Through the Dynasties · LH10

Tang

The high peak of Chinese poetry: Li Bai and Du Fu, frontier and landscape verse, and the prose revival

548works

8forms

81authors

Masterpieces

38 works

Classical Poetry

95 works

Orthodox classical Chinese poetry spanning archaic ballads to Tang regulated verse.

  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 are just beginning to fall over Dongting; I think of you, more than ten thousand li away.
  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 ElegiesAnswer: The vastness of the primal beginning is something told by fabulists. Its great spirit, dim and tangled, how can it be put into words? Darkness and light, faint and minute, came and went in ceaseless profusion; through murky transformations only the primal qi endured, so what was there that 'brought it about'?
  29. Lotus LeavesZheng Gu · Regulated QuatrainsAs the boat moves, splashed water stirs the uneven green; leaning on the railing, the wind sways each fragrant stalk.
  30. 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?
  31. 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.
  32. 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.
  33. 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!
  34. 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.
  35. Upon the Lofty Mountain PeakHanshan (Cold Mountain) · Old-Style SongsIn the spring there is really no moon; the moon is itself in the blue sky.
  36. 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.
  37. Remote and Dim, the Cold Mountain RoadHanshan (Cold Mountain) · Old-Style SongsMorning after morning I do not see the sun; year after year I do not know spring.
  38. Freedom from Anger Is the PreceptShide · Old-Style SongsTo be free of anger is itself the precept; a pure mind is itself leaving home.
  39. Seeking Lu Hongjian Without Finding HimJiaoran (Monk Jiaoran) · Regulated OctavesI knock at the gate, but no dog barks; about to leave, I ask at the house to the west.
  40. Song of Tea Drinking Teasing Governor Cui ShiJiaoran (Monk Jiaoran) · Old-Style SongsThe first cup washes away dullness and drowsiness; my spirits rise, bright and clear, filling heaven and earth. The second cup clears my mind, like flying rain sprinkling away light dust. With the third cup I attain the Way; why labour painfully to break through vexations?
  41. Presented to Grand Tutor QianGuanxiu (Monk Guanxiu) · Regulated OctavesThe hall is full of guests, three thousand drunk among flowers; a single sword, chill as frost, holds fourteen prefectures.
  42. Inscribed on a Mountain Dwelling's Wall in Late Spring (No. 1)Guanxiu (Monk Guanxiu) · Regulated OctavesThe brushwood gate is quiet, the millet rice fragrant; smoke rises from the mountain home as the spring rain clears.
  43. 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.
  44. The SwordsmanQiji (Monk Qiji) · Regulated QuatrainsDrawing my sword, I circle the leftover wine; the song finished, I go straight out of the gate.
  45. Quatrain · Quieting Essence and Energy to Nurture the SpiritLü Dongbin (Lü Yan) · Regulated QuatrainsStill the essence, still the breath, and so nourish the spirit; let essence fill the cinnabar field and breath sustain the body.
  46. Invitation to Liu the NineteenthBai Juyi · Regulated QuatrainsAs dusk falls, snow begins to drift—will you join me for a cup?
  47. Song of LiangzhouWang Han · Regulated QuatrainsDo not laugh if we lie drunk upon the battlefield—since ancient times, how many warriors ever return?
  48. 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.
  49. 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?
  50. 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.
  51. Song of ChangganLi Bai · Old-Style SongsYou came riding a bamboo horse, circling the well-rail, playing with green plums.
  52. 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?
  53. A Dream Journey to Mount Tianmu: A Song of FarewellLi Bai · Old-Style SongsHow could I lower my brows and bend my waist to serve the mighty and noble, and never again show a happy face?
  54. Drinking Alone Under the Moon, No. 1Li Bai · Old-Style SongsRaising my cup, I invite the bright moon; with my shadow, we make a party of three.
  55. To Wang LunLi Bai · Regulated QuatrainsThe water of Peach Blossom Pool is a thousand feet deep, yet not as deep as Wang Lun's feeling in seeing me off.
  56. Hearing That the Imperial Army Has Recovered Henan and HebeiDu Fu · Regulated OctavesI turn to look at my wife and children: where has their sorrow gone? Rolling up my books and poems any which way, I am wild with joy.
  57. Grass on the Ancient Plain: A FarewellBai Juyi · Regulated OctavesWildfire can never burn it all away; when the spring wind blows, it comes to life again.
  58. Thinking of My Brothers East of the Mountains on the Double NinthWang Wei · Regulated QuatrainsAlone in a strange land, a stranger among strangers, at every festival I miss my family twice as much.
  59. Night Mooring at Maple BridgeZhang Ji · Regulated QuatrainsBeyond the walls of Gusu, from Cold Mountain Temple, the midnight bell carries to the traveler's boat.
  60. Written on a Rainy Night, Sent NorthLi Shangyin · Regulated QuatrainsWhen shall we trim the candle together by the west window, and talk of this night rain in the Ba hills?
  61. Pity for the Peasants, Two PoemsLi Shen · Regulated QuatrainsWho knows that of the food upon the plate, every single grain is bitter toil?
  62. Written at a Village South of the CapitalCui Hu · Regulated QuatrainsWhere that face has gone I cannot tell; the peach blossoms, as before, smile in the spring wind.
  63. West Stream at ChuzhouWei Yingwu · Regulated QuatrainsThe spring flood, swelled by rain, runs fast at dusk; at the wild ferry no one is there, and the boat swings crosswise by itself.
  64. A Moonlit Night on the Spring RiverZhang Ruoxu · Old-Style SongsWho on the riverbank first saw this moon? In what year did the river moon first shine on a person?
  65. Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu, No. 2Li Bai · Regulated QuatrainsIts flying torrent plunges straight down three thousand feet; I wonder if the Milky Way is falling from the ninth heaven.
  66. Farewell to Collator Shuyun at Xie Tiao's Tower in XuanzhouLi Bai · Old-Style SongsDraw a blade to cut the water, and the water flows on; raise a cup to drown sorrow, and sorrow grows deeper.
  67. Ballad of the Army CartsDu Fu · Old-Style SongsNow we truly know that bearing a son is bad, and bearing a daughter is better.
  68. Welcoming Rain on a Spring NightDu Fu · Regulated OctavesIt follows the wind, slipping secretly into the night, moistening all things finely, without a sound.
  69. Yellow Crane TowerCui Hao · Regulated OctavesAs the sun sets, where is my home village? Mist and waves on the river make one sorrow.
  70. Deer EnclosureWang Wei · Regulated QuatrainsThe returning light enters the deep forest and shines again upon the green moss.
  71. River SnowLiu Zongyuan · Regulated QuatrainsIn a lone boat, an old man in straw cape and hat fishes alone in the snow on the cold river.
  72. Mooring on the Qinhuai RiverDu Mu · Regulated QuatrainsThe singing girls do not know the grief of a fallen kingdom; across the river they still sing "Flowers in the Rear Court."
  73. Song of the Governor of YanmenLi He · Old-Style SongsBlack clouds press on the city, as if to crush it; armour glints toward the sun, like golden scales opening.
  74. Black Robe LaneLiu Yuxi · Regulated QuatrainsThe swallows that once nested before the halls of the Wang and Xie clans now fly into the homes of ordinary people.
  75. Bring in the WineLi Bai · Old-Style SongsHeaven made my talents, and they must have their use; scatter a thousand in gold and it will all come back again.
  76. Seeing Off Meng Haoran to Guangling at Yellow Crane TowerLi Bai · Regulated QuatrainsMy old friend takes leave of Yellow Crane Tower in the west, going down to Yangzhou in the third month, amid mist and blossom.
  77. Gazing at Tianmen MountainLi Bai · Regulated QuatrainsGreen mountains on both banks stand out facing each other; a single lone sail comes from beside the sun.
  78. The Chancellor of ShuDu Fu · Regulated OctavesHe led the army out but died before victory came, forever making heroes weep until their robes are soaked.
  79. The Old Charcoal SellerBai Juyi · Old-Style SongsPitiful: the clothes on his back are thin, yet fearing charcoal will sell cheap, he wishes the weather colder!
  80. Seeing Off Yuan the Second on a Mission to AnxiWang Wei · Regulated QuatrainsI urge you to drain one more cup of wine: west of Yang Pass you will have no old friends.
  81. Spring DawnMeng Haoran · Regulated QuatrainsIn the night came the sound of wind and rain; how many blossoms have fallen, who can tell?
  82. Untitled: Hard It Is to MeetLi Shangyin · Regulated OctavesThe spring silkworm spins its silk until it dies; the candle's tears dry only when it has burned to ash.
  83. Mountain WalkDu Mu · Regulated QuatrainsI stop my carriage simply because I love the maple wood at dusk; the frost-touched leaves are redder than the flowers of the second month.
  84. Ode to the WillowHe Zhizhang · Regulated QuatrainsWho cut out these slender leaves, I wonder? The spring wind of the second month, like a pair of scissors.
  85. In Reply to Letian, Who Gave Me a Poem at Our First Meeting in YangzhouLiu Yuxi · Regulated OctavesBeside the sunken boat a thousand sails go by; before the sickly tree ten thousand trees burst into spring.
  86. Bamboo Branch Songs, No. 1 of TwoLiu Yuxi · Bamboo-Branch SongsSun rising in the east, rain in the west: you'd say there's no clear sky, yet clear sky there is.
  87. Autumn Song, No. 1 of TwoLiu Yuxi · Regulated QuatrainsSince ancient times men meet autumn grieving its loneliness; I say an autumn day surpasses a spring morning.
  88. On the Chrysanthemum, Written after Failing the ExaminationHuang Chao (traditionally attributed) · Regulated QuatrainsWait until autumn comes, the eighth of the ninth month: when my flower blooms, all other flowers will die.
  89. Expressing My FeelingsWei Zheng · Old-Style SongsIn life one is moved by loyalty and spirit; who still talks of fame and merit?
  90. Presented to Xiao YuLi Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang) · Regulated QuatrainsIn a fierce wind one knows the sturdy grass; in times of turmoil one recognises the loyal minister.
  91. As You WishWu Zetian · Regulated QuatrainsOpen the chest and examine my pomegranate-red skirt.
  92. Passing Through Zou and Lu, Sacrificing to Confucius and SighingLi Longji (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang) · Regulated OctavesHe sighed over the phoenix, lamenting his ill fortune; he grieved for the unicorn, bemoaning that his Way had come to an end.
  93. On the ChrysanthemumHuang Chao (traditionally attributed) · Regulated QuatrainsIf one day I become the Green Emperor, I will order them to bloom together with the peach blossoms.
  94. Written on Climbing the Wall of YazhouLi Deyu · Regulated QuatrainsAlone I climb the high tower and gaze towards the imperial capital; even for a bird it is still half a year's journey.
  95. The Imperial Capital, Ten PoemsLi Shimin · Regulated OctavesThe Qin river land makes a mighty imperial seat; the Hangu Pass makes the royal residence imposing.

