Through the Dynasties · LH12

Song

Song lyrics in delicate and heroic modes, the prose of Ouyang Xiu and Su Shi, and poetry of reason and wit

374works

8forms

50authors

Masterpieces

21 works

Classical Poetry

27 works

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

  1. Summer Quatrain (Living as a Hero)Li Qingzhao · Regulated QuatrainsIn life be a hero among men; in death be a champion among ghosts.
  2. Passing LingdingyangWen Tianxiang · Regulated OctavesSince ancient times who has escaped death? Keep a crimson heart to shine on bamboo annals.
  3. Ascending Feilai PeakWang Anshi · Regulated QuatrainsFear not floating clouds obstructing the view, for one stands on the highest heights.
  4. To My SonLu You · Regulated QuatrainsIn dying I well know all worldly matters end in void; my only grief is not beholding the nine provinces unified. On the day the royal armies march north to pacify Central Plains, in family ancestral rites forget not to inform your father!
  5. Visiting Shanxi VillageLu You · Regulated OctavesWhere mountains multiply and streams double one doubts there is any path; amid shady willows and radiant blossoms emerges yet another village.
  6. Canglang PavilionOuyang Xiu · Old-Style SongsThe clear breeze and bright moon are by nature priceless; what a pity they were sold for only forty thousand cash.
  7. Visiting Mount Wudang and Lodging at Zixiao PalaceQiu Chuji (Changchun Zhenren) · Regulated QuatrainsZixiao Palace rests upon Mount Taihe; across thousand valleys and ten thousand crags auspicious mists thicken. In the silence of night when heaven is lofty and constellations draw near, a single chiming of the stone bell reverberates throughout the void.
  8. Replying to Ziyou's Poem Recalling Old Times at MianchiSu Shi · Regulated OctavesWhat is a life, wandering from place to place? It must be like a flying swan treading on snowy mud.
  9. Visiting a Garden but Finding No One HomeYe Shaoweng · Regulated QuatrainsA garden full of spring cannot be locked away.
  10. On Huichong's Painting 'Spring River at Dusk', No. 1Su Shi · Regulated QuatrainsWhen the spring river warms, the ducks are first to know.
  11. Venting My IndignationLu You · Regulated OctavesWarships in night snow at the Guazhou ferry; armoured horses in autumn wind at Dasan Pass.
  12. Leaving Jingci Temple at Dawn to See Off Lin ZifangYang Wanli · Regulated QuatrainsLotus leaves reaching to the sky, an endless green; lotus blossoms catching the sun, a red like no other.
  13. Written on the Wall of Xilin TempleSu Shi · Regulated QuatrainsI cannot know the true face of Mount Lu, only because I myself am within this mountain.
  14. Mooring at GuazhouWang Anshi · Regulated QuatrainsThe spring wind has greened the south bank of the river once more; when will the bright moon shine on my return?
  15. Song of the Upright SpiritWen Tianxiang · Old-Style SongsWhen times are desperate, integrity shows itself, and one by one these deeds are handed down in the histories.
  16. Thoughts on Reading, No. 1Zhu Xi · Regulated QuatrainsI ask it how it can be so clear; it is because living water flows in from the source.
  17. Drinking on the Lake, First Clear, Then Rain, No. 2Su Shi · Regulated QuatrainsIf I were to compare West Lake to Xi Shi, light make-up or heavy, either way she is lovely.
  18. New Year's DayWang Anshi · Regulated QuatrainsOn a thousand gates and ten thousand doors the rising sun shines bright; everyone puts up new peach-wood charms in place of the old.
  19. The Little PondYang Wanli · Regulated QuatrainsA little lotus leaf has only just shown its sharp tip, and already a dragonfly stands upon it.
  20. Plum Blossoms (A Few Sprays by the Wall)Wang Anshi · Regulated QuatrainsFrom afar I know they are not snow, for a faint fragrance drifts my way.
  21. Spring Day (Seeking Flowers by the Si)Zhu Xi · Regulated QuatrainsEasily one comes to know the face of the east wind: ten thousand purples and a thousand reds, all of it is spring.
  22. Exhortation to StudyZhao Heng (traditionally attributed) · Old-Style Songsto live in peace you need not build a lofty hall: in books there is a house of gold;
  23. The Fisherman on the RiverFan Zhongyan · Regulated QuatrainsBut look at that boat like a single leaf, now seen, now lost among the wind and waves.
  24. At Ehu, Matching the Rhymes of My Elder Brother the InstructorLu Jiuyuan · Regulated OctavesThe work of ease and simplicity will in the end be lasting and great; the enterprise of fragmentation will after all drift and sink.
  25. On the Rising SunZhao Kuangyin (traditionally attributed) · Regulated QuatrainsBefore it leaves the sea floor, a thousand mountains are dark; as soon as it reaches mid-sky, ten thousand states are bright.
  26. On Mount HuaKou Zhun (traditionally attributed) · Regulated QuatrainsRaising my head, the red sun is near; looking back, the white clouds are low.
  27. Cuiwei Pavilion at ChizhouYue Fei · Regulated QuatrainsFor years dust has covered my campaign coat; I made a special trip to seek the spring and climb up to Cuiwei.

