetry spanning delicate grace and heroic grandeur.10 works
  1. Deva-Like Barbarian: Layered Hills of Gold Shimmer and FadeWen Tingyun · Short LyricsIlluminating the blossom in front and back mirrors, flower and face reflect in mutual beauty. Newly pasted on embroidered silk robe, paired golden partridges in flight.
  2. Deva-Like Barbarian: Crystal Pillow Behind Crystal BlindsWen Tingyun · Short LyricsBehind crystal blinds upon a glass pillow, warm fragrance stirs dreams on mandarin-duck brocade. Willows over the river resemble mist, wild geese fly beneath the fading moon.
  3. Water Clock Song: Jade Incense BurnerWen Tingyun · Short LyricsParasol trees, midnight rain, heedless that sorrowful souls dread hearing it. Leaf by leaf, drop by drop, dripping upon empty stone stairs until dawn.
  4. Dreaming of the South: Ten Thousand RegretsWen Tingyun · Short LyricsToilette finished, leaning alone upon the river-viewing tower. A thousand sails pass by yet none is his, slanted sunlight tender, waters flowing on and on. Heartbroken by White Duckweed Islet.
  5. Deva-Like Barbarian: Everyone Speaks of the Splendor of JiangnanWei Zhuang · Short LyricsEveryone speaks of the splendor of Jiangnan; a traveler should only grow old in Jiangnan. Spring waters are greener than the sky; falling asleep listening to rain aboard a painted boat.
  6. Deva-Like Barbarian: Now I Recall the Joys of JiangnanWei Zhuang · Short LyricsNow I recall the joys of Jiangnan: in those days I was young and spring robes were light. Riding a steed leaning by the slanted bridge, entire pavilions of crimson sleeves waved in greeting.
  7. Deva-Like Barbarian: Melancholy Farewell Night at Red ChamberWei Zhuang · Short LyricsSpeaking of love upon the lute strings. The moon of those days still shines, which once illuminated colorful clouds returning home.
  8. Lotus Leaf Cup: Remembering That Year Beneath the FlowersWei Zhuang · Short LyricsRemembering that year beneath the flowers, deep in the night, when I first met Lady Xie. Twin crystal pillows beside tortoiseshell screens, casting away all worldly fame.
  9. The Daoist Priestess: The Seventeenth of the Fourth MonthWei Zhuang · Short LyricsThe seventeenth of the fourth month, exactly one year ago today, when I parted from you. Suppressing tears, feigning to lower my face; bearing bashful shame, half-knitting brows. Unaware my soul was shattered, left only with dreams following along.
  10. Wutong Shadow · The Setting Sun SlantsLü Dongbin (Lü Yan) · Short LyricsThe setting sun slants down; the autumn wind blows chillingly. Who upon a solitary skiff plays the jade flute, awakening floating reflections upon the Xiang River?

Rhapsody & Parallel Prose

Grand rhapsodies and parallel prose showcasing acoustic symmetry and ornate eloquence.4 works
  1. Preface to the Prince of Teng's PavilionWang Bo · Parallel ProseSunset clouds and solitary wild duck fly together; autumn waters and the boundless sky share a single hue.
  2. Rhapsody on the Epang PalaceDu Mu · Prose RhapsodiesThose who destroyed the Six States were the Six States themselves, not Qin; that which exterminated Qin was Qin itself, not the people of the world. Qin had no leisure to mourn for itself, but posterity mourns it; if posterity mourns it yet fails to take it as a warning, they will only cause later posterity to mourn them in turn!
  3. Rhapsody on the Great PengLi Bai · Prose RhapsodiesThe Great Peng will one day rise alongside the wind, soaring straight up ninety thousand li! Even if the wind subsides and it descends, it can still overturn the waters of the vast ocean, churning three thousand li of roaring waves and stirring ninety thousand li of soaring clouds!
  4. Rhapsody on the Bright Hall · ExcerptLi Bai · Prose RhapsodiesMagnificent is the Bright Hall, crowning antiquity beyond compare! Its colossal design overwhelms Kunlun, soaring high into layered skies, rooted deep into massive earth. Nine tiers thrown open, ten thousand nations arrive in tribute.