Ci Lyrics

10 works

Pinnacle of lyric verse and musical poetry spanning delicate grace and heroic grandeur.

  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 LyricsAbove the river, willows like mist; wild geese fly across a sky of the waning moon.
  3. Water Clock Song: Jade Incense BurnerWen Tingyun · Short LyricsLeaf after leaf, drop after drop, it drips on the empty steps until dawn.
  4. Dreaming of the South: Ten Thousand RegretsWen Tingyun · Short LyricsA thousand, ten thousand regrets; the deepest regret is for one at the edge of the sky.
  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 LyricsAs I went out the door under the waning moon, my lovely one bade farewell in tears.
  8. Lotus Leaf Cup: Remembering That Year Beneath the FlowersWei Zhuang · Short LyricsNow we are both strangers in far lands, with no way ever to meet again.
  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 LyricsWill my old friend come tonight or not? Waiting, I stand until the wutong's shadow is gone.

Rhapsody & Parallel Prose

5 works

Grand rhapsodies and parallel prose showcasing acoustic symmetry and ornate eloquence.

  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 RhapsodiesThe men of Qin had no time to mourn themselves, so later generations mourn them; but if later generations mourn them without taking warning, they will only make still later generations mourn them in turn.
  3. Rhapsody on the Great PengLi Bai · Prose RhapsodiesLashing the water for three thousand li, it rears up; heading for ninety thousand li, it races on its way.
  4. Rhapsody on the Bright Hall · ExcerptLi Bai · Prose RhapsodiesLofty and vaulted is the Bright Hall, opening against the sky!
  5. Rhapsody on the Plum BlossomSong Jing (traditionally attributed) · Prose RhapsodiesAlone it strides through early spring, keeping its nature whole.

Classical Prose

56 works

Authoritative classical prose from Pre-Qin philosophers to Tang-Song prose masters.

  1. Manifesto on Behalf of Xu Jingye Denouncing Wu ZhaoLuo Binwang · Essays & MemorialsThe handful of earth on the imperial tomb is not yet dry; to whom can the six-foot orphan be entrusted?
  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 & MemorialsLoving all broadly is called humaneness; acting as is fitting is called righteousness.
  6. Inquiry into the Source of SlanderHan Yu · Essays & MemorialsThey demanded much and thoroughly of themselves but asked little and lightly of others.
  7. Explanation on the Advancement of LearningHan Yu · Essays & MemorialsLearning is perfected by diligence and ruined by frivolity; conduct is formed by reflection and destroyed by heedless 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 & ElegiesMy sight is blurred, my hair is grey and my teeth are loose.
  10. Postscript to the Biography of Censor ZhangHan Yu · Letters & PrefacesHolding one city to shield the whole realm.
  11. On the Feudal SystemLiu Zongyuan · Essays & MemorialsTherefore enfeoffment was not the intention of the sages; it was circumstance.
  12. Account of the Snake CatcherLiu Zongyuan · NotebooksHarsh government is fiercer than a tiger.
  13. Biography of Camel Guo the Tree PlanterLiu Zongyuan · NotebooksI only follow the tree's nature so as to bring out what it is.
  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 the wise delight in. Why then is this stream alone disgraced with the name of folly?
  16. Letter to Governor Han of JingzhouLi Bai · Letters & PrefacesIn life I need not be made a marquis of ten thousand households; I wish only to make the acquaintance of Han of Jingzhou.
  17. Letter to Wei Zhongli on the Way of the TeacherLiu Zongyuan · Letters & PrefacesQu Yuan's rhapsody says, 'The dogs of the town bark in packs; they bark at what they find strange.'
  18. The Classic of TeaLu Yu · NotebooksTea is a fine tree of the South.
  19. Great Tang Records on the Western RegionsXuanzang (narrator), Bianji (writer) · Travel WritingSeventeen years alone on the road, through more than a hundred lands: a firsthand record of seventh-century Central Asia and India.
  20. Memorial to Emperor Taizong on the Ten ReflectionsWei Zheng · Essays & MemorialsWhoever wants a tree to grow tall must make its roots firm; whoever wants a stream to flow far must dredge its spring; whoever aspires to the security of the state must accumulate virtue and righteousness.
  21. Heart Sutra (Prajnaparamita Hridaya), Xuanzang's translationXuanzang (trans.) · Essays & MemorialsForm is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
  22. Record of Flatiron PoolLiu Zongyuan · Travel WritingWhat makes me content to live among the tribes and forget my homeland—is it not this pool?
  23. Record of the Hillock West of Flatiron PoolLiu Zongyuan · Travel WritingLying down with pillow and mat, the clear cool scene communed with my eyes, the gurgling sound with my ears, the vast emptiness with my spirit, and the deep stillness with my heart.
  24. Record of Yuan Family KeLiu Zongyuan · Travel WritingWhenever the wind comes down from the hills on all sides, it shakes the great trees and bends the grasses; reds scatter and greens start, rich fragrance wafts
  25. Record of the Stone ChannelLiu Zongyuan · Travel WritingWhen the wind sways their tops, the echoes stir the cliffs and valleys. Once the eye is at rest, the ear begins to hear far off.
  26. Record of the Stone BrookLiu Zongyuan · Travel WritingThe water spreads evenly over it, flowing like woven patterns and sounding like a zither being played.
  27. Record of Little Stone Fort HillLiu Zongyuan · Travel WritingI have long doubted whether a Creator exists. Seeing this, I was all the more convinced that one truly does.
  28. Book of JinFang Xuanling (comp.) · Historical NarrativeWe should join forces for the royal house and recover the Divine Land
  29. Questions and Replies between Tang Taizong and Li JingLi Jing (traditionally attributed) · Essays & MemorialsIf orthodox troops did not become unorthodox and unorthodox troops orthodox, how could one win? So for one who is good at using troops, orthodox and unorthodox lie only in the man.
  30. Book of SuiWei Zheng (comp.) · Historical NarrativeCalamities sent by Heaven may still be avoided; calamities one brings on oneself cannot be escaped.
  31. Tang Code with CommentaryZhangsun Wuji, Yu Zhining (comp.) · Essays & MemorialsVirtue and ritual are the root of government and teaching; punishments are their instrument, as dusk and dawn, spring and autumn depend on each other to make the whole.
  32. Models for an EmperorLi Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang) · Essays & MemorialsIn fear and trembling, as if standing over an abyss or driving a team with rotten reins; more careful each day, thinking to begin well and end well.
  33. Preface to the Sacred Teachings of the Tripitaka of the Great TangLi Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang) · Letters & PrefacesWind in the pines and the moon on water cannot match his purity; immortal dew and bright pearls cannot equal his radiance.
  34. Ten Essential MattersYao Chong (traditionally attributed) · Essays & MemorialsI wish that government put humaneness and leniency first; may it be so?
  35. Testament Admonishing My Sons and GrandsonsYao Chong · Letters & PrefacesWealth and rank are what others resent.
  36. Collected Works of Li Deyu from the Huichang EraLi Deyu · Essays & MemorialsHe has broken up the havens of those fleeing duty, listing them all among the common people, and recovered the high fertile fields, returning them all to the royal tax.
  37. Record of a Pilgrimage to Tang China in Search of the LawEnnin (Jikaku Daishi) · Travel WritingI was not troubled about returning to lay life; I worried only that the sacred teachings I had copied could not go with me.
  38. Book of ZhouLinghu Defen (comp.) · Historical NarrativeSu Chuo is truly a remarkable man; I shall entrust him with government.
  39. Veritable Record of ShunzongHan Yu · Historical NarrativeThe crown prince's duty is to attend at meals and ask after the emperor's health; it is not fitting for him to speak of outside affairs.
  40. Essentials of Government of the Zhenguan EraWu Jing (comp.) · Essays & MemorialsA ruler is enlightened because he listens to all sides; he is benighted because he trusts one side only.
  41. Biography of the Tripitaka Master of the Great Ci'en Monastery of the Great TangHuili · Historical NarrativeBetter to die going west than to live returning east!
  42. The Eastern Expedition of the Great Preceptor of TangMahito Genkai (Omi no Mifune) · Historical NarrativeMountains and rivers are different lands, but wind and moon share one sky; we send these to the children of the Buddha, to form together the ties of a coming life.
  43. Epitaph for Liu ZihouHan Yu · Epitaphs & ElegiesIt is when a man is in straits that his loyalty and honour show.
  44. Admonition of the Ice PotYao Chong · Essays & MemorialsSo to hold ice-like purity within and jade-like lustre without: this is the virtue of the gentleman's ice pot.
  45. Memorial on Ten Signs of Failing to Persevere to the EndWei Zheng · Essays & MemorialsIt is not knowing that is hard but acting; it is not acting that is hard but carrying through to the end.
  46. Essentials of Government from Many BooksWei Zheng (comp.) · Essays & MemorialsUsed today, it is enough to mirror the ages past.
  47. Treatise on the Establishment of Consciousness-OnlyXuanzang (trans.) · Essays & MemorialsBecause self and dharmas are spoken of provisionally, their various characteristics arise.
  48. Norms for SubjectsWu Zetian (Empress Wu) · Essays & MemorialsThe subject takes the ruler as his heart, and the ruler takes the subject as his body.
  49. Imperial Commentary on the Classic of Filial PietyLi Longji · Essays & MemorialsFrom this we know that filial piety is the root of virtue!
  50. Six Statutes of the TangLi Longji (traditionally attributed) · Historical NarrativeThe Three Preceptors are officials of instruction; the Three Dukes are officials who discuss the Way.
  51. Further Old Tales from the Liu FamilyLi Deyu · NotebooksHe witnessed all of it himself; it is not hearsay; it is reliable and attested and may serve as a true record.
  52. Book of LiangYao Silian (comp.) · Historical NarrativeMy state is like a golden bowl, without a single crack or flaw.
  53. Book of Northern QiLi Baiyao (comp.) · Historical NarrativeFrom then on he had the ambition to set the whole realm in order.
  54. Book of ChenYao Silian (comp.) · Historical NarrativeThe hills and streams here are so fine that a king must arise from this place.
  55. Deeds of An LushanYao Runeng · Historical NarrativeThe one who will bring chaos to Youzhou is surely this barbarian.
  56. Preface to Poems on Enjoying the MoonOuyang Zhan · Letters & PrefacesArgues that autumn, and its fifteenth night, is the best time to enjoy the moon.