Ci Lyrics

40 works

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

  1. Shuidiao Getou · When Will the Moon Be Clear and Bright?Su Shi · Mid-Length LyricsMay we live long and share the graceful moonlight across thousands of miles.
  2. Slow, Slow Song · Searching and SeekingLi Qingzhao · Long LyricsSearching and seeking, cold and desolate, sorrowful, miserable, and forlorn.
  3. A Spray of Plum Blossoms · Lotus Blossoms FadeLi Qingzhao · Mid-Length LyricsThis feeling cannot be dispelled: no sooner does it leave the brow than it leaps into the heart.
  4. Man Jiang Hong · Hair Bristles in WrathYue Fei · Long LyricsThirty years of deeds are dust and earth, eight thousand li of campaigns under clouds and moon. Do not idly let youthful hair turn white in empty grief!
  5. Nian Nu Jiao · Memories of the Red CliffsSu Shi · Long LyricsThe Great River surges east, its waves sweeping away all heroes of a thousand generations.
  6. Silk-Washing Stream (A Cup of Wine with a New Song)Yan Shu · Short LyricsHelplessly blossoms fall away; seeming familiar, swallows return. In the small garden along fragrant paths, all alone I pace to and fro.
  7. Butterflies Lingering over Flowers (How Deep the Courtyard)Ouyang Xiu · Short LyricsDeep within the courtyard, how deep is it? Willow groves pile thick mist, curtain screens layered countless times. With tearful eyes asking blossoms, the blossoms speak not; flying red petals swirl past the garden swing.
  8. Sheng Cha Zi (Lantern Festival)Ouyang Xiu · Short LyricsWhen the moon ascended above willow tips, lovers met after dusk. This year at the Lantern Festival night, moon and lantern lights remain as before. Seeing not that person of last year, tears drench my spring sleeves.
  9. Bells in the Rain (Cold Cicadas Chill and Plaintive)Liu Yong · Long LyricsSince antiquity the tender-hearted grieve over parting; how much more in the cold desolation of clear autumn! Tonight when wine wears off where shall I be? On willow-lined banks, in dawn breeze beneath the waning moon.
  10. Watching the Ocean Tide (Southeast Majestic Realm)Liu Yong · Long LyricsLayered lakes and stacked peaks are pristine and fair. With autumn sweet osmanthus and ten leagues of lotus blooms. Markets display jewels and pearls, households overflow with silk brocades, vying in splendor.
  11. Immortal at the Magpie Bridge (Slender Clouds Weave Wonders)Qin Guan · Short LyricsIf mutual love is steadfast and enduring, what need is there to cling together morning and night? When Autumn Wind and Jade Dew meet once in the skies, it surpasses countless earthly unions.
  12. Treading on Grass (Hostel in Chenzhou)Qin Guan · Mid-Length LyricsMist swallows high towers, moonlight veils river crossings. Gazing longing toward Peach Blossom Spring, nowhere can it be found. How can I endure being locked in solitary hostel amid spring chill, beneath crying cuckoos in slanted twilight sunset.
  13. Su Mu Zhe (Burning Aloeswood Incense)Zhou Bangyan · Mid-Length LyricsUpon lotus leaves early morning sun dries last night's rain; resting clear and round upon water, one by one the lotus blossoms sway upright in breeze.
  14. Calming the Waves (Listen Not to Rain Pelting Leaves)Su Shi · Mid-Length LyricsBamboo staff and straw sandals are lighter than horses—who fears? A straw cloak in misty rain suffices for a whole life. Looking back at the bleak storm-beaten place, returning home: there is neither wind and rain, nor fair sunshine.
  15. Jiang Cheng Zi (Dream on the Night of the 20th of the 1st Month)Su Shi · Mid-Length LyricsTen years of life and death boundless apart; not intentionally brooding, yet impossible to forget. A solitary mound ten thousand leagues away, with nowhere to confide desolation. Looking at each other speechless, only a thousand streams of tears.
  16. Jiang Cheng Zi (Hunting at Mizhou)Su Shi · Mid-Length LyricsThis old fellow for a while unleashes youthful wildness: left hand leashing yellow hound, right arm holding green hawk. Someday I shall draw the carved bow full like a round moon, looking northwestward to shoot down the Sirius star!
  17. Song of Divination (Dwelling at Dinghui Temple in Huangzhou)Su Shi · Short LyricsA crescent moon hangs from sparse paulownia boughs; the water clock has run out, all people fell silent. Who sees the secluded recluse pacing alone, a misty, solitary wild swan shadow? Picking through all cold branches refusing to roost, resting alone on cold, lonely sandbars.
  18. Breaking the Battle Array (Composed for Chen Tongfu)Xin Qiji · Mid-Length LyricsDrunk, I trim the lamp wick to look at my sword; in dreams I return to battle horns blaring across connected encampments. Distributing roasted beef among warrior ranks, fifty zither strings play frontier songs. Autumn inspection on the battlefield. Fulfilling the sovereign's sacred charge to reclaim the realm, winning enduring renown before and after death. Alas, white hair grows on my head!
  19. Yong Yu Le (Meditation on the Past at Beigu Pavilion in Jingkou)Xin Qiji · Long LyricsAcross eternal rivers and mountains, where can one find hero Sun Quan? Recall those bygone days: golden lances and armored steeds, swallowing ten thousand leagues like a tiger! Who will ask: General Lian Po has grown old—can he still eat his fill?
  20. Green Jade Cup (Lantern Festival)Xin Qiji · Short LyricsSearching for her thousands of times in the crowd; suddenly turning my head, that person is right there, where lantern lights are dim and waning.
  21. Chou Nu Er (Inscribed on the Wall on the Way to Boshan)Xin Qiji · Short LyricsIn youth I knew not the taste of sorrow, loving to climb high towers. Loving to climb high towers, composing new lyrics feigning sorrow. Now having known all sorrow's bitter taste, wishing to speak yet holding back. Wishing to speak yet holding back, I only say: 'What a crisp, cool autumn day!'
  22. Phoenix Hairpin (Pink Delicate Hands)Lu You · Short LyricsCruel is the east wind, fragile is joy. A breast full of sorrow, years of lonely separation. Wrong, wrong, wrong! Though mountain vows endure, silk letters are impossible to send. Cease, cease, cease!
  23. Song of Divination (Ode to the Plum Blossom)Lu You · Short LyricsHaving no intention to bitterly compete for spring, letting the host of flowers envy at will. Even if withered into mud and ground to dust, its fragrance endures as of old.
  24. Jianzi Mulanhu · Spring MelancholyZhu Shuzhen · Short LyricsWalking alone, sitting alone, chanting alone, answering alone, and sleeping alone. Standing still in desolation, helpless against the biting chill. Who perceives this heartache? Tears wash away half the faded makeup; grief and ailment intertwine, trimming down cold lamp wicks while dreams never form.
  25. Tune: Ru Meng Ling — I Often Recall Dusk at the Stream PavilionLi Qingzhao · Short LyricsRow hard, row hard to get through, and up from the shallows startle gulls and egrets.
  26. Tune: Xi Jiang Yue — Walking the Huangsha Road at NightXin Qiji · Short LyricsIn the fragrance of rice blossom there is talk of a good harvest; listen, a whole field of frogs is croaking.
  27. Tune: Su Zhong Qing — Years Ago I Went Ten Thousand Li Seeking a FiefLu You · Short LyricsThe invaders not yet destroyed, my temples already autumn-grey, my tears flow in vain.
  28. Tune: Zui Hua Yin — Thin Mist, Dense Clouds, a Long Day of SorrowLi Qingzhao · Short LyricsDo not say this does not wound the soul: when the west wind rolls up the curtain, I am thinner than the yellow chrysanthemums.
  29. Tune: Pu Sa Man — Written on the Wall at Zaokou, JiangxiXin Qiji · Short LyricsThe green hills cannot hold it back; in the end it flows away east.
  30. Tune: Yangzhou Man — The Famed City East of the HuaiJiang Kui · Long LyricsThe Twenty-Four Bridges are still here; the water's heart ripples, and the cold moon is silent.
  31. Tune: Ba Sheng Gan Zhou — Facing the Evening Rain Sprinkling over River and SkyLiu Yong · Long LyricsBy degrees the frosty wind grows bitter and keen, passes and rivers lie cold and desolate, and the last light falls on my tower.
  32. Tune: Wuling Chun — The Wind Has Stilled, the Dust Is FragrantLi Qingzhao · Short LyricsI only fear the tiny grasshopper boats of Twin Creeks could not carry so much sorrow.
  33. Tune: Nanxiang Zi — Thoughts on Climbing Beigu Pavilion at JingkouXin Qiji · Mid-Length LyricsAmong the world's heroes, who was his match? Cao and Liu. A son should be like Sun Zhongmou.
  34. Yujia Ao · Autumn ThoughtsFan Zhongyan · Mid-Length Lyricsunder long smoke and the setting sun, the lone walled town shuts its gates
  35. Su Mu Zhe · Remembering HomeFan Zhongyan · Mid-Length LyricsBlue clouds in the sky, yellow leaves on the ground
  36. Ru Meng Ling · Last Night the Rain Was Sparse and the Wind GustyLi Qingzhao · Short LyricsI asked the maid who was rolling up the blind; she said the crabapple was just as before.
  37. Gui Zhi Xiang · Meditation on the Past at JinlingWang Anshi · Long LyricsThe clear river runs a thousand li like white silk; the green peaks cluster like arrowheads.
  38. Yan Shan Ting · Seeing Apricot Blossoms on the Journey NorthZhao Ji · Long LyricsHeaven so far, earth so wide, ten thousand rivers and a thousand mountains: who knows where the old palace lies?
  39. Xiao Chong Shan · Last Night the Autumn Crickets Chirped Without CeaseYue Fei · Short LyricsI would entrust my heart's concerns to the jade-inlaid zither.
  40. Spring in the South: The Waves Are VastKou Zhun · Short Lyricsduckweed fills the sandbars, and he has not come home.