Classical Prose

Authoritative classical prose from Pre-Qin philosophers to Tang-Song prose masters.20 works
  1. Manifesto on Behalf of Xu Jingye Denouncing Wu ZhaoLuo Binwang · Essays & MemorialsEre the mound of earth on imperial tomb is dry, where can the six-foot royal orphan turn for refuge? Look upon realm today and ask: whose domain is it after all!
  2. On TeachersHan Yu · Essays & MemorialsA teacher is one who transmits the Dao, imparts knowledge, and resolves perplexities. Pupils need not be inferior to teachers, and teachers need not be superior to pupils; some hear the Dao earlier than others, and specialties differ in craft—that is all.
  3. Record of the Small Stone PoolLiu Zongyuan · Travel WritingIn the pool were a hundred or so fish, all seeming to swim through empty void with nothing supporting them. Sunlight penetrates straight down casting shadows on stone, motionless one instant, then darting afar in a flash.
  4. Inscription for My Humble CottageLiu Yuxi · Epitaphs & ElegiesMountains need not be high—if immortals dwell there, they become renowned; waters need not be deep—if dragons reside, they become sacred. Though this is a humble room, my virtuous character makes it fragrant.
  5. Inquiry into the True WayHan Yu · Essays & MemorialsUniversal love is called benevolence; acting with righteousness is called justice. Proceeding from these is called the Way; possessing completeness within oneself without depending on external things is called virtue.
  6. Inquiry into the Source of SlanderHan Yu · Essays & MemorialsThe noble men of antiquity held themselves to heavy and exhaustive standards, while treating others with gentle lenience. The so-called gentlemen of today do the reverse: demanding perfection of others while pardoning themselves cheaply.
  7. Explanation on the Advancement of LearningHan Yu · Essays & MemorialsMastery in scholarship thrives upon diligence and is ruined by frivolous play; moral conduct succeeds through independent contemplation and is destroyed by thoughtless conformity.
  8. Miscellaneous Discourses IV: On HorsesHan Yu · NotebooksOnly when the world has a Bo Le are there Thousand-League Steeds. Thousand-League Steeds are common, but a Bo Le is rare.
  9. Memorial Text for the Twelfth NephewHan Yu · Epitaphs & ElegiesAlas and woe! Alas and woe! When you fell ill I knew not the hour, when you died I knew not the day. Words have an end but sorrow is infinite—do you know this, or know it not?
  10. Postscript to the Biography of Censor ZhangHan Yu · Letters & PrefacesDefending a single city, guarding the entire realm, shielding Jianghuai, and crushing rebel momentum. That the empire did not perish—whose achievement was it!
  11. On the Feudal SystemLiu Zongyuan · Essays & MemorialsFeudal enfeoffment was not the arbitrary invention of sages, but an inevitable historical force. The prefecture-county system has endured for two thousand years unalterable, aligning with universal justice under Heaven.
  12. Account of the Snake CatcherLiu Zongyuan · NotebooksWhen brutal tax collectors arrive in our village, howling east and west, rampaging north and south. Who knew the poison of ruthless taxation was deadlier than this venomous snake!
  13. Biography of Camel Guo the Tree PlanterLiu Zongyuan · NotebooksFollow the tree's natural laws to fulfill its innate nature. Fulfilling its nature makes the tree flourish; governing people is exactly the same.
  14. First Excursion to the Western MountainLiu Zongyuan · Travel WritingMy mind coagulated and physical frame dissolved, communing silently in oneness with myriad cosmic transformations. Only then did I realize I had never truly journeyed before—my true journey began with this mountain.
  15. Preface to Poems of the Foolish StreamLiu Zongyuan · Travel WritingWater is what wise men delight in. Why then is this stream alone named 'Foolish'? Because its currents lie low and cannot irrigate fields; yet secluded, pure and fragrant, it resembles the inner contentment of the foolish.
  16. Letter to Governor Han of JingzhouLi Bai · Letters & PrefacesLi Bai hears scholars across the empire gather saying: 'One need not be ennobled with ten thousand households, if only one can make the acquaintance of Governor Han of Jingzhou!' How could men's reverence reach such lofty heights? Li Bai is a commoner from Longxi wandering across Chu and Han. At fifteen I loved swordsmanship and visited lords; at thirty my writings were mature, presented to chancellors and ministers.
  17. Letter to Wei Zhongli on the Way of the TeacherLiu Zongyuan · Letters & PrefacesIn Shu dogs bark at the sun; in Yue dogs bark at snow. Qu Yuan wrote: 'Town dogs bark in packs, barking at whatever they find strange.' Since my exile, people across the realm have regarded me as an anomaly—how dare I presume to be a master to others!
  18. The Classic of Tea: OriginLu Yu · NotebooksAs a beverage, tea is most fitting for people of refined conduct and modest virtue.
  19. Preface to the Great Tang Records on the Western RegionsXuanzang · Letters & PrefacesTraveling alone through remote realms, crossing shifting sands and snow-bound passes across 138 kingdoms to illuminate the grand horizon of a golden age.
  20. Poems with Their Stories · Emotions (Excerpt)Meng Qi · NotebooksSo he broke a mirror, and each took one half.