Classical Fiction

10 works

Narrative masterworks from Six Dynasties strange tales to epic Ming-Qing novels.

  1. Record of the World Inside the PillowShen Jiji · Tang–Song TalesRest your head on my pillow, and it will make you as honoured and content as you desire.
  2. Story of Yingying / Encounter with a FairyYuan Zhen · Tang–Song TalesI wait for the moon beneath the western wing; the door, close to the breeze, stands half open. When flower shadows stir along the wall, I wonder if my jade one has come.
  3. Legend of the Curly-Bearded Guest · The Three Heroes of the Dusty RealmDu Guangting · Tang–Song TalesI have long served Minister Yang and have seen many of the people of the world, but none like you.
  4. Legend of Liu Yi · Delivering the Dragon Princess's LetterLi Chaowei · Tang–Song TalesI am a man of honour. Hearing your story, my blood and spirit are all stirred; I only regret I have no wings to fly.
  5. Story of Miss RenShen Jiji · Tang–Song TalesZheng has a body six feet tall and cannot protect one woman; is he a man at all?
  6. Story of Li WaBai Xingjian · Tang–Song TalesThat you have come to this in a single morning is my crime!
  7. Story of Huo XiaoyuJiang Fang · Tang–Song TalesI am a woman, and my fate is this wretched! You are a man, and your heart is this faithless!
  8. Pei Xing's Tales of the MarvelousPei Xing · Tang–Song TalesThe Kunlun slave leaps high walls with a man on his back, Nie Yinniang comes and goes without a trace: the dawn of Tang tales of knights-errant.
  9. The Governor of NankeLi Gongzuo · Tang–Song TalesIn a dream so brief, it was as though he had passed a whole lifetime.
  10. Tale of the Song of Everlasting SorrowChen Hong · Tang–Song TalesThe emperor knew he could not save her, yet could not bear to see her die; he covered his face with his sleeve and had her led away.

Fables & Lore

8 works

Philosophical fables, historical allusion narratives, and primordial mythology.

  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.
  8. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai (The Butterfly Lovers)Anonymous · Folk LegendsZhu went up and wailed; the earth suddenly split open and sank, and so she was buried there with him.

Literary Criticism

4 works

Classical literary aesthetics, treatises on poetic craft, and critical commentaries.

  1. Letter to Yuan Zhen · ExcerptBai Juyi · Poetry TalksPoetry has feeling for its root, words for its shoots, sound for its flowers and meaning for its fruit.
  2. Letter in Reply to Li YiHan Yu · Poetry TalksI strove only to get rid of stale words, and how grinding and hard it was!
  3. The Twenty-Four Categories of PoetrySikong Tu (traditionally attributed) · Poetry TalksWithout a single word set down, all its grace is captured.
  4. The Original Incidents of PoemsMeng Qi · Poetry TalksA broken mirror made whole: Princess Lechang and Xu Deyan reunited at last.

Sayings & Idioms

360 works

Living Chinese linguistic heritage comprising idioms, proverbs, aphorisms, and couplets.