Rhapsody & Parallel Prose

4 works

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

  1. First Rhapsody on the Red CliffSu Shi · Prose RhapsodiesLodging like mayflies between heaven and earth, tiny as a single grain in the vast ocean. Lamenting the transience of our brief life, envying the unending flow of the Great Yangtze. Only the clear breeze over the river and the bright moon among mountains: when ear hears it, it becomes sound; when eye meets it, it becomes color. Taking without prohibition, using without exhaustion—this is the boundless inexhaustible treasury of the Creator.
  2. Rhapsody on the Sounds of AutumnOuyang Xiu · Prose RhapsodiesGrasses and trees have no feelings, yet in their season they wither and fall.
  3. Latter Rhapsody on the Red CliffSu Shi · Prose RhapsodiesThe river surged with audible currents, the sheer bluffs rose a thousand feet; the mountains loomed high beneath a diminutive moon, and as the waters receded, jagged rocks emerged. How brief the passage of days and months, yet the landscape is transformed beyond recognition!
  4. Rhapsody on the Singing CicadaOuyang Xiu · Prose RhapsodiesI did not know what creature it was; its name was the cicada.

Classical Prose

36 works

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

  1. Memorial on Yueyang TowerFan Zhongyan · Travel WritingBe the first to bear hardships for the world, and the last to partake in its joy.
  2. Record of the Old Drunkard PavilionOuyang Xiu · Travel WritingThe Old Drunkard's delight lies not in wine, but in the mountains and waters. The joy of mountain and stream is found in the heart and entrusted to wine. People know the joy of following their governor on excursions, yet know not that the governor finds his highest joy in their joy!
  3. Record of Visiting Mount BaochanWang Anshi · Travel WritingThe wonderful, grand, strange and extraordinary sights of the world often lie in dangerous and distant places.
  4. On the Love of the LotusZhou Dunyi · Essays & MemorialsI uniquely love the lotus for emerging from murky mud yet remaining unstained, bathed in clear ripples yet free from coquettish vanity; hollow within and straight without, neither clinging to vines nor branching astray; its fragrance growing purer the farther it spreads, standing erect in pristine purity, to be admired from afar and not treated with vulgar familiarity.
  5. On Political FactionsOuyang Xiu · Essays & MemorialsGentlemen join with gentlemen as friends because they share the same Way; petty men join with petty men because they share the same profit. This is the natural order of things.
  6. Preface to the Biographies of the Actor-Courtiers in the History of the Five DynastiesOuyang Xiu · Essays & MemorialsAlthough the pattern of rise and decline is said to be the mandate of Heaven, is it not also the work of men?
  7. Treatise on the Six StatesSu Xun · Essays & MemorialsThe Six States were destroyed not because their weapons were blunt or their fighting poor; the fault lay in bribing Qin.
  8. Mental Artistry of CommandSu Xun · Essays & MemorialsThe way of the general is first to govern the mind: Mount Tai can collapse before him without his colour changing, and an elk can leap up beside him without his eyes blinking.
  9. Treatise on the Marquis of LiuSu Shi · Essays & MemorialsAn ordinary man, insulted, draws his sword and rises, stepping forward to fight, but this is not worth calling courage.
  10. Treatise on Jia YiSu Shi · Essays & MemorialsIt is not having talent that is hard; what is truly hard is knowing how to use it oneself.
  11. Record of Stone Bell MountainSu Shi · Travel WritingGreat rocks stood sideways a thousand feet high, like fierce beasts and strange ghosts, looming as if to pounce on us.
  12. Letter to Grand Commandant Han of the Bureau of Military AffairsSu Zhe · Letters & PrefacesI hold that writing is the form taken by one's qi; writing cannot be acquired by study, but qi can be attained by nourishing it.
  13. Record of the Pavilion of Supreme Delight in HuangzhouSu Zhe · Travel WritingHow delightful this wind! Is it something I share with the common people?
  14. Record of the Ink PoolZeng Gong · Travel WritingXizhi's calligraphy became excellent only late in life; so his skill must have been attained by his own effort and was not a gift of Heaven.
  15. Reply to Remonstrance Official SimaWang Anshi · Letters & PrefacesWhat scholars contend over above all is names and realities. When names and realities are clear, the principles of the world are grasped.
  16. Postscript on Wu Daozi's PaintingsSu Shi · Letters & PrefacesWith poetry reaching Du Zimei, prose reaching Han Tuizhi, calligraphy reaching Yan of Lu and painting reaching Wu Daozi, the changes of past and present and all the accomplishments under heaven were complete.
  17. Record of Master Yan's Shrine in Tonglu CommanderyFan Zhongyan · Epitaphs & ElegiesThe cloudy mountains are deep green, the river waters vast and wide; the Master's spirit is as high as the mountains and as long as the river!
  18. Letter to Remonstrator GaoOuyang Xiu · Letters & PrefacesYou can still show your face to the scholar-officials and go in and out of court calling yourself a remonstrance official. This means you no longer know there is such a thing as shame in the world!
  19. Letter in Reply to Xie MinshiSu Shi (Su Dongpo) · Letters & PrefacesIn general they are like drifting clouds and flowing water, with no fixed form at the outset, but always moving where they should move and stopping where they cannot but stop; their patterns are natural and their postures abundant.
  20. Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in GovernmentSima Guang (comp.) · Historical NarrativeI have heard that among the duties of the Son of Heaven none is greater than ritual; within ritual nothing is greater than distinction of rank; within distinction nothing is greater than names.
  21. Brush Talks from Dream BrookShen Kuo · NotebooksA commoner named Bi Sheng went further and made movable type. His method was to carve characters in sticky clay, each as thin as the rim of a coin.
  22. A Night Stroll at Chengtian TempleSu Shi · Travel WritingThe courtyard was like a pool of still water, clear and translucent, with waterweeds crisscrossing in it: these were the shadows of the bamboo and cypress.
  23. Lament for ZhongyongWang Anshi · Essays & MemorialsHe has become entirely ordinary.
  24. Collected Commentaries on the Four BooksZhu Xi · Pre-Qin MastersHeaven's course turns in a cycle, and nothing goes that does not return.
  25. On Frugality, for My Son KangSima Guang · Letters & PrefacesEveryone takes extravagance as glory; my heart alone takes frugality and plainness as beauty.
  26. Classified Conversations of Master ZhuZhu Xi · NotebooksBefore Heaven and Earth existed there was after all only principle.
  27. Record of a Dream of Splendour in the Eastern CapitalMeng Yuanlao · NotebooksPeace had long prevailed and people and goods were plentiful.
  28. Afterword to the Records of Metal and StoneLi Qingzhao · Letters & PrefacesI happened to have a good memory, and every day after dinner we sat in the Guilai Hall brewing tea; pointing to the piles of books and histories, we would say in which book, which juan, which page and line a certain matter was, and whoever was right won and drank first. When I won, I would raise my cup and laugh so hard that the tea spilled into my lap and I got up without drinking it.
  29. Record of the Names Inscribed at the Remonstrance BureauSima Guang · Epitaphs & ElegiesThose who chase eagerly after fame are like those who chase eagerly after profit: how far apart are they really?
  30. Oath Written at the Shrine of the Five PeaksYue Fei · Epitaphs & ElegiesTo welcome the two emperors back to the capital, restore the lost lands to our maps, so that the court has no cares and our sovereign can rest his head in peace: this is my wish.
  31. Collected Works of Master XiangshanLu Jiuyuan · Essays & MemorialsSo the student's aim must be distinguished.
  32. Old History of the Five DynastiesXue Juzheng (comp.) · Historical NarrativeThis is as easy as turning over one's hand.
  33. New Book of TangOuyang Xiu (comp.) · Historical NarrativeHuang Chao rode in a golden carriage, his guards all in embroidered robes and fine headcloths.
  34. New History of the Five DynastiesOuyang Xiu (comp.) · Historical NarrativeThe pattern of rise and fall may be called the will of Heaven, but is it not also the work of men?
  35. Old Affairs of WulinZhou Mi · NotebooksZhou Mi's recollection of court ceremony and city life in Southern Song Hangzhou.
  36. Chronicle of the Buddhas and PatriarchsZhipan · Historical NarrativeA general history of Buddhism on the model of the dynastic histories, in fifty-four juan.