Classical Fiction

Narrative masterworks from Six Dynasties strange tales to epic Ming-Qing novels.9 works
  1. Record of the World Inside the PillowShen Jiji · Tang–Song TalesScholar Lu yawned, stretched and awoke, finding himself still reclining in the inn, Old Master Lu seated at his side, and the host's millet meal not yet cooked. Lu caressed the pillow and sighed: 'Was it all a dream?' The Daoist master smiled: 'The gratifications of human life are precisely like this!'
  2. Story of Yingying / Encounter with a FairyYuan Zhen · Tang–Song TalesAwaiting the moon beneath the western chamber, the doorway stands half open to the wind. Flower shadows sway brushing against the wall, as if my jade lover were arriving. First seduce, then abandon—such is the eternal tragic grievance of devoted women.
  3. Legend of the Curly-Bearded Guest · The Three Heroes of the Dusty RealmDu Guangting · Tang–Song TalesLady Hongfu fled by night to join Li Jing, meeting the Curly-Bearded Guest on the road to swear fraternal vows. Beholding Li Shimin's radiant celestial presence, the Curly-Bearded Guest sighed: 'He is the true Son of Heaven! The Central Plains are not for me.' Giving his entire fortune to Li Jing, he departed to become King of Fuyu—immortalized as the Three Heroes of the Dusty Realm.
  4. Legend of Liu Yi · Delivering the Dragon Princess's LetterLi Chaowei · Tang–Song TalesFailing examinations, Liu Yi met a weeping shepherdess in the wilds: 'I am the daughter of the Dragon King of Dongting, tormented by my husband the Prince of Jing.' Out of righteous chivalry, Liu Yi carried her letter deep into Dongting underwater palace. The Qiantang Dragon Lord roared in fury, rescuing the princess. Rejecting rewards, Liu Yi ultimately wed the grateful Dragon Maiden as immortal companions.
  5. Story of Miss RenShen Jiji · Tang–Song TalesThough Miss Ren was a fox maiden, she was pure, devoted, and unwavering in marital fidelity. When Zheng was poor, Ren sustained him; when noble Yin assaulted her, Ren resisted to death. Though of beastly origin, her noble integrity puts faithless human scholars to shame!
  6. Story of Li WaBai Xingjian · Tang–Song TalesWhen the Xingyang scholar fell into beggar's misery, Li Wa saw him and wept: 'That you have come to this, is it not my sin?' Redeeming her own bond, she sheltered him by lamplight, coaching his studies until he passed first place as prefect, and Li Wa was enfeoffed Duchess of Qian—a celebrated triumph of love and redemption.
  7. Story of Huo XiaoyuJiang Fang · Tang–Song TalesClasping her pale arms and staring into Scholar Li's eyes, Xiaoyu cried: 'I as a woman am ill-fated like this; you as a man are treacherous like that! After I die, I shall become a vengeful ghost, giving your future wives and concubines no peace forever!' Pouring a goblet of wine upon the earth, she collapsed and died.
  8. Tales of Wonder · The Kunlun SlavePei Xing · Tang–Song TalesThe Kunlun slave Mole carried Scholar Cui and the maiden Hongxiao on his back, leaping across ten tiers of high walls and pavilions swift as a falcon. When armored soldiers encircled them, Mole hurled daggers and soared through empty air over the high ramparts, vanishing without a trace—the archetype of roof-leaping martial masters.
  9. Tales of Wonder · Nie YinniangPei Xing · Tang–Song TalesNie Yinniang was abducted in youth by a Taoist nun to master swordsmanship, concealing a flying dagger inside her skull, severing heads like grass and morphing into blue smoke. Recognizing governor Liu Changyi as an upright ruler, she defected to his banner, slaying Jingjing'er and vanquishing Kongkong'er before riding away on a white donkey into immortality.