  1. Rising to Practice Swordplay at CockcrowFang Xuanling et al. (comp.) · 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-EmbracingAnonymous · 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 DawnFang Xuanling et al. (comp.) · 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 TigerFang Xuanling et al. (comp.) · 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 TouchFang Xuanling et al. (comp.) · IdiomsLike bamboo splitting at the blade; once the key issue is solved, the rest follows easily.
  39. Meeting Like Drifting DuckweedWang Bo · IdiomsWe have met like duckweed drifting on the water, all of us guests far from home.
  40. Outstanding People, Inspired LandWang Bo · IdiomsIts people are outstanding and its land inspired: Xu Ru was the guest for whom Chen Fan let down his special couch.
  41. A Life Full of MisfortuneWang Bo · IdiomsThe times have not been kind, and the road of my fate has been full of mishaps.
  42. As Long as Heaven and EarthBai Juyi · IdiomsEven heaven and earth, long as they last, will one day end, but this regret will linger on forever without end.
  43. Natural BeautyBai Juyi · IdiomsHer natural beauty could not stay hidden; one day she was chosen to stand at the sovereign's side.
  44. Riding the Wind, Breaking the WavesLi Bai · IdiomsA day will come when I ride the long wind and break the waves, and hoist my sails straight across the vast sea.
  45. One Man Holds the PassLi Bai · AphorismsThe Sword Pass towers high and steep; let one man hold it, and ten thousand cannot force it open.
  46. Climb One Storey HigherWang Zhihuan · IdiomsIf you wish to see a thousand li to the horizon, climb one more storey of the tower.
  47. The Silkworm Spins Until It DiesLi Shangyin · IdiomsThe spring silkworm spins its silk until it dies; the candle's tears dry only when it turns to ash.
  48. Hooked Hearts and Clashing HornsDu Mu · IdiomsEach building embraced the lie of the land, their hearts hooked together and their corners locked like horns.
  49. Think of Danger in Times of PeaceWei Zheng · IdiomsNot to think of danger while living in safety, nor to restrain extravagance with thrift, nor to make one's virtue deep, nor to let reason master desire: this is like cutting a tree's roots and hoping it will flourish, or blocking a spring and wanting the stream to run far.
  50. Harsh Government Is Fiercer Than a TigerLiu Zongyuan · IdiomsConfucius said: 'Harsh government is fiercer than a tiger.'
  51. A True Friend Makes Distant Lands Feel NearWang Bo · AphorismsAs long as there is a true friend within the four seas, the ends of the earth are like next door.
  52. A Letter from Home Is Worth Ten Thousand in GoldDu Fu · IdiomsThe beacon fires have burned for three months on end; a letter from home is worth ten thousand in gold.
  53. Earthly Treasures, Heavenly GemsWang Bo · IdiomsThe finest things of this land are treasures of heaven; the dragon-light of its swords shoots up to the realm of the Ox and the Dipper;
  54. A Glance Back and a SmileBai Juyi · IdiomsWhen she turned her eyes back with a smile, a hundred charms were born; all the powdered and painted ladies of the six palaces lost their color.
  55. Called for a Thousand TimesBai Juyi · IdiomsOnly after a thousand calls and ten thousand pleas did she come out, still holding the pipa to hide half her face.
  56. Passing On the Way and Teaching LearningHan Yu · IdiomsA teacher is one who passes on the Way, teaches learning and resolves doubts.
  57. Mastery Comes from DiligenceHan Yu · IdiomsThe Master of the Academy entered the Imperial College at dawn, gathered the students below the hall and instructed them: 'Learning is perfected through diligence and wasted by play;
  58. Harder Than Climbing to the Blue SkyLi Bai · IdiomsThe hardship of the road to Shu is harder than climbing to the blue sky!
  59. The Face and the Peach BlossomsCui Hu · IdiomsOn this day last year, within this gate, a face and the peach blossoms glowed red against each other.
  60. No Ancients Before, No Successors AfterChen Zi'ang · AphorismsBefore me I cannot see the ancients; after me I cannot see those to come.
  61. Three Visits Pressing for a Plan for the RealmDu Fu · AphorismsThree visits, pressing him for a plan for the realm; through two reigns he founded and sustained, with an old minister's heart.
  62. The Endless Yangtze Rolling OnDu Fu · AphorismsBoundless leaves fall rustling down; the endless Yangtze comes rolling on.
  63. Swaying and Shifting With the SeasonsLiu Zongyuan · IdiomsSwaying and luxuriant, they shift and change with the seasons.
  64. Founding and Sustaining Two Reigns With a Veteran's HeartDu Fu · AphorismsThree visits, pressing him for a plan for the realm; two reigns founded and sustained by an old minister's heart.
  65. The Charcoal Seller's Grizzled TemplesBai Juyi · AphorismsHis face is all dust and ash, the color of smoke and fire; his temples are gray, his ten fingers black.
  66. Clouds Recall Her Gown, Flowers Her FaceLi Bai · AphorismsClouds call to mind her robes, flowers her face; the spring wind brushes the railing, and the dew lies thick on the blossoms.
  67. Clouds and Rosy Mists Flickering Over Mount TianmuLi Bai · AphorismsThe people of Yue speak of Tianmu, which may be glimpsed as clouds and mists flicker bright and dim.
  68. Praised by Every Mouth in UnisonHan Yu · IdiomsThe great ministers and men of power vied to have him come from their own gates, and praised and recommended him with one voice.
  69. What Shabbiness Could a Humble Room HaveLiu Yuxi · AphorismsZhuge Liang's hut in Nanyang, Yang Xiong's pavilion in Western Shu. As Confucius said: what shabbiness is there?
  70. Gathering and Storing Every Kind of RemedyHan Yu · IdiomsJade, cinnabar and rare herbs, cow's urine, puffballs and old drum hide: to gather and store them all, so nothing is lacking when needed, is the mark of a good physician.
  71. The Painted Beauties of the Six Palaces Lose Their ColorBai Juyi · AphorismsShe turned and smiled with a hundred charms, and the painted beauties of the six palaces lost their color.
  72. A Chill That Pierces Spirit and BoneLiu Zongyuan · AphorismsSitting by the pool, ringed by bamboo and trees, with no one about, I felt a chill in my spirit and bones, hushed, sad and deep.
  73. A Thousand Villages and Ten Thousand Hamlets OvergrownDu Fu · IdiomsHave you not heard that in the two hundred prefectures east of the mountains, a thousand villages and ten thousand hamlets are overgrown with thorns?
  74. Turning Away as if Never AcquaintedHan Yu · IdiomsOnce faced with a petty conflict of interest, no bigger than a hair, they turn their eyes away as if they had never met.
  75. Explaining by Word and Pointing with the HandHan Yu · IdiomsThose who learned to write under Zihou's spoken explanations and pointing hand all produced work of real discipline and merit.
  76. The Epang Palace Pitifully Burned to Scorched EarthDu Mu · AphorismsThe garrison soldiers cried out, the Hangu Pass fell; one torch from Chu, and alas, all was scorched earth.
  77. The Marshal's Blue Robe Soaked with TearsBai Juyi · IdiomsOf all who wept, who wept the most? The marshal of Jiangzhou, his blue robe soaked through.
  78. Savoring the Blossoms of Fine WritingHan Yu · IdiomsSteeped in the rich and mellow, holding the blossoms and chewing the flowers, he writes until his works fill the house.
  79. Hills and Streams Show Off Their Skills to the Little HillLiu Zongyuan · AphorismsLooking out from it, the height of the hills, the drift of the clouds, the flow of the streams and the roaming of birds and beasts all joyfully showed off their skills and offered their arts beneath this hill.
  80. The Midnight Bell of Hanshan TempleZhang Ji · AphorismsFrom Hanshan Temple outside the city of Gusu, the midnight bell reaches the traveler's boat.
  81. A Lone Plume of Smoke Over the Great DesertWang Wei · AphorismsOver the great desert a lone plume of smoke rises straight; above the long river the setting sun is round.
  82. Claiming There Are No Fine Horses in the WorldHan Yu · AphorismsHe stands before it, whip in hand, and says: 'There are no good horses in the world!' Alas, are there truly no good horses? The truth is that he does not know horses.
  83. Good Rain Knows When to FallDu Fu · AphorismsGood rain knows its season; when spring arrives, it comes to life.
  84. A Lone Sail Coming From Beside the SunLi Bai · AphorismsThe green hills on both banks step out to face each other; a lone sail comes from beside the sun.
  85. A Lone Sail's Fading Shadow on the BlueLi Bai · AphorismsThe lone sail's distant shadow vanishes into the blue sky; I see only the Yangtze flowing to the edge of heaven.
  86. A Thousand Li Within a Foot's SpanLiu Zongyuan · IdiomsThe rise and fall of the land, its deep hollows and low basins, looked like anthills and burrows; a thousand li lay within a foot's span, packed and layered, with nothing able to hide.
  87. Horns Beginning to ShowHan Yu · IdiomsThough still a youth, he was already mature as a grown man; he passed the examination for presented scholars, and his horns stood out clearly.
  88. Night Rain in the Ba MountainsLi Shangyin · IdiomsYou ask when I will return, and I cannot say; night rain in the Ba Mountains swells the autumn pools. When shall we trim the candle by the west window, and talk of this night of rain in the Ba Mountains?
  89. Desolate Hills of Ba and Waters of ChuLiu Yuxi · AphorismsIn the bleak lands of Ba's hills and Chu's waters, I have been cast aside for twenty-three years.
  90. Zhuang Zhou's Dream of the ButterflyLi Shangyin · IdiomsMaster Zhuang, in his dawn dream, was lost in the butterfly; King Wang entrusted his spring heart to the cuckoo.
  91. Mind Gathered, Body DissolvedLiu Zongyuan · IdiomsMy mind gathered, my body dissolved, and I merged silently with all creation.
  92. Words Run Out but Grief Never EndsHan Yu · AphorismsAlas! Words have their end, but feeling cannot be exhausted; do you know it, or do you not?
  93. Touching the Shen and Jing Stars on the Shu RoadLi Bai · IdiomsTouching the Shen stars and passing the Jing, travelers look up and hold their breath, then sit with hand on chest and heave long sighs.
  94. Shelved in an Idle PostHan Yu · IdiomsWhenever I act, I draw slander, and a name for it follows; to be put aside in an idle post is no more than my due.
  95. Broken Halberds Sunk in the SandDu Mu · IdiomsA broken halberd sunk in the sand, its iron not yet worn away; I clean and polish it myself and know it for a relic of a former age.
  96. Cutting Flowing Water with a Drawn BladeLi Bai · IdiomsDraw a blade to cut the water, and the water flows on faster; raise a cup to drown sorrow, and sorrow grows deeper.
  97. Drawing the Sword and Looking Around at a LossLi Bai · AphorismsI stop my cup and throw down my chopsticks, unable to eat; I draw my sword and look all around, my heart at a loss.
  98. Swearing by Heaven and the Sun with TearsHan Yu · IdiomsThey point to heaven and the sun and weep, swearing never to betray each other in life or death, and seem entirely believable.
  99. Lowering the Brows and Bending the Waist to the PowerfulLi Bai · IdiomsHow could I lower my brows and bend my back to serve the mighty, and never be glad at heart?
  100. Zigzagging Like the Dipper, Winding Like a SnakeLiu Zongyuan · IdiomsLooking southwest from the pool, the stream bends like the Dipper and winds like a snake, now glinting, now hidden.
  101. Boundless Falling Leaves Rustling DownDu Fu · AphorismsBoundless trees shed their leaves, rustling down; the endless Yangtze comes rolling on.
  102. Swallows of the Old Wang and Xie HallsLiu Yuxi · AphorismsThe swallows that nested before the halls of the Wangs and Xies of old now fly into the homes of common people.
  103. Moon Setting and Crows Cawing by Maple BridgeZhang Ji · IdiomsThe moon sets, crows caw, and frost fills the sky; riverside maples and fishing lights face my sleepless sorrow.
  104. Peach Blossom Pool a Thousand Feet DeepLi Bai · IdiomsPeach Blossom Pool is a thousand feet deep, but not as deep as Wang Lun's farewell to me.