Fables & Lore

9 works

Philosophical fables, historical allusion narratives, and primordial mythology.

  1. The Oil Seller's SkillOuyang Xiu · Satirical ParablesMastery holds no secret; it comes from practice repeated until it is second nature.
  2. Beating the Grass and Startling the SnakeZheng Wenbao · Satirical ParablesA guilty conscience trembles when others like it are punished.
  3. Honey on the Lips, a Sword in the BellySima Guang · Satirical ParablesSweet words may hide deadly intent; judge people by their deeds.
  4. Falling Behind Sun ShanFan Gongcheng · Satirical ParablesDelivering bad news with tact lets the listener keep their dignity.
  5. Please Step into the UrnSima Guang · Satirical ParablesThe cruel methods you devise for others may one day be turned on you.
  6. Dripping Water Wears Through StoneLuo Dajing · Satirical ParablesEven the smallest force, applied persistently, achieves remarkable results.
  7. Turning Pale at the Mention of a TigerCheng Hao and Cheng Yi · Satirical ParablesOnly knowledge gained through experience is true, deeply felt knowledge.
  8. Serving as the Tiger's Ghostly AccompliceLi Fang et al. · Satirical ParablesBecoming the accomplice of the power that harmed you is the saddest betrayal.
  9. Asking the Tiger for Its SkinLi Fang et al. · Satirical ParablesAsking someone to sacrifice their core interests is futile and dangerous.

Literary Criticism

2 works

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

  1. On WritingSu Shi · Rhetoric & StyleMy writing is like a spring gushing ten thousand measures of water, surging forth everywhere without choosing its ground. On level ground it flows surging and smooth, traversing a thousand li in a single day with ease. When winding against mountain boulders, it shapes itself to whatever it meets. All that can be known is: it flows whenever it ought to flow, and stops where it cannot but stop—and that is all.
  2. Canglang's Remarks on PoetryYan Yu · Poetry TalksThe way of Chan lies in wondrous awakening, and so does the way of poetry.