Fables & Lore

Philosophical fables, historical allusion narratives, and primordial mythology.7 works
  1. Dotting the Dragon's EyesZhang Yanyuan · Historical AllusionsOne decisive touch in the right place can bring the whole work to life.
  2. Two Eagles with One ArrowLi Yanshou · Satirical ParablesTrue skill lets a single action achieve two goals at once.
  3. The Moth Flying into the FlameYao Silian · Satirical ParablesDrawn heedlessly to what dazzles, you may end up consumed by it.
  4. A Dream of NankeLi Gongzuo · Satirical ParablesWealth and glory vanish like a dream; don't cling too hard to gains and losses.
  5. Riding a Tiger, Hard to DismountWei Zheng et al. · Satirical ParablesSome paths cannot be abandoned once taken; think hard before you start.
  6. Penetrating the Wood Three Fen DeepZhang Huaiguan · Satirical ParablesDeep, penetrating skill comes from long and focused effort.
  7. Splitting at the Touch of the BladeFang Xuanling et al. · Satirical ParablesBreak through the hardest first part, and the rest gives way naturally.

Literary Criticism

Classical literary aesthetics, treatises on poetic craft, and critical commentaries.6 works
  1. Twenty-Four Styles of Poetry · The Grand and MightySikong Tu · Poetry TalksGreat function manifests outwardly, pure reality is packed within. Returning to void it enters primeval whole, accumulating vigor it attains mighty power. Encompassing all ten thousand things, surging across outer space. Boundless rolling clouds, vast echoing gales. Soaring beyond physical images, capturing the inner pivot of the circle.
  2. Twenty-Four Styles of Poetry · The Placid and SubtleSikong Tu · Poetry TalksAbiding in simplicity and silence, wondrous subtlety works unseen. Imbibing Supreme Harmony, flying alone alongside a solitary crane. Gentle as dawn moonlight, crisp as autumn air. If one clings to external likeness, it slips away upon grasping.
  3. Twenty-Four Styles of Poetry · Elegant and ClassicalSikong Tu · Poetry TalksBuying spring wine in a jade flagon, listening to rain from a thatched hut. Worthy companions in the circle, tall bamboos to left and right. White clouds clearing after rain, wild birds chasing one another. Rest a zither in emerald shade, with waterfalls cascading above.
  4. Twenty-Four Styles of Poetry · The Bold and UnrestrainedSikong Tu · Poetry TalksViewing blooms that are no common lotuses, gulping oceans as mere sips of water. Heavenly gales blow tempestuous, sea-mountains loom azure and vast. Genuine spiritual power brims everywhere, all cosmic phenomena attend at the side. Summoning sun, moon and stars in front, leading the Phoenix behind; riding six giant turtles at dawn, washing feet in the cosmic Fusang tree.
  5. Letter to Yuan Zhen · ExcerptBai Juyi · Poetry TalksEssays should be written to address the times; poems and songs should be created to reflect actual events. Poetry has emotion for root, words for sprouts, sound for blossoms, and meaning for fruit. Above, to remedy and inspect state governance; below, to channel and voice human sentiments.
  6. Letter in Reply to Li YiHan Yu · Poetry TalksVital Spirit (Qi) is like water; words are like floating objects. When the flood of water is immense, floating objects large and small all float naturally. Such is the relation between Qi and words: when Qi is abundant, words short or long and tones high or low all find natural harmony.