  105. This Sorrow Lingers On Without EndBai Juyi · IdiomsHeaven and earth, however long they last, will someday end; but this sorrow goes on and on, with no end at all.
  106. The Dead Are Gone Forever at ShihaoDu Fu · AphorismsThe living barely survive, and the dead are gone forever!
  107. River and Sky Merged in One ColorZhang Ruoxu · IdiomsRiver and sky are one color, without a speck of dust; bright and clear in the air hangs a lone wheel of moon.
  108. Riverside Maples and Fishermen's LanternsZhang Ji · AphorismsThe moon sets, crows caw, and frost fills the sky; riverside maples and fishing lights face my sleepless sorrow.
  109. A Thousand Sails Pass the Sunken BoatLiu Yuxi · AphorismsBeside the sunken boat a thousand sails go by; before the withered tree ten thousand trees are in spring.
  110. Venting and Guiding the People's Feelings Through SongBai Juyi · AphorismsThose above no longer used poems to examine their government, and those below no longer used songs to vent and guide their feelings.
  111. Fishing Boats Singing Home at DuskWang Bo · AphorismsFishing boats sing in the evening, their songs reaching the farthest shores of Pengli.
  112. Rolling Up the Books in Wild DelightDu Fu · AphorismsCarelessly I roll up my books and poems, wild with joy.
  113. Homesick on the Misty River WavesCui Hao · AphorismsThe sun is setting: where is my homeland? Mist on the river waves fills me with sorrow.
  114. Down to Yangzhou in the Misty Blossoms of the Third MonthLi Bai · AphorismsMy old friend bids farewell to the Yellow Crane Tower in the west and goes down to Yangzhou in the third month of misty blossoms.
  115. Plantain and Puffball in the Physician's ChestHan Yu · IdiomsPlantain and puffball, the skin of a broken drum, all gathered and stored so that nothing is missing when needed: that is the mark of a good physician.
  116. Clutching Coats and Stamping Feet at Xianyang BridgeDu Fu · AphorismsThey clutch at clothes, stamp their feet and block the road weeping; the sound of their crying rises straight to the clouds.
  117. Banks Jagged Like a Dog's TeethLiu Zongyuan · AphorismsIts banks interlock, jagged like a dog's teeth, and its source cannot be known.
  118. Fishing Alone in the Snow on a Cold RiverLiu Zongyuan · AphorismsIn a lone boat an old man in straw cape and bamboo hat fishes alone in the snow on the cold river.
  119. Ten Thousand Trees in Spring Before the Withered OneLiu Yuxi · AphorismsBeside the sunken ship a thousand sails go by; before the ailing tree ten thousand trees are in spring.
  120. Homes Where the White Clouds RiseDu Mu · AphorismsFar up the cold mountain the stone path slants; where the white clouds rise there are homes.
  121. A Lifetime of Illness, Climbing the Heights AloneDu Fu · AphorismsTen thousand li from home, in mournful autumn, forever a guest; a lifetime of illness, I climb the terrace alone.
  122. Hoisting a Cloud-High Sail Across the Vast SeaLi Bai · AphorismsThe time will come to ride the long wind and break the waves; then I will hoist my cloud-high sail and cross the vast sea.
  123. Firmer of Purpose the Poorer One GrowsWang Bo · IdiomsIn poverty one should grow ever firmer, never letting one's ambitions that reach the blue clouds fall.
  124. Red Blossoms Scatter, Green Leaves Start in the WindLiu Zongyuan · IdiomsWhenever the wind comes down from the hills on every side, it shakes the great trees and bends the grasses; red blossoms toss, green leaves start, and a rich fragrance billows up.
  125. Fine Friends Gathered Like CloudsWang Bo · IdiomsOn the day of rest, fine friends gather like clouds; welcomed from a thousand li, distinguished guests fill the seats.
  126. Throwing Stones on a Friend Fallen into the PitHan Yu · IdiomsWhen a man falls into a pit, they do not lift a hand to save him but push him down and throw stones on him; such people are everywhere.
  127. Fine Jade Grows at LantianLi Shangyin · IdiomsLantian produces jade; it is true indeed.
  128. Prose Worthy of the Penglai LibraryLi Bai · AphorismsPenglai prose and the backbone of Jian'an, with the fresh brilliance of the Lesser Xie in between.
  129. The Road to Shu, Harder Than Climbing to HeavenLi Bai · AphorismsAh, how perilous, how high! The road to Shu is harder than climbing the blue sky!
  130. Until the Candle Burns to AshLi Shangyin · AphorismsThe spring silkworm spins until it dies; the candle's tears dry only when it burns to ash.
  131. Deeds Are Accomplished Through Careful ThoughtHan Yu · IdiomsLearning is perfected by diligence and ruined by play; conduct is accomplished through thought and ruined by carelessness.
  132. Poetry to Mend and Inspect the GovernmentBai Juyi · AphorismsThose above no longer used poetry to mend and inspect the government, and those below no longer used songs to release the people's feelings.
  133. Going West Beyond Yang PassWang Wei · AphorismsDrink one more cup of wine, my friend; west of Yang Pass you will have no old friends.
  134. Trimming the Candle Together by the West WindowLi Shangyin · IdiomsWhen shall we trim the candle together by the west window, and talk of this night of rain in the Ba mountains?
  135. Soaring Spirit and Sweeping EloquenceHan Yu · IdiomsIn argument he cited past and present, ranging through the classics, histories and philosophers, with soaring spirit and sweeping eloquence, and usually won over all present.
  136. Everyone Wears Dogwood but OneWang Wei · AphorismsI know that where my brothers climb the heights, all wearing dogwood, there is one person missing.
  137. Companions Only in Wine and FeastingHan Yu · IdiomsNowadays people living in the same lanes admire and flatter one another, chase one another to food, drink and games, and force smiles to defer to one another.
  138. The Silver River Pours Down from HeavenLi Bai · IdiomsIt flies straight down three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way were falling from the ninth heaven.
  139. The Round Sun Setting over the Long RiverWang Wei · AphorismsOn the vast desert a lone column of smoke rises straight; over the long river the setting sun is round.
  140. Stale Phrases Must Be Swept AwayHan Yu · IdiomsOnly in removing stale words, how hard, how hard it is!
  141. Wild Geese Crying in the Autumn ChillWang Bo · AphorismsFishing boats sing at dusk, their songs reaching the shores of Pengli; geese in formation, startled by the cold, cry until their voices fade at the banks of Hengyang.
  142. Never Abandoning Aspirations as High as the CloudsWang Bo · AphorismsIn old age be ever more vigorous; how could white hair change one's heart? In hardship be ever firmer, never letting fall one's aspirations to the blue clouds.
  143. With Spring as Companion on the Road HomeDu Fu · AphorismsBy day I sing aloud and must drink deep; with green spring as my companion, it is good to go home.
  144. The Bluebird Diligently Carries WordLi Shangyin · IdiomsFrom here to Mount Penglai the road is not long; bluebird, be diligent and go look in on her for me.
  145. Follow the Tree's Own NatureLiu Zongyuan · AphorismsI cannot make trees live long and multiply; I can only follow the tree's own nature so that it fulfils itself.
  146. The Lushan Waterfall Plunges Straight DownLi Bai · AphorismsThe torrent flies straight down three thousand feet; I wonder if the Milky Way has fallen from the ninth heaven.
  147. A Hall Full of Distinguished Guests at Prince Teng's PavilionWang Bo · IdiomsHosts came a thousand li to welcome us; distinguished friends filled every seat.
  148. The Yellow Crane Gone, Never to ReturnCui Hao · IdiomsThe yellow crane, once gone, never came back; for a thousand years white clouds have drifted on in vain.
  149. From Mount Tai's Summit All Other Peaks Look SmallDu Fu · AphorismsOne day I shall stand upon the highest peak and see at a glance how small all other mountains are.
  150. Sorrow of Ten Thousand Ages Drowned in WineLi Bai · AphorismsCall the boy to take them out and trade them for fine wine, and with you I will dissolve the sorrows of ten thousand ages.
  151. No Damming, No Flow; No Halting, No AdvanceHan Yu · AphorismsThen what is to be done? I say: without damming, there is no flow; without halting, there is no advance.
  152. No Northern Horsemen Shall Cross the Yin MountainsWang Changling · AphorismsIf only the Flying General of Dragon City were here, no northern horseman would be allowed to cross the Yin Mountains.
  153. They Simply Do Not Know Horses: Han Yu on TalentHan Yu · AphorismsAlas! Are there truly no good horses? The truth is they simply do not know horses!
  154. Merging Silently with All Creation on Western HillLiu Zongyuan · AphorismsMy mind was stilled and my body released, and I merged silently with all creation.
  155. When Life Goes Well, Enjoy It to the Full: Li Bai's ToastLi Bai · AphorismsWhen life goes well, enjoy it to the full; never let the golden cup stand empty to the moon.
  156. Dying Before the Campaign Could Triumph: Du Fu on Zhuge LiangDu Fu · AphorismsHe led his army out but died before victory; ever since, heroes weep until their robes are soaked.
  157. One More Cup Before You Go West: Wang Wei's FarewellWang Wei · AphorismsLet me urge you, drink one more cup of wine; west of Yang Pass you will find no old friends.
  158. Coming Out Only After a Thousand CallsBai Juyi · AphorismsOnly after a thousand calls did she come out, still holding the pipa to half hide her face.
  159. Birds Gone from a Thousand Snowy PeaksLiu Zongyuan · AphorismsOver a thousand mountains the birds have flown away; on ten thousand paths no footprint remains.
  160. Back to Jiangling in a Single DayLi Bai · AphorismsAt dawn I left Baidi among the colored clouds; a thousand li to Jiangling, and back within a day.
  161. Spent Fortunes Will Return AgainLi Bai · AphorismsHeaven made my talent, and it will be put to use; scatter a thousand in gold and it will all come back.
  162. Loving All Widely Is Called BenevolenceHan Yu · AphorismsLoving broadly is called benevolence; acting fittingly is called righteousness; the path that follows from them is called the Way; being sufficient in oneself without depending on externals is called virtue.
  163. Fellow Wanderers Fallen at the Ends of the EarthBai Juyi · AphorismsWe are both wanderers fallen on hard times at the ends of the earth; meeting now, why must we have known each other before!
  164. The Realm Lies Broken, Yet Hills and Rivers EndureDu Fu · AphorismsThe state is broken, yet mountains and rivers remain; spring comes to the city, and grass and trees grow deep.
  165. Sages Keep No Single TeacherHan Yu · AphorismsThe sage has no fixed teacher.
  166. Shelter for All the Poor Scholars Under HeavenDu Fu · AphorismsIf only I had ten million spacious halls, to shelter all the poor scholars under heaven and make their faces glad!
  167. Pearls Great and Small Falling on a Jade PlateBai Juyi · AphorismsHeavy and light notes played in a tangle, like pearls great and small falling onto a jade plate.
  168. Even the Ends of the Earth Feel Like Next DoorWang Bo · AphorismsWithin the four seas I have a true friend; the ends of the earth are like next door.
  169. Heaven Gave Me Talent for a PurposeLi Bai · AphorismsHeaven made my talent, and it will surely find its use; scatter a thousand in gold and it will all come back.
  170. Holding One City to Shield the EmpireHan Yu · AphorismsThey held one city and shielded the empire; with a few hundred or thousand men on the point of death they fought a host of a million that grew by the day, screened the Yangtze and Huai, and checked the enemy's advance. That the empire did not fall, whose achievement was it?
  171. Steady as a Mountain Through Wind and RainDu Fu · AphorismsUnmoved by wind and rain, steady as a mountain.
  172. If Only There Were Ten Million Spacious HallsDu Fu · AphorismsIf only I had ten million spacious halls, to shelter all the poor scholars under heaven and make their faces glad!
  173. My Shadow Makes Us ThreeLi Bai · AphorismsI raise my cup to invite the bright moon; with my shadow we make three.