Sayings & Idioms

255 works

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

  1. Unity of Heaven and HumanityZhang Zai · IdiomsThe philosophical ideal that heaven and humankind form one whole; harmony between people and nature.
  2. Grinding an Iron Pestle into a NeedleZhu Mu · IdiomsAn old woman grinds an iron rod into a needle, inspiring young Li Bai; persistence achieves the impossible.
  3. A Wild Goose's Tracks in the SnowSu Shi · IdiomsClaw prints left by a wild goose on snowy mud; faint traces of the past, and life's wandering course.
  4. Mountains upon Mountains, Rivers upon RiversLu You · IdiomsEndless ridges and winding streams; a tortuous path, or a predicament that seems to have no way out.
  5. Shady Willows and Bright FlowersLu You · IdiomsDark willows and bright blossoms open onto a new village; a sudden turn for the better after hardship.
  6. A Red Apricot Branch Over the WallYe Shaoweng · IdiomsOriginally a spring image of apricot blossoms spilling over a wall; later, a married woman's infidelity.
  7. Life Is But a DreamSu Shi · IdiomsLife is like a dream, brief and illusory; a sigh over the transience of human life.
  8. Flowers in a Mirror, Moon in the WaterYan Yu · IdiomsFlowers in a mirror and the moon in water; illusions beyond grasp, or ethereal, suggestive poetic imagery.
  9. The Path Winds Round the PeaksOuyang Xiu · IdiomsA trail winding around mountain peaks; a twisting path, or a situation taking a new and hopeful turn.
  10. When the Water Falls, the Rocks AppearSu Shi · IdiomsAs the river recedes the stones emerge; the truth finally comes to light.
  11. Having the Whole Bamboo in One's MindSu Shi · IdiomsBefore painting, the artist already sees the whole bamboo; having a well-thought-out plan and full confidence.
  12. Talent Worth Eight MeasuresAnonymous · IdiomsXie Lingyun said Cao Zhi alone held eight of the world's ten measures of talent; extraordinary literary gifts.
  13. Swallowing Dates WholeBai Ting · IdiomsAccepting or learning something wholesale without understanding it.
  14. Adding Flowers to BrocadeWang Anshi · IdiomsMaking something already beautiful even better.
  15. Striving for Ever Greater PerfectionZhu Xi · IdiomsNever satisfied with good; always striving to make it better.
  16. Practice Makes PerfectOuyang Xiu · IdiomsSkill and ingenuity come from repeated practice.
  17. Opening the Door to See the MountainYan Yu · IdiomsComing straight to the point from the very beginning.
  18. Unprecedented and UnrepeatableAnonymous · IdiomsNever seen before and never to be seen again; utterly unique.
  19. A Thousand Ways and a Hundred SchemesZhu Xi · IdiomsTo try every possible means; to leave no stone unturned.
  20. Joy Beyond ExpectationSu Shi · IdiomsOverjoyed by an unexpected piece of good fortune.
  21. Heart at Ease, Spirit DelightedFan Zhongyan · IdiomsCarefree and joyful; a heart open and spirit refreshed.
  22. Cutting Nails and Slicing IronDaoyuan · IdiomsDecisive and resolute, like cutting through nails and iron.
  23. Never Tired of RereadingSu Shi · IdiomsNever tiresome even after a hundred readings; praises writing of lasting appeal.
  24. Showing No SignOuyang Xiu · IdiomsBetraying no emotion in voice or face; calm and composed.
  25. A Grain of Millet in the Vast SeaSu Shi · IdiomsA single grain of millet in the vast sea; utterly insignificant in the scheme of things.
  26. Point Against PointShi Daoyuan · IdiomsNeedle point against needle point; sharply opposed positions or tit-for-tat response.
  27. Upright and OpenZhu Xi · IdiomsUpright, honest and selfless in word and deed; acting openly without hidden schemes.
  28. Deceiving Oneself and OthersZhu Xi · IdiomsFooling oneself as well as others with what one knows to be untrue.
  29. Just as One WishesZhu Dunru · IdiomsEntirely to one's liking; perfectly satisfying.
  30. Head and Shoulders Above OthersOuyang Xiu · IdiomsRising above others in talent or status; standing out from the crowd.
  31. Open and AboveboardZhu Xi · IdiomsFrank, open-hearted and upright, with nothing to hide.
  32. Spitting Blood at OthersShi Puji · IdiomsSlandering others with fabricated accusations.
  33. Honeyed WordsZhu Xi · IdiomsSweet but insincere talk, often used to deceive.
  34. Feet Firmly on the GroundShao Bowen · IdiomsKeeping one's feet on solid ground; working in a practical, earnest way.
  35. Beating the Grass Startles the SnakeZheng Wenbao · IdiomsBeating the grass alerts the snake; a careless move that forewarns one's target.
  36. Great Talent Put to Petty UseLu You · IdiomsUsing great timber for small purposes; wasting a talented person on minor work.
  37. Honey on the Lips, a Sword in the BellySima Guang · IdiomsSweet words with a dagger hidden within; outwardly friendly but inwardly treacherous.
  38. Name Falls Below Sun ShanFan Gongcheng · IdiomsOne's name falls below Sun Shan, last on the list; a tactful way to say one failed an exam.
  39. Please Step into the UrnSima Guang · IdiomsPlease get into the urn; turning a person's own cruel method against him.
  40. Dripping Water Wears Through StoneLuo Dajing · IdiomsConstant dripping wears through stone; persistence overcomes great difficulty.
  41. Turning Pale at the Mention of TigersCheng Brothers · IdiomsBlanching at the mere mention of tigers; fear of something one has suffered from.
  42. Three Character ClassicWang Yinglin (traditionally attributed) · Rhymes & JinglesAt the start of life, human nature is good; by nature people are close, by practice they drift apart.
  43. Good Government, Contented PeopleFan Zhongyan · IdiomsBy the following year, government ran smoothly and the people lived in harmony, and all neglected works were revived; so he rebuilt Yueyang Tower, enlarged its old structure, carved on it poems and rhapsodies by Tang worthies and men of today, and asked me to write an account of it.
  44. Ten Thousand Changing ScenesFan Zhongyan · IdiomsBright at dawn and dim at dusk, its scenery changes in ten thousand ways;
  45. The Old Drunkard's Mind Is Not on the WineOuyang Xiu · IdiomsThe Old Drunkard's mind is not on the wine, but on the hills and streams.
  46. Cups and Tallies CrisscrossingOuyang Xiu · IdiomsThe joy of the feast lies not in strings or pipes: the pitch-pot thrower hits the mark, the chess player wins, cups and tallies crisscross, people rise and sit in noisy clamor — the guests are all delighted.
  47. Rising from the Mud UnstainedZhou Dunyi · IdiomsI alone love the lotus: it rises from the mud yet stays unstained, is washed by clear ripples yet is not coquettish; hollow within and straight without, it neither sprawls nor branches; its fragrance grows purer the farther it travels; it stands tall and clean, to be admired from afar but never trifled with.
  48. Joys and Sorrows, Partings and ReunionsSu Shi · IdiomsPeople know sorrow and joy, parting and reunion; the moon is dim or bright, full or waning; such things have never been perfect since ancient times.
  49. Gone in Ash and SmokeSu Shi · IdiomsWith feather fan and silk headscarf, laughing and talking, he saw the enemy's masts and oars vanish in flying ash and smoke.
  50. A Landscape Like a PaintingSu Shi · IdiomsThe landscape is like a painting; how many heroes there were in that age!
  51. Hair Bristling Against the CapYue Fei · IdiomsMy hair bristles in fury against my cap; I lean on the railing where the pattering rain has stopped.
  52. Beyond Dark Willows, Bright Blossoms and Another VillageLu You · IdiomsHills upon hills, streams upon streams, I fear there is no road; then past dark willows and bright blossoms, another village.
  53. Not Knowing Mount Lu's True FaceSu Shi · IdiomsI cannot know the true face of Mount Lu, only because I myself am within the mountain.
  54. Things Remain, People Are GoneLi Qingzhao · IdiomsThings remain as before, the people do not, and all is at an end; I would speak, but my tears flow first.