Sayings & Idioms

Living Chinese linguistic heritage comprising idioms, proverbs, aphorisms, and couplets.38 works
  1. Rising to Practice Swordplay at CockcrowBook of Jin · IdiomsZu Ti rose at midnight cockcrow to practice swordsmanship; ambitious people seizing every moment to strive.
  2. Wielding an Axe at Lu Ban's DoorLiu Zongyuan · IdiomsShowing off axe skills before the master carpenter Lu Ban; displaying one's meager skill before an expert.
  3. A Dream While the Millet CooksShen Jiji · IdiomsA scholar dreams a lifetime of glory before his millet finishes cooking; fleeting, illusory ambitions.
  4. Viewing Flowers on HorsebackMeng Jiao · IdiomsGlancing at flowers from a galloping horse; looking at things superficially without close examination.
  5. Proud in the Spring BreezeMeng Jiao · IdiomsMeng Jiao's joy after passing the imperial exam; elated pride at success in career or life.
  6. Green Plums and Bamboo HorsesLi Bai · IdiomsChildren playing with green plums and hobby horses; the innocent bond of a boy and girl who grew up together.
  7. Two Innocent ChildrenLi Bai · IdiomsA boy and girl playing together as children with no suspicion or self-consciousness; innocent childhood companionship.
  8. Having Once Seen the Vast SeaYuan Zhen · IdiomsOnce you have seen the ocean, other waters pale; broad experience, or devotion to a love beyond compare.
  9. Returning in a Cloud of DustDu Mu · IdiomsCharging back amid swirling dust; staging a comeback after defeat with renewed strength.
  10. White Clouds Turn into Grey DogsDu Fu · IdiomsClouds shaped like white robes suddenly become grey dogs; the unpredictable changeability of worldly affairs.
  11. The Broken Mirror Made WholeMeng Qi · IdiomsA couple parted by war reunite by matching halves of a broken mirror; estranged spouses coming back together.
  12. The Ends of the EarthBai Juyi · IdiomsThe corners of the sea and edges of the sky; the remotest places, or people separated by great distance.
  13. Dotting the Eyes of the Painted DragonZhang Yanyuan · IdiomsA painter dots a dragon's eyes and it flies away; the crucial finishing touch that brings a work to life.
  14. The Whole Room Roars with LaughterZhao Lin · IdiomsEveryone in the room bursts out laughing at once.
  15. Not Even Chickens and Dogs Have PeaceLiu Zongyuan · IdiomsSuch severe disturbance that even the chickens and dogs have no peace.
  16. Shaking Heaven and EarthBai Juyi · IdiomsSo powerful or momentous that it shakes heaven and earth.
  17. A Thousand-Weight Hanging by a HairHan Yu · IdiomsA great weight hanging by a single hair; a situation of extreme peril.
  18. Rare in a Thousand YearsHan Yu · IdiomsSo rare it may not come once in a thousand years; a golden opportunity.
  19. Unable to Hold Back a SmileZhao Lin · IdiomsCannot help laughing; unable to suppress a smile.
  20. Common Sight to the MinisterMeng Qi · IdiomsSo familiar to the minister it causes no surprise; commonplace.
  21. One Arrow, Two EaglesLi Yanshou · IdiomsHitting two eagles with one arrow; achieving two aims with one action.
  22. Ends of the Earth, Corners of the SeaHan Yu · IdiomsThe remotest corners of the world; places very far apart.
  23. One Act, Two GainsFang Xuanling et al. · IdiomsGaining two benefits from a single action.
  24. Treat All AlikeHan Yu · IdiomsTo treat everyone equally without favoritism.
  25. Charge Again, Sharpen AgainHan Yu & Meng Jiao · IdiomsFighting cocks whet their beaks before each bout; keep up the effort again and again.
  26. All-EmbracingYellow Emperor's Dwelling Classic · IdiomsEmbracing every phenomenon; all-inclusive and rich in content.
  27. Evenly MatchedLu Guimeng · IdiomsHard to tell which is higher or lower; evenly matched.
  28. Pillowing on a Spear Awaiting DawnBook of Jin · IdiomsSleeping with head on a spear, awaiting dawn; ever vigilant and ready for battle.
  29. Clinging to Error Without AwakeningYao Silian · IdiomsStubbornly persisting in a mistaken course and refusing to see reason.
  30. Steeped by What One Sees and HearsHan Yu · IdiomsUnconsciously influenced by what one constantly hears and sees.
  31. Failing on the Verge of SuccessFang Xuanling et al. · IdiomsFailing just when success was within reach.
  32. Living Under Another's RoofLi Yanshou · IdiomsTo live in dependence on others; also, to imitate others without originality.
  33. Light Carriage on a Familiar RoadHan Yu · IdiomsDriving a light carriage on a familiar road; doing something with ease through experience.
  34. A Moth Flying into the FlameYao Silian · IdiomsA moth darting into the flame; courting one's own destruction.
  35. A Dream of NankeLi Gongzuo · IdiomsA dream of glory under a southern branch; an illusory fortune or empty joy.
  36. Hard to Dismount a TigerBook of Jin · IdiomsRiding a tiger and unable to get off; caught in a course of action one cannot abandon.
  37. Penetrating Three Fen into the WoodZhang Huaiguan · IdiomsBrushstrokes biting deep into the wood; forceful calligraphy, or penetrating insight and description.
  38. Splitting Apart at the Blade's TouchBook of Jin · IdiomsLike bamboo splitting at the blade; once the key issue is solved, the rest follows easily.