  174. Into the Homes of Ordinary FolkLiu Yuxi · AphorismsThe swallows that once nested before the halls of the Wangs and Xies now fly into the homes of ordinary folk.
  175. A Hill Need Not Be High If an Immortal Dwells ThereLiu Yuxi · AphorismsA hill need not be high; if an immortal lives there it is famous. Water need not be deep; if a dragon dwells there it is sacred.
  176. Already Lost in Wistful ConfusionLi Shangyin · AphorismsMust this feeling wait to become a memory? Even then, at the time, I was already lost.
  177. No Unlettered Callers at My DoorLiu Yuxi · AphorismsAmong those who talk and laugh here are great scholars; among those who come and go, none is unlettered.
  178. Fearing Cheap Charcoal, He Wishes the Weather ColderBai Juyi · AphorismsPitiful: the clothes on his back are thin, yet fearing charcoal will be cheap, he wishes the weather colder!
  179. Foolish Brook of YongzhouLiu Zongyuan · AphorismsIn ancient times there was the Valley of the Foolish Old Man; now I have made my home by this stream, whose name no one could settle and over which the locals still argued. It had to be changed, so I changed it to Foolish Brook.
  180. Grieving the Times, Tears Fall on the FlowersDu Fu · AphorismsGrieving the times, tears splash on the flowers; hating parting, the birds startle my heart.
  181. Over Wine We Talk of Mulberry and HempMeng Haoran · AphorismsWe open the window to face the threshing floor and garden, and over wine we talk of mulberry and hemp.
  182. Writing Should Be Composed for Its Own TimesBai Juyi · AphorismsOnly then did I understand that prose should be written for its times, and poems composed for real events.
  183. Bright Moonlight Shining Down Through the PinesWang Wei · AphorismsThe bright moon shines among the pines; the clear spring flows over the stones.
  184. Sleeping Through the Spring Dawn UnawaresMeng Haoran · AphorismsSleeping in spring, I did not notice the dawn; everywhere I hear the birds singing.
  185. Grass That Springs Up Again in the Spring WindBai Juyi · AphorismsWildfire cannot burn it all away; when the spring wind blows, it grows again.
  186. Each Craft and Field of Learning Has Its MastersHan Yu · AphorismsSome grasp the Way sooner, some later; each has a field of mastery; that is all there is to it.
  187. A Pause in the Music More Moving Than SoundBai Juyi · AphorismsA different kind of hidden sorrow and secret grief arose; at that moment silence was better than sound.
  188. Missing One's Family Twice as Much on Every FestivalWang Wei · AphorismsAlone in a strange land, a stranger, on every festival I miss my family twice as much.
  189. Lovebirds Flying Wing to Wing in HeavenBai Juyi · AphorismsIn heaven, may we be two birds flying wing to wing; on earth, two trees with branches grown together.
  190. A True Friend Somewhere Within the Four SeasWang Bo · AphorismsIf within the four seas you have a true friend, the ends of the earth are like next door.
  191. Spring Rain Moistening All Things Without a SoundDu Fu · AphorismsIt steals in with the wind at night, moistening all things finely, without a sound.
  192. Clear Spring Water Flowing Over the Mountain StonesWang Wei · AphorismsThe bright moon shines among the pines; the clear spring flows over the stones.
  193. Like the Woodcutter Whose Axe Handle Rotted AwayLiu Yuxi · AphorismsRecalling old friends, I chant in vain the flute rhapsody; coming home, I am like the man whose axe handle rotted.
  194. Still Half-Hiding Her Face Behind the PipaBai Juyi · AphorismsOnly after a thousand calls did she come out, still holding her pipa to hide half her face.
  195. The Bright Sun Sinking Behind the Western HillsWang Zhihuan · AphorismsThe bright sun sinks along the mountains; the Yellow River flows into the sea.
  196. Every Grain of the Meal on One's PlateLi Shen · AphorismsWho knows that of the meal on the plate, every single grain is hard labour?
  197. Hard It Is to Meet, and Harder Still to PartLi Shangyin · AphorismsHard it is to meet, and hard to part; the east wind has no strength and the hundred flowers fade.
  198. Lush Grass Spreading Across the Ancient PlainBai Juyi · AphorismsLush, lush, the grass upon the plain, withering and flourishing once every year.
  199. An Autumn Day Surpasses Any Spring MorningLiu Yuxi · AphorismsSince ancient times, people meeting autumn have mourned its loneliness; I say an autumn day surpasses a spring morning.
  200. The Moon of Qin Above the Frontier Passes of HanWang Changling · AphorismsThe moon of Qin, the passes of Han; those who marched ten thousand li have not returned.
  201. Every Grain Is Hard-Won ToilLi Shen · AphorismsWho knows that of the food on the plate, every single grain is hard toil?
  202. Flowers Recall Her FaceLi Bai · AphorismsClouds call to mind her robes, flowers call to mind her face; the spring wind brushes the railing, and the dew lies thick and bright.
  203. How Many Blossoms Fell in the NightMeng Haoran · AphorismsLast night came the sound of wind and rain; who knows how many blossoms fell?
  204. Laughing and Talking with Great ScholarsLiu Yuxi · IdiomsThose I laugh and talk with are great scholars; none who come and go are unlettered.
  205. The Light Boat Has Passed Ten Thousand PeaksLi Bai · AphorismsOn both banks the gibbons cry without ceasing, and my light boat has already passed ten thousand peaks.
  206. Branches Grown Together as OneBai Juyi · AphorismsIn heaven we would be birds flying wing to wing; on earth, two trees with branches grown as one.
  207. No Sun, They Say, Yet the Sun Is OutLiu Yuxi · AphorismsThe sun comes out in the east while rain falls in the west; no sun, they say, and yet the sun is out.
  208. Wildfire Cannot Burn the Grass AwayBai Juyi · AphorismsWildfire cannot burn it all away; when the spring wind blows, it grows again.
  209. Hoeing the Fields Under the Noonday SunLi Shen · AphorismsHoeing the crops under the noonday sun, his sweat drips into the soil beneath them.
  210. Light and Shade Split Dusk from DawnDu Fu · AphorismsNature gathered here all wonder and beauty; its north and south split dusk from dawn.
  211. Frost-Touched Leaves Redder Than Spring FlowersDu Mu · AphorismsI stop my carriage, for I love the maple woods at dusk; the frost-touched leaves are redder than the flowers of spring.
  212. Dew Lies Thick and Bright on the PeoniesLi Bai · AphorismsClouds call to mind her robes, flowers call to mind her face; the spring wind brushes the railing, and the dew lies thick and bright.
  213. One Man Holds the Pass Against Ten ThousandFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsThe Sword Gate rises steep and towering; if one man holds the pass, ten thousand cannot force it open.
  214. Teacher of a Single WordQiji (Monk Qiji) · IdiomsIn the deep snow of the village ahead, last night a single spray opened.
  215. One Saying Can Make a State FlourishWei Zheng · IdiomsOne saying can make a state flourish: this is what it means.
  216. Neither Arising nor CeasingXuanzang (trans.) · IdiomsAll phenomena are marked by emptiness: they neither arise nor cease, are neither defiled nor pure, neither increase nor decrease.
  217. Rising Again from the Eastern HillsFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsYou defied the court's summons time and again and lay at ease in the Eastern Hills. People kept saying to one another: if Anshi will not come out, what will become of the common people? Now what will the common people make of you?
  218. Chasing the Deer Across the Central PlainWei Zheng · IdiomsWhen the chase for the deer first began on the central plain, I threw down my brush to serve in the war chariots.
  219. Practising Calligraphy Until the Pond Turned BlackFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsZhang Zhi practised calligraphy by the pond until its water was all black. If I could be so absorbed in it, I would not necessarily fall behind him.
  220. My Native Accent UnchangedHe Zhizhang · AphorismsI left home young and return old; my native accent has not changed, but the hair at my temples has thinned.
  221. The Five Aggregates Are All EmptyXuanzang (trans.) · IdiomsWhen the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was practising the profound perfection of wisdom, he saw clearly that the five aggregates are all empty, and passed beyond all suffering and distress.
  222. Immortal Dew and Bright PearlsLi Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang) · IdiomsWind in the pines and the moon on the water cannot match his purity and brilliance; how could immortal dew and bright pearls compare with his luminous grace?
  223. Punishing So That Punishment May EndZhangsun Wuji, Yu Zhining (comp.) · IdiomsTherefore it is said: use punishment to end punishment, use killing to end killing.
  224. Killing So That Killing May EndZhangsun Wuji, Yu Zhining (comp.) · IdiomsTherefore it is said: use punishment to end punishment, use killing to end killing.
  225. Winning by Stratagem Instead of BattleFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsSo the soldiers made up a ditty about it: 'Using stratagem instead of battle, one is worth ten thousand.'
  226. In the Space of a Glance Down and UpYao Chong · IdiomsWang Yishao said, 'In the space of a glance down and up, it has already become a trace of the past.' How true these words are!
  227. Heeding Only One Side Leaves a Ruler in the DarkWu Jing (comp.) · IdiomsA ruler is clear-sighted because he listens to all sides; he is benighted because he trusts only one.
  228. He Yan, the Young Man Who Seemed PowderedSong Jing (traditionally attributed) · IdiomsHe Pingshu was handsome and his face extremely white; Emperor Ming of Wei suspected he wore powder.
  229. Recover the Divine Land: Wang Dao Rebukes the Weeping ExilesFang Xuanling (comp.) · AphorismsWe should join our strength for the royal house and recover the Divine Land; why sit weeping at one another like prisoners of Chu?
  230. All Eight Corners of the World on One TrackFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsWe have cleared Liang and Min and embraced Yang and Yue; the eight corners of the world share one track, and auspicious omens keep arriving.
  231. The Orphan Six Chi Tall: Luo Binwang's Call to ArmsLuo Binwang · IdiomsThe earth on the late emperor's grave is not yet dry; to whom is his six-chi orphan entrusted?
  232. Victory Without Blood on the BladesFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsFrom the time Jun set out from Shu his weapons were never bloodied and no city held out; Xiakou and Wuchang offered no resistance.
  233. Unrivalled in His GenerationFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsAt fifteen he practised swordplay; long-armed and a fine archer, he drew a bow of three hundred jin, and in strength and agility he was unrivalled in his generation.
  234. Pure as Ice, Lustrous as JadeYao Chong · IdiomsThe wife's father has the bearing of clear ice; the son-in-law has the reputation of smooth jade.
  235. As Easily as Splitting BambooFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsNow our army's might is roused; it is like splitting bamboo: after a few joints, the rest all split as they meet the blade.
  236. Humble Palaces and Frugal MealsWei Zheng (comp.) · IdiomsWe wish humble palaces and frugal meals to be handed down to later ages.
  237. Leaves Falling on Lake DongtingShangguan Wan'er · AphorismsWhen the leaves first fall on Lake Dongting, I think of you more than ten thousand li away.
  238. One Heart and One VirtueWu Zetian (Empress Wu) · IdiomsKing Wu of Zhou had ten able ministers of one heart and one virtue; this is why he rose.
  239. Begin Well and End WellWei Zheng · IdiomsGood at youth and good at age, good at the beginning and good at the end.
  240. The Seventeenth of the Fourth Month: Wei Zhuang's Day of PartingWei Zhuang · AphorismsThe seventeenth of the fourth month: a year ago today I parted from you.
  241. The Four Seas Boil Like a Cauldron: Liu Yuan's MomentFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsNow the Sima clan is killing its own flesh and blood and the four seas are boiling like a cauldron; to raise our state and restore our heritage, the time is now.