  55. As If Met BeforeYan Shu · IdiomsNothing can be done as the flowers fall away; the swallows return, as if I had met them before.
  56. Wind's Sound and Cranes' CrySima Guang (comp.) · IdiomsThose who fled, hearing the sound of the wind and the cry of cranes, all thought the Jin troops were about to arrive; day and night they dared not rest, moving through grass and sleeping in the dew, and with hunger and cold on top of it, seven or eight in ten died.
  57. No Place for a Hero to Use His ArmsSima Guang (comp.) · IdiomsA hero has no place to use his arms, and so Liu of Yuzhou has fled here; I hope you, general, will weigh your strength and act accordingly.
  58. Carrying Firewood to Fight a FireSu Xun · IdiomsThe ancients said: 'Serving Qin with land is like carrying firewood to put out a fire: as long as the firewood is not used up, the fire will not go out.'
  59. Living Water from the SourceZhu Xi · IdiomsBecause living water keeps flowing in from the source.
  60. Scratching an Itch Through the BootYan Yu · IdiomsIn meaning, value thorough clarity; do not scratch the itch through the boot;
  61. Feather Fan and Silk KerchiefSu Shi · IdiomsFeather fan and silk kerchief, amid talk and laughter, the masts and oars turned to flying ash and vanishing smoke.
  62. The Great River Flows EastSu Shi · IdiomsThe great river flows east; its waves have washed away the brilliant figures of a thousand ages.
  63. Helplessly the Flowers FallYan Shu · IdiomsHelplessly the flowers fall away; swallows I seem to know come flying back.
  64. Mild Spring and Bright SunshineFan Zhongyan · IdiomsAnd when spring is mild and the sun is bright, the waves are still, the light of the sky above and below is one, a single sheet of green across ten thousand acres;
  65. Lingering Notes Curling in the AirSu Shi · IdiomsIts sound was sobbing, as if resentful, as if longing, as if weeping, as if confiding; the lingering notes curled on and on, unbroken like a silken thread.
  66. Jade Towers and Jasper HallsSu Shi · IdiomsI long to ride the wind back home, yet fear that in those jade towers and jasper halls the heights will be too cold to bear.
  67. Straightening the Robe and Sitting UprightSu Shi · IdiomsSu Zi grew solemn, straightened his robe, sat upright, and asked the guest: "Why does it sound like that?
  68. Trailing Mud and WaterYan Yu · IdiomsLanguage prizes freedom and ease; it must not trail mud and water.
  69. Golden Spears and Armored HorsesXin Qiji · IdiomsThink of those years: golden spears and armored horses, a spirit that swallowed ten thousand li like a tiger.
  70. Writing That Wells Up Like a Boundless SpringSu Shi · AphorismsMy writing is like a spring of ten thousand bushels: it does not choose its ground, and can rise anywhere.
  71. Thirty Years of Fame, Mere Dust and EarthYue Fei · AphorismsThirty years of fame and merit are but dust and earth; eight thousand li of road, under cloud and moon.
  72. Osmanthus of the Three Autumn Months in HangzhouLiu Yong · AphorismsThere is osmanthus through the three months of autumn, and lotus for ten li.
  73. To Be Admired From Afar, Never Trifled WithZhou Dunyi · AphorismsIt may be admired from afar, but never handled lightly.
  74. Neither Sprawling Nor Branching Like the Lotus StemZhou Dunyi · IdiomsHollow within and straight without, neither sprawling nor branching, its fragrance purer the farther it goes, it stands tall and clean, to be admired from afar but never trifled with.
  75. A Ruler Sharing His Pleasures With the PeopleOuyang Xiu · IdiomsThere is no other reason: he shares his joy with the people.
  76. Wine at Dusk by the Eastern HedgeLi Qingzhao · AphorismsAfter dusk I hold my wine by the eastern hedge, and a hidden fragrance fills my sleeves.
  77. Chicken and Pork for Guests in a Bountiful YearLu You · AphorismsDo not laugh at the farmers' cloudy winter wine; in a bumper year they keep their guests with plenty of chicken and pork.
  78. Scattered Red Petals Flying Past the SwingOuyang Xiu · AphorismsWith tearful eyes I ask the flowers, but they say nothing; scattered red petals fly past the swing and away.
  79. The Twenty-Four Bridges of YangzhouJiang Kui · AphorismsThe Twenty-Four Bridges are still here; the waves ripple at their heart, and the cold moon is silent.
  80. A Tryst Set for After DuskOuyang Xiu · IdiomsThe moon rose to the willow tips; we met by appointment after dusk.
  81. Gathering a Living From Above and BelowLi Qingzhao · IdiomsLater we lived in retirement in the countryside for ten years, gathering a living from above and below, with food and clothing to spare.
  82. First to Worry, Last to Rejoice for the RealmFan Zhongyan · IdiomsWorry before the world worries, and rejoice only after the world rejoices.
  83. Eight Thousand Leagues Under Cloud and MoonYue Fei · AphorismsThirty years of fame are dust and earth; eight thousand li of road, with only cloud and moon.
  84. Frontier Passes and Rivers Turn Cold and DesolateLiu Yong · AphorismsThe frosty wind grows sharp and cold, the passes and rivers lie deserted, and the last light falls on the tower.
  85. Chill and Cheerless, Hushed and LonelyLi Qingzhao · AphorismsSearching and seeking, chill and cheerless, bleak and wretched and grieving.
  86. Bleak and Wretched, Full of GriefLi Qingzhao · AphorismsSearching and seeking, chill and cheerless, bleak and wretched and grieving.
  87. Ten Miles of Lotus Blossoms on West LakeLiu Yong · AphorismsLayered lakes and stacked hills, clear and lovely; osmanthus in the third autumn month and ten li of lotus flowers.
  88. The Rise and Fall of a Thousand Ages at Beigu PavilionXin Qiji · AphorismsHow many rises and falls through the ages? Long gone, long gone, while the endless Yangtze rolls on and on.
  89. A Thousand Tender Feelings with No One to ShareLiu Yong · AphorismsYear after year apart, every fine hour and lovely scene will be wasted. Even with a thousand tender feelings, whom could I tell?
  90. Gone from the Brow, Back in the HeartLi Qingzhao · AphorismsThere is no way to dispel this feeling: it has just left my brow, and already it rises in my heart.
  91. Gentlemen Who Share the Way Become FriendsOuyang Xiu · AphorismsGenerally, gentlemen join with gentlemen through a shared Way, and petty men with petty men through shared profit; this is the natural order of things.
  92. Sun Quan Holds the Southeast FirmXin Qiji · AphorismsYoung, he led ten thousand helmeted men, held the southeast firm and never ceased to fight.
  93. Vowing to Be a Great Wall on the FrontierLu You · AphorismsIn vain I vowed to be a Great Wall on the frontier; in the mirror my fading temples have already turned gray.
  94. Song, Beauty, Hounds and HorsesLi Qingzhao · IdiomsOur desks were covered and our pillows surrounded by books; we understood each other without words, and our joy was greater than that of song, beauty, hounds and horses.
  95. As If Sobbing, As If PleadingSu Shi · IdiomsIts sound was low and sobbing, as if resentful, as if yearning, as if weeping, as if pleading; the lingering notes trailed on like an unbroken thread.
  96. Favor and Disgrace Both ForgottenFan Zhongyan · AphorismsClimbing this tower, one feels the heart open and the spirit lift, forgets favor and disgrace alike, raises a cup to the wind, and is filled with joy.
  97. Searching, Seeking: Li Qingzhao's LamentLi Qingzhao · AphorismsSearching, seeking, cold and lonely, wretched, miserable, grieving.
  98. A Shattered Land Like Catkins in the WindWen Tianxiang · AphorismsMy land is shattered, catkins scattered by the wind; my fortunes rise and sink, duckweed beaten by the rain.
  99. Vows Firm as Mountains Still RemainLu You · AphorismsThough our mountain-firm vows remain, no brocade letter can be entrusted to carry them.
  100. High Mountains and a Small Moon Over Red CliffSu Shi · AphorismsThe river roars, the sheer bank rises a thousand feet; the mountains are high, the moon is small, the water has fallen and the rocks stand out.
  101. Pearls and Gems Lining Hangzhou's MarketsLiu Yong · AphorismsMarkets display pearls and gems, homes brim with silks and brocades, and all vie in luxury.
  102. Deep, Deep the Courtyard LiesOuyang Xiu · AphorismsDeep, deep the courtyard lies, how deep? Willows pile up mist, and curtains hang beyond counting.
  103. Homes Brimming With Silk Gauze and BrocadeLiu Yong · AphorismsMarkets display pearls and gems, homes brim with silk gauze and brocade, and all vie in luxury.
  104. Just Gone From the Brows, Back Upon the HeartLi Qingzhao · AphorismsThere is no way to dispel this longing: it has just left my brows, and already it rises in my heart.
  105. Passing Over Every Cold BranchSu Shi · AphorismsIt tries every cold branch but will not perch; lonely, the sandbar is cold.
  106. The Chill Spring Wind That SobersSu Shi · AphorismsThe chilly spring wind blows me sober; a little cold, yet the slanting sun on the hilltop comes to greet me.
  107. Speechless and Choked with Tears at PartingLiu Yong · AphorismsHolding hands, we gaze at each other's tear-filled eyes, and choked with sobs, we cannot say a word.
  108. Gaining Day by Day, Advancing Month by MonthLi Qingzhao · IdiomsGaining day by day and advancing month by month, the collection steadily grew.
  109. Hair Gone Gray Before Its TimeSu Shi · AphorismsMy spirit wanders the old land; so sentimental, I should be laughed at for my hair gone gray before its time.
  110. Ten Miles of Spring Breeze in YangzhouJiang Kui · AphorismsI pass where ten li of spring breeze once blew, and all is green with shepherd's purse and wheat.
  111. Hidden Fragrance Filling the SleevesLi Qingzhao · AphorismsHolding wine by the eastern fence after dusk, a hidden fragrance fills my sleeves.
  112. The Moon Rising Over the Willow TipsOuyang Xiu · AphorismsThe moon rose over the willow tips; we met after dusk.
  113. Cups and Plates Strewn About After the FeastSu Shi · IdiomsWhen the dishes and fruit were finished, cups and plates lay strewn about.
  114. Towered Warships on a Snowy Night at GuazhouLu You · AphorismsTowered warships on a snowy night at the Guazhou ford; armored horses in the autumn wind at Dasan Pass.
  115. On the Verge of Speaking, Then Holding BackXin Qiji · AphorismsNow that I have tasted every sorrow, I want to speak but stop.
  116. Water Shimmering in the Sun on West LakeSu Shi · AphorismsThe shimmering water is lovely in sunshine; the misty hills are wonderful in rain.
  117. Asking the Flowers Through TearsOuyang Xiu · AphorismsThrough tears I ask the flowers; the flowers do not speak, and scattered petals fly away past the swing.
  118. Vast and Surging Waters of Dongting LakeFan Zhongyan · IdiomsIt holds the distant hills in its mouth and swallows the Yangtze, vast and surging, boundless on every side.
  119. Moonlight Leaping Like Gold on the LakeFan Zhongyan · IdiomsSometimes the long mist clears completely, the bright moon shines a thousand li, light floats and leaps like gold, and the still reflection sinks like a jade disc.
  120. Light or Rich Makeup, Always BecomingSu Shi · IdiomsI would liken West Lake to Xi Shi: in light makeup or rich, she is always lovely.
  121. Rosy Cheeks Turned to Withered WoodOuyang Xiu · AphorismsNo wonder the rosy-cheeked turn to withered wood and the jet-black-haired turn speckled grey.
  122. There, Where the Lantern Light Grows DimXin Qiji · AphorismsSuddenly I turn my head, and there that person is, where the lantern light grows dim.
  123. No Victory Yet Carved on Mount YanranFan Zhongyan · AphorismsA cup of cloudy wine, and home ten thousand li away; with no victory yet carved on Mount Yanran, there is no road back.
  124. Ox and Thoroughbred at One TroughWen Tianxiang · IdiomsOx and thoroughbred share a single trough; the phoenix feeds in the chickens' roost.
  125. The Day the Royal Army Retakes the NorthLu You · AphorismsOn the day the royal army marches north and pacifies the Central Plains, at the family sacrifice do not forget to tell your father.
  126. Every Neglected Task Taken Up AnewFan Zhongyan · IdiomsGovernment ran smoothly, the people lived in harmony, and every neglected undertaking was revived.
  127. Seeing and Hearing for Oneself at Stone Bell MountainSu Shi · IdiomsIf one has not seen a thing with one's own eyes or heard it with one's own ears, can one judge by guesswork whether it exists?
  128. Gazing at Each Other in Silence, Tears in a Thousand LinesSu Shi · AphorismsWe looked at each other without a word; there were only tears, a thousand lines of them.
  129. Bamboo Staff and Straw Sandals, Lighter Than a HorseSu Shi · AphorismsBamboo staff and straw sandals are lighter than a horse: who is afraid? In a straw cape, through mist and rain, I will live my life as I please.
  130. Reds Fading and Greens Thinning in Late AutumnLiu Yong · IdiomsEverywhere reds fade and greens grow thin; little by little the beauty of things comes to rest.
  131. Green Leaves Plump, Red Blossoms ThinLi Qingzhao · IdiomsDon't you know, don't you know? It must be green grown plump and red grown thin.
  132. Turning Back Suddenly Amid the Fading LanternsXin Qiji · AphorismsIn the crowd I sought her a thousand times; suddenly turning my head, there she was, where the lantern light was dim.
  133. A Life Tossed Like Duckweed in the RainWen Tianxiang · AphorismsThe broken land drifts like willow down in the wind; my fortunes rise and sink like duckweed in the rain.
  134. Floating Free of the World at Red CliffSu Shi · IdiomsLight and free, as if leaving the world to stand alone, growing wings and rising as an immortal.
  135. Wine Entering a Sorrowful Heart Turns to TearsFan Zhongyan · AphorismsWhen the moon is bright, do not lean alone on the high tower; wine entering a sorrowing heart turns into tears of longing.
  136. Armored Horses and Autumn Wind at Dasan PassLu You · AphorismsTowered warships on a snowy night at Guazhou ferry; armoured horses in the autumn wind at Dasan Pass.
  137. A Brocade Letter That Cannot Be SentLu You · AphorismsOur mountain-firm vows remain, but a brocade letter is hard to send. No, no, no!
  138. Long Smoke, Setting Sun and a Lone Walled TownFan Zhongyan · AphorismsOn all sides the border sounds rise with the horns; among a thousand peaks, long smoke, the setting sun, and a lone town shut tight.
  139. As the Moon Has Its Dim and Full PhasesSu Shi · AphorismsPeople have sorrow and joy, parting and reunion; the moon has dim and bright, full and waning; since ancient times this has never been perfect.
  140. Water That Takes the Shape of Whatever It MeetsSu Shi · IdiomsWhen it meets mountains and rocks, winding and turning, it takes the shape of whatever it meets, in ways that cannot be known.
  141. Moon's Still Reflection Like a Sunken Jade DiscFan Zhongyan · IdiomsFloating light leaps like gold; the still reflection sinks like a jade disc.
  142. The Lotus Scent Grows Purer with DistanceZhou Dunyi · AphorismsHollow within and straight without, with no tendrils and no branches; its scent grows purer the farther it goes, and it stands upright and clean.
  143. Grief of the Drooping Millet in Ruined YangzhouJiang Kui · AphorismsThe Old Man of a Thousand Cliffs felt it carried the grief of Shu Li.
  144. Boiling Cauldrons Sweet as Malt SugarWen Tianxiang · IdiomsThe boiling cauldron is as sweet as malt sugar to me; I seek it and cannot have it.
  145. One Longing Shared, Sorrow in Two PlacesLi Qingzhao · AphorismsPetals fall on their own, water flows on its own. One longing, sorrow idling in two places.
  146. In a Straw Cape, Taking Life's Misty Rain as It ComesSu Shi · AphorismsBamboo staff and straw sandals are lighter than a horse; who is afraid? In a straw cape through misty rain, I take whatever life brings.
  147. Xiang Yu Would Not Cross Back East of the RiverLi Qingzhao · AphorismsIn life be a hero among men; in death, a hero among ghosts. To this day I think of Xiang Yu, who would not cross back east of the river.