  242. Crumbling Earth and Rotting Fish: The Fall of SuiWei Zheng (comp.) · IdiomsThe realm crumbled like earth and rotted like fish; his evil was full and ripe, and all under heaven were his enemies.
  243. Rotten Reins on a Racing Carriage: Wei Zheng's WarningWei Zheng · AphorismsWater carries the boat and overturns it; one must be deeply careful. Driving a racing carriage with rotten reins, how can one be careless!
  244. Ji Bu's Promise, Worth More than GoldWei Zheng · IdiomsJi Bu never gave a second promise; Hou Ying valued a single word.
  245. Little Hills Layered on the Screen: Wen Tingyun's Morning BoudoirWen Tingyun · AphorismsLittle hills overlap, their gold glinting and fading; the cloud of hair at her temple would drift across the fragrant snow of her cheek.
  246. A Corpse with One Breath Left: Sima Yi Feigns IllnessFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsLord Sima is a corpse with a breath left; his body and spirit have parted. There is nothing to worry about.
  247. The Broken Clog Tooth: Xie An Hides His Joy at Fei RiverFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsCrossing the threshold, so great was his joy that he did not notice his clog tooth break. Such was his self-mastery.
  248. Lofty Halls and Carved Walls: Taizong's Warning Against LuxuryLi Shimin · IdiomsAs for Qin's First Emperor and King Mu of Zhou, Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Ming of Wei, they built lofty halls and carved walls, the height of extravagance.
  249. The Guangling Melody Is Heard No MoreFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsYuan Xiaoni once asked to learn the Guangling melody from me, and I always held it back. Now the Guangling melody ends today!
  250. Answers Flowing Like a StreamLinghu Defen (comp.) · IdiomsSu Chuo was a gifted speaker and answered as fluently as flowing water.
  251. Too Absorbed to Sleep or EatLi Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang) · IdiomsWhenever I think of this with worry, I never fail to forget sleep and food.
  252. Holding the Centre of the RingSikong Tu (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsGo beyond the images and hold the centre of the ring.
  253. A Mind Free of HindranceXuanzang (trans.) · IdiomsThe mind has no hindrance; without hindrance there is no fear, and inverted dreams are left far behind.
  254. Overwhelmed by GriefFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsThe ministers wailed and clung to the cart, holding the emperor's hands, and the emperor too was overwhelmed with grief.
  255. Curbing Extravagance with ThriftWei Zheng · AphorismsNot to think of danger in peace or check extravagance with thrift is like cutting the roots to make the tree flourish, or blocking the source to make the stream run long.
  256. Quelling Chaos to Rescue the AgeFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsWhen the virtue of Han had declined, Emperor Wu of Wei quelled the chaos and rescued the age, supporting the Liu house.
  257. Choosing the Good and Following ItWei Zheng · IdiomsWhen three walk together, there is sure to be one who can teach me; I choose their good points and follow them, and correct their bad points in myself.
  258. Ringing Like Metal When Thrown to the GroundFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsTry throwing it on the ground; it will ring like metal and stone.
  259. Beheading Generals and Seizing Their BannersFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsWhen the troops advanced there was no barrier to stop them; they beheaded generals and seized banners, and tens of thousands lay dead.
  260. Exiles Weeping Together at Xinting PavilionFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsWhenever there was a fine day, the gentlemen who had crossed the river would invite each other to feast at Xinting. Zhou Yi sighed in their midst: 'The scenery is no different, yet wherever we look the rivers have changed.' They all looked at one another and wept.
  261. Flowing East Day and Night Without RestYu Xuanji · AphorismsFlowing east day and night, with never a moment's rest.
  262. Sun-Shaped Brow and Dragon CountenanceYao Silian (comp.) · IdiomsHe stood seven chi five cun tall, with a sun-shaped brow and dragon countenance, and his hands hung down past his knees.
  263. Dining After Dark and Dressing Before DawnChen Hong · IdiomsXuanzong had reigned for many years and grew weary of dining after dark and dressing before dawn; matters of state, great or small, he began to leave to his chief ministers.
  264. Warm Fragrance Coaxing Dreams Beneath Mandarin-Duck BrocadeWen Tingyun · AphorismsBehind the crystal curtain, on the glass pillow, warm fragrance coaxes dreams beneath the mandarin-duck brocade.
  265. Moonset Over an Empty Brocade ScreenShangguan Wan'er · AphorismsThe dew is heavy and the scented quilt cold; the moon sets and the brocade screen stands empty.
  266. A Firm Root Makes a Peaceful StateWei Zheng (comp.) · IdiomsThe people are the root of the state; when the root is firm, the state is at peace. If the people have enough, how can the ruler lack!
  267. Driving Six Horses With Rotten ReinsWei Zheng · IdiomsHow fearful it is, like driving six horses with rotten reins!
  268. Wind in the Pines and the Moon on the WaterLi Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang) · AphorismsWind in the pines and the moon on the water cannot match his purity and brilliance; immortal dew and bright pearls can hardly equal his clarity and lustre.
  269. Worn to Kindling and Bone by MourningWei Zheng (comp.) · IdiomsThat year he left office to mourn his mother, and was worn to kindling and bone by grief.
  270. Facing Each Other Like Captives of ChuFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsWe should work together for the royal house and recover the divine land; why should we weep at each other like captives of Chu?
  271. Slender and Lovely as a Young PineFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsThe little tree is not without a fresh and lovely grace, but I fear it will never see the day it becomes a roof-beam.
  272. Reeds Under Night Frost in the Land of WatersXue Tao · AphorismsIn the land of waters the reeds are frosted at night; the cold moon and the colour of the hills are both a misty grey.
  273. Resolve to Set the Realm in Order: Gao Huan's AmbitionLi Baiyao (comp.) · IdiomsFrom this time he had the resolve to set the realm in order.
  274. Washing One's Feet at Fusang Where the Sun RisesSikong Tu (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsAt dawn I whip on the six great turtles and wash my feet at Fusang.
  275. Ape-Like Arms and a Born Archer: Young Liu CongFang Xuanling (comp.) · AphorismsAt fifteen he learned to fight; with ape-like arms he shot superbly and drew a bow of three hundred jin.
  276. Buying Spring Wine in a Jade FlaskSikong Tu (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsWith a jade flask I buy spring wine and watch the rain from a thatched hut.
  277. Talent Fit to Aid a King: Su Chuo and Yuwen TaiLinghu Defen (comp.) · IdiomsHuida named Su Chuo and praised him as having talent fit to aid a king.
  278. The Living Plunged into Mud and Fire: The Fall of SuiWei Zheng (comp.) · IdiomsNever has the world so fallen apart, never have the living been so plunged into mud and fire, never has a ruler's death and a state's ruin been so extreme.
  279. Sturdy Grass Revealed by a Fierce WindLi Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang) · IdiomsA fierce wind reveals the sturdy grass; turmoil reveals the loyal minister.
  280. The Way Seen at a Glance: Wenbo Xuezi and the Plum BlossomSong Jing (traditionally attributed) · IdiomsHalf closed, half open, neither silent nor speaking, it is like Wenbo Xuezi, in whom the Way is seen at a glance.
  281. Seeing Red as Green: Wu Zetian's Love SongWu Zetian · IdiomsMy thoughts in turmoil, I see red as green; worn and wasted, I fall apart remembering you.
  282. True Strength Brimming Over: The Bold and Unrestrained ModeSikong Tu (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsTrue strength brims over, and all phenomena are close at hand.
  283. Hiding Joy to Steady Others: Xie An's Broken ClogFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsHe was so delighted that he did not notice the tooth of his clog had broken; such was his mastery of feeling to steady others.
  284. Dressed in Green Jade: He Zhizhang's Ode to the WillowHe Zhizhang · AphorismsDressed in green jade, one tall tree; ten thousand branches hang down like green silk ribbons.
  285. Rats in the Shrine, Foxes in the WallWei Zheng (comp.) · IdiomsRats of the shrine and foxes of the wall made white into black; by them loyal men were exiled and states brought to peril.
  286. Composure Unchanged: Wang Dun at Wang Kai's BanquetFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsThe whole company changed colour, but Wang Dun's composure was unchanged.
  287. Divided in Heart and Purpose: The Fall of King ZhouWu Zetian (Empress Wu) · IdiomsKing Zhou of Yin had millions of subjects divided in heart and purpose, which is why he perished.
  288. Strength Stored Becomes Grandeur: The Potent and Vast ModeSikong Tu (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsReturn to emptiness and enter the undivided whole; store up vigour and it becomes grandeur.
  289. Ruan Ji Weeping Where the Road EndsFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsAt times he drove out alone on a whim, following no path, and where the cart tracks ended he would weep bitterly and turn back.
  290. Establish Yourself and Honour Your Name: Xuanzong on Filial PietyLi Longji · IdiomsTo establish oneself and walk the Way, making one's name known to later ages to bring glory to one's parents, is the culmination of filial piety.
  291. Parting Night at the Red Chamber in Wei Zhuang's SongWei Zhuang · AphorismsThat parting night in the red chamber was hard to bear; the scented lamp, the tasselled curtain half drawn.
  292. Ordering Heaven and Earth Like Warp and WeftLi Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang) · IdiomsAmong rulers who ordered heaven and earth and lords who carried on the foundations, the way of rise and fall shines clear.
  293. Making Fish and Meat of One Another: the Sima Princes at WarFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsNow the Sima fathers, sons and brothers make fish and meat of one another; this is heaven tiring of Jin's virtue and handing it to us.
  294. Nearest Yet Most Distant: Li Ye on Husband and WifeLi Ye · AphorismsNearest yet most distant: husband and wife.
  295. Orchids and Jade Trees in the Courtyard: Xie Xuan's AnswerFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsIt is like orchids and jade trees: one simply wants them to grow in one's own courtyard and by one's own steps.
  296. Every Bush and Tree a Soldier: Fu Jian at ShouyangFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsLooking north at the grass and trees on Mount Bagong, all seemed to be men.
  297. Fleeing Through the Grass, Sleeping in the Dew: the Rout at the Fei RiverFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsHearing the wind and the cry of cranes, they all thought the imperial army had come; they went through the grass and slept in the dew, and with hunger and cold seven or eight in ten died.
  298. Wasp's Eyes and a Jackal's Voice: Prince Shangchen of ChuFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsA wasp's eyes and a jackal's voice: he is a ruthless man.
  299. Caring for the People as for the Wounded: Wei Zheng's Ten WarningsWei Zheng · IdiomsAt the beginning of Zhenguan, Your Majesty regarded the people as if they were wounded, pitied their toil and loved them as your children.
  300. Bold and Unbridled: the Heroic Style in Poetry and LifeSikong Tu (traditionally attributed) · IdiomsThe heavenly wind surges, sea and mountains stretch dark and vast; true strength fills everything, and all creation is at one's side.
  301. Corrupting Custom and Harming Moral Teaching: Yang Hu Judges Wang YanFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsWang Yifu now occupies high office on the strength of a great name; yet the one who corrupts custom and harms moral teaching will surely be this man.
  302. Bribery Done in the Open: the Reign of Emperor Hui of JinFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsOrder was ruined and bribes went about openly; families of power used their rank to override others.
  303. A String of Crimes Full, Evil Ripe for Harvest: the Fall of Emperor Yang of SuiWei Zheng (comp.) · IdiomsThe state crumbled like earth and rotted like fish; the string of crimes was full and evil ripe; under all heaven there was none who was not his foe.
  304. Enjoying the Rain in a Thatched Hut: the Elegant Mode of PoetrySikong Tu (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsFalling petals drift without a word, and the man is as serene as a chrysanthemum.
  305. Transcending Outward Forms: the Grand and Potent Mode of PoetrySikong Tu (traditionally attributed) · IdiomsTranscend outward forms and you reach the centre of the ring.
  306. Holding to Duty and Dying for Righteousness: the Prince of Langya Refuses the ThroneFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsI am a guilty man; only by holding to my duty and dying for righteousness can I wipe away the shame of the realm.
  307. Donning Armour in Person to Lead the TroopsFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsWhen the western capital was lost, the emperor led out his troops and camped in the open; he put on armour himself, summoned the soldiers of the realm and fixed a day to advance.
  308. Turning Back the Sun and Moving HeavenWei Zheng (comp.) · IdiomsThere were great villains who could turn back the sun and move heaven, and rats in the altar and foxes in the wall who made white into black.
  309. Careless of Wealth and Fond of GivingLinghu Defen (comp.) · IdiomsAs a youth he was large-minded and did not attend to the family's livelihood; he made light of wealth and was fond of giving, and so made friends with worthy gentlemen.
  310. The Water That Carries the Boat Can Overturn ItWei Zheng · IdiomsResentment is not dangerous for its size; what is to be feared is the people. The water that carries the boat can overturn it, and this deserves the deepest caution.
  311. The Deserted Country FerryWei Yingwu · AphorismsThe spring tide, swollen with rain, rushes in fast at dusk; no one is at the country ferry, and the boat lies crosswise of itself.
  312. Opening with Bells, Closing with ChimesWei Zheng (comp.) · IdiomsThose who established virtue and words, gave teachings and set examples, served as warp and weft of the world, sounded like bells and rang like jade, and spread their fruits and flowers abroad.
  313. A Golden Bowl Without a FlawYao Silian (comp.) · IdiomsMy state is like a golden bowl without a single flaw.
  314. Carved Walls and Lofty HallsWei Zheng (comp.) · IdiomsIn what is now being built, thrift must be the rule; let no carved walls and lofty halls rise again in our time.
  315. Wind and Clouds Change Colour at a ShoutLuo Binwang · AphorismsWhen they roar, the mountains crumble; when they shout, the wind and clouds change colour.
  316. The Scenery Is No Different, but the Land Is LostFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsThe scenery is no different, but lift your eyes and the rivers have changed.
  317. Drinking In the Great HarmonySikong Tu (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsDwelling plainly in silence, the mind subtly senses the hidden workings; it drinks in the great harmony and flies with a solitary crane.
  318. A Worn-Out Nag Pining for Its Stable FeedFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsShuang is not close to Fan and is no match for him in wits; a worn-out nag pines for the beans in its stall, and he will surely not use him.
  319. Kin Slaughtering Their Own Flesh and BloodFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsNow the Sima clan are destroying their own flesh and blood and the four seas are boiling; this is the time to revive our state and restore our heritage.
  320. Lying at Ease on the Eastern MountainFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsYou defied the court's commands again and again and lay at ease on the Eastern Mountain; everyone used to say, if Anshi will not come out, what will become of the people?
  321. Lofty Sentiments and Far-Reaching TasteFang Xuanling (comp.) · IdiomsIn lofty sentiments and far-reaching taste, I your disciple have long bowed to him; but in chanting and composing, Xu would face north as my pupil.
  322. Black Clouds Bearing Down on the Besieged CityLi He · AphorismsBlack clouds bear down on the city, the city about to crumble; armour gleams towards the sun, scales of gold unfolding.
  323. Petty Thieves Pilfering Like Rats and DogsWei Zheng (comp.) · IdiomsThey still called the rebels petty thieves like rats and dogs, not worth worrying about; high and low deceived each other and no one would think about the disorder.
  324. Footprints in the Frost on the Plank BridgeWen Tingyun · AphorismsCockcrow, a thatched inn, the moon; footprints, a plank bridge, the frost.
  325. Why Not Eat Meat Porridge?Fang Xuanling (comp.) · AphorismsWhen the realm fell into famine and chaos and the people were starving to death, the emperor said: 'Why don't they eat meat porridge?'
  326. A Young Shi Le Whistling at Luoyang's Upper East GateFang Xuanling (comp.) · AphorismsAt fourteen he went with people of his town to trade in Luoyang; he leaned against the Upper East Gate and whistled, and Wang Yan saw him and thought him remarkable.
  327. No Ancients Before Me in SightChen Zi'ang · AphorismsBefore me I see no ancients; after me I see none who are to come.
  328. Pear Blossoms Open on Ten Thousand TreesCen Shen · AphorismsSuddenly, as if a spring wind had come in a single night, pear blossoms open on ten thousand trees.
  329. Who in the World Does Not Know You?Gao Shi · AphorismsDo not fear that on the road ahead you will find no friend; who in the world does not know you?
  330. Refuse Heaven's Gift and Bear the BlameFang Xuanling (comp.) · AphorismsTo defy Heaven is unlucky, to go against the people is to fail; if Heaven gives and you do not take, you will suffer for it.
  331. Left Home Young, Came Back OldHe Zhizhang · AphorismsI left home young and have come back old; my accent has not changed, but the hair at my temples has grown thin.
  332. Different Mountains and Rivers, the Same Wind and MoonMahito Genkai (Omi no Mifune) · AphorismsMountains and rivers in different lands, wind and moon under the same sky; we send these to the children of the Buddha, to form a bond for lives to come.
  333. As if a Spring Wind Came OvernightCen Shen · AphorismsSuddenly, as if a spring wind had come in a single night, pear blossoms open on ten thousand trees.
  334. Touching the Dragon's Reversed ScalesYao Chong (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsI wish that all ministers may touch the dragon's reversed scales and offend against taboos; may it be so?
  335. With No Heroes in the Age, a Mere Boy Made His NameFang Xuanling (comp.) · AphorismsThere were no heroes in that age, so a mere boy made his name!
  336. Spring Waters Bluer Than the SkyWei Zhuang · AphorismsThe spring water is bluer than the sky; in a painted boat one sleeps listening to the rain.
  337. Thin Spring Robes of YouthWei Zhuang · AphorismsOnly now do I recall how happy Jiangnan was; I was young then, in thin spring clothes.
  338. The Spring Breeze Like a Pair of ScissorsHe Zhizhang · AphorismsWho cut out these slender leaves, I wonder? The second-month spring breeze, like a pair of scissors.
  339. A True-Hearted Lover Is Hard to FindYu Xuanji · AphorismsA priceless treasure is easy to find; a true-hearted lover is hard to obtain.
  340. Not a Single Thing from the Start: Huineng's Answer to ShenxiuHuineng (Sixth Patriarch) (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsFrom the start there is not a single thing; where could any dust collect?
  341. Willows Like Mist Along the River: Wen Tingyun's Spring DreamWen Tingyun · AphorismsAlong the river the willows are like mist; wild geese fly across a sky with a waning moon.
  342. Behind the Crystal Curtain: Wen Tingyun's Jewelled ChamberWen Tingyun · AphorismsBehind the crystal curtain lies a pillow of glass; warm fragrance from the mandarin-duck brocade stirs dreams.
  343. Recalling the Joys of Jiangnan in Youth: Wei Zhuang's MemoryWei Zhuang · AphorismsNow I recall the joys of Jiangnan, when I was young and my spring robe was thin.
  344. The Whole City Clad in Golden Armour: Huang Chao's ChrysanthemumsHuang Chao (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsTheir fragrance storms the sky and soaks through Chang'an; the whole city is clad in golden armour.
  345. The Wangs and the Simas Share the RealmFang Xuanling (comp.) · AphorismsWhen the emperor first took charge east of the Yangtze, his name was not yet known. Wang Dun, his cousin Wang Dao and others supported him with one heart to bring about the restoration, and people of the time said: the Wangs and the Simas share the realm.
  346. Sleeping to Rain in a Painted Boat: Wei Zhuang's JiangnanWei Zhuang · AphorismsThe spring water is bluer than the sky; in a painted boat I sleep to the sound of rain.
  347. In a Fierce Wind One Knows the Sturdy Grass: Taizong's Poem for Xiao YuLi Shimin (Emperor Taizong of Tang) · IdiomsIn a fierce wind one knows the sturdy grass; in times of turmoil one recognises the loyal minister.
  348. Wrists White as Frost by the Wine CounterWei Zhuang · AphorismsThe girl by the wine counter is lovely as the moon; her white wrists seem made of frozen frost and snow.
  349. Kongkong'er, the Assassin Who Strikes Only OncePei Xing · AphorismsKongkong'er's magic is such that no man can see how he works it and no ghost can follow his tracks.
  350. Rain Dripping on Empty Steps Until Dawn: Wen Tingyun's Sleepless NightWen Tingyun · AphorismsLeaf by leaf, drop by drop, it falls on the empty steps until dawn.
  351. Red Sleeves Beckoning from Every BalconyWei Zhuang · AphorismsI rode my horse and leaned by the slanting bridge, and from every balcony red sleeves beckoned.
  352. Able, Yet Seeming Unable: Li Jing on Sunzi's Art of DeceptionLi Jing (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsThe art of war says: do not pursue a feigned retreat. It also says: when able, appear unable. Both speak of surprise.
  353. Form Is Emptiness, Emptiness Is Form: The Heart SutraXuanzang (trans.) · AphorismsForm is not different from emptiness, emptiness is not different from form; form is emptiness, emptiness is form.
  354. Fear Not That No Friend Awaits: Gao Shi's Farewell to Dong DaGao Shi · AphorismsDo not worry that on the road ahead you will have no friends; who under heaven does not know you?
  355. Gold Glinting and Fading on the Folded Hills: Wen Tingyun's Morning ToiletteWen Tingyun · AphorismsOn the folded little hills gold glints and fades; cloud-like hair is about to drift across fragrant, snowy cheeks.
  356. Came for What I Heard, Left with What I Saw: Zhong Hui and Ji KangFang Xuanling (comp.) · AphorismsZhong Hui said: I came for what I heard, and I go with what I saw.
  357. No One Knows But the Moon: Wei Zhuang's Seventeenth of the Fourth MonthWei Zhuang · AphorismsApart from the moon at the edge of the sky, no one knows.
  358. Dark Eyes for Friends, White Eyes for Bores: Ruan Ji's GlancesFang Xuanling (comp.) · AphorismsRuan Ji could also show dark eyes or white; when he saw men bound by conventional propriety, he met them with the whites of his eyes.
  359. Cockcrow, Thatched Inn, Fading Moon: Setting Out Early on Mount ShangWen Tingyun · AphorismsCockcrow, a thatched inn, the moon; footprints, a plank bridge, frost.
  360. Repaying the Favour of the Golden Terrace: Li He's Frontier SongLi He · AphorismsTo repay your favour shown at the Golden Terrace, I take up my jade-dragon sword and will die for you!