  148. The East Wind Sets a Thousand Trees of Lanterns AblazeXin Qiji · AphorismsAt night the east wind sets a thousand trees in bloom, and blows down more, stars falling like rain.
  149. Forcing Talk of Sorrow to Compose New VerseXin Qiji · AphorismsWhen young I did not know the taste of sorrow and loved to climb high towers; loved to climb high towers, and to write a new verse forced myself to speak of sorrow.
  150. The Nine Provinces Reunited: Lu You's Last WishLu You · AphorismsIn death, I always knew, all things are empty; I grieve only that I shall not see the Nine Provinces united.
  151. Neither Wind and Rain nor Clear Skies: Su Shi Turns for HomeSu Shi · AphorismsI look back at the place where the wind blew bleak; going home, there was neither wind and rain nor clear skies.
  152. To Settle the Sovereign's Affairs of the RealmXin Qiji · AphorismsTo settle the sovereign's affairs of the realm and win renown in life and after death. Alas, my hair has turned white!
  153. Shooting the Tiger Myself, Like Young Sun QuanSu Shi · AphorismsTo repay the whole town for following their prefect, I will shoot the tiger myself; watch me, like young Sun Quan.
  154. Thinner Than the Yellow Chrysanthemums: Li Qingzhao's Double NinthLi Qingzhao · AphorismsDo not say the soul is not consumed: when the west wind lifts the curtain, I am thinner than the yellow chrysanthemums.
  155. Since Ancient Times, Who Has Escaped Death: Wen Tianxiang at LingdingWen Tianxiang · IdiomsSince ancient times, who has escaped death? Let me leave a loyal heart to shine in the annals of history.
  156. Searching the Crowd a Thousand Times on Lantern NightXin Qiji · AphorismsIn the crowd I searched for her a thousand times; suddenly I turned my head, and there she was, where the lantern light was dim.
  157. New Ideas Within the Rules: Su Shi on Wu DaoziSu Shi · AphorismsHe brought forth new ideas within the rules, and lodged subtle principles beyond bold freedom.
  158. Ten Years Between the Living and the DeadSu Shi · AphorismsTen years, the living and the dead, both lost in a blur. I do not try to think of you, yet I cannot forget.
  159. Calm When Calamity Strikes Without WarningSu Shi · AphorismsThose under heaven with great courage are not alarmed when things come upon them suddenly, nor angered when insulted without cause, for what they hold is very great and their aims very far.
  160. The Ancients' Way Shines on My FaceWen Tianxiang · AphorismsUnder the windy eaves I spread my books to read; the ancients' way shines upon my face.
  161. Only Its Fragrance Remains UnchangedLu You · AphorismsFallen into mud and ground to dust, only its fragrance remains as before.
  162. Sadly, White Hair Has GrownXin Qiji · AphorismsTo finish the king's great task of the realm, and win a name in life and after death. Alas, my hair has turned white!
  163. What a Cool and Lovely Autumn DayXin Qiji · AphorismsI want to speak and stop; instead I say: the weather's cool, what a fine autumn!
  164. Shadow of a Solitary Wild GooseSu Shi · AphorismsWho sees the recluse coming and going alone? Only the faint shadow of a solitary wild goose.
  165. Tell Your Father at the Family AltarLu You · AphorismsOn the day the imperial army settles the Central Plains in the north, at the family rites do not forget to tell your father.
  166. Cold and Lonely on the SandbarSu Shi · AphorismsIt tries every cold branch but will not perch; lonely and cold upon the sandbar.
  167. Subtle Principles Lodged in Bold FreedomSu Shi · AphorismsHe brings forth new ideas within the rules, and lodges subtle principles beyond boldness.
  168. Shooting Down the Wolf StarSu Shi · AphorismsI will draw my carved bow round as the full moon, gaze to the northwest, and shoot the Wolf Star.
  169. Youth Knows Nothing of Sorrow's TasteXin Qiji · AphorismsIn youth I knew nothing of the taste of sorrow, and loved to climb high towers.
  170. The Wild Spirit of Youth RekindledSu Shi · AphorismsThis old man will for once let loose a young man's wildness: yellow hound on the left, grey falcon on the right, brocade caps and sable furs, a thousand horsemen sweeping the level ridge.
  171. Yellow Hound in Hand, Grey Falcon on ArmSu Shi · AphorismsYellow hound on the left, grey falcon on the right; brocade caps and sable furs, a thousand horsemen sweeping the level ridge.
  172. The True Face of Mount LuSu Shi · IdiomsI cannot know the true face of Mount Lu, only because I am standing within this mountain.
  173. Lian Po Has Grown Old, but Can He Still EatXin Qiji · AphorismsWho will come to ask: Lian Po has grown old, but can he still eat?
  174. How Could One Word Like Sorrow Hold It AllLi Qingzhao · AphorismsAt such a time as this, how could one word, sorrow, hold it all!
  175. Holding Hands and Gazing Through TearsLiu Yong · AphorismsHolding hands, we gaze at each other's tearful eyes, so choked that no words come.
  176. Recovering the Old Hills and Rivers of the RealmYue Fei · AphorismsLet us begin anew, recover our old hills and rivers, and then pay homage at the palace gates.
  177. Ducks Are First to Know the Spring River Has WarmedSu Shi · AphorismsBeyond the bamboo, two or three sprays of peach blossom; when the spring river warms, the ducks know first.
  178. Returning in Triumph to the Palace GatesYue Fei · AphorismsLet us begin anew, recover our old hills and rivers, and then pay homage at the palace gates.
  179. Willow Banks in the Dawn Wind Under a Waning MoonLiu Yong · AphorismsWhere shall I be tonight when I wake from the wine? On a willow bank, in the dawn wind, under a waning moon.
  180. Seen Across, a Ridge; Seen Edgewise, a PeakSu Shi · AphorismsSeen across, it is a ridge; seen edgewise, a peak; from far or near, high or low, it is never the same.
  181. The Enemy Fleet Gone in Flying Ash and SmokeSu Shi · AphorismsWith feather fan and silk cap, talking and laughing, he turned their masts and oars to flying ash and vanishing smoke.
  182. In Death, Still a Hero Among the ShadesLi Qingzhao · AphorismsIn life, be a hero among men; in death, a hero among the shades.
  183. Swallowing Ten Thousand Li with a Tiger's MightXin Qiji · AphorismsThink of those days: golden spears and armoured horses, swallowing ten thousand li like a tiger.
  184. A Thousand Lines of Tears at a Dream ReunionSu Shi · AphorismsWe looked at each other without a word; there were only a thousand lines of tears.
  185. Heroes Washed Away by the Waves of the Great RiverSu Shi · AphorismsThe great river flows east; its waves have washed away the heroes of a thousand ages.
  186. The Clear Breeze and Bright Moon Were Never for SaleOuyang Xiu · AphorismsThe clear breeze and bright moon are beyond price; what a pity they sold for only forty thousand cash.
  187. Washed by Clear Ripples Yet Never ShowyZhou Dunyi · AphorismsI alone love the lotus, which rises from the mud unstained and is washed by clear ripples yet never showy.
  188. A Son Should Be Like Sun Quan of WuXin Qiji · AphorismsWho among the world's heroes could match him? Only Cao and Liu. A son should be like Sun Zhongmou.
  189. In Life, Be a Hero Among MenLi Qingzhao · AphorismsIn life, be a hero among men; in death, a hero among the shades.
  190. Leaving a Loyal Heart to Shine in the Annals of HistoryWen Tianxiang · AphorismsSince ancient times, who has not died? Let me leave a loyal heart to shine in the annals of history.
  191. The Low Ridge of Young Pines over a Beloved GraveSu Shi · AphorismsI know the place that breaks my heart year after year: the moonlit night, the low ridge of young pines.
  192. Grieving in Vain When Hair Turns WhiteYue Fei · AphorismsDo not let your young head turn white in idleness, only to grieve in vain!
  193. Envied by All the Other BlossomsLu You · AphorismsIt has no wish to struggle for the spring, and lets all the other flowers envy it as they will.
  194. Petals Drift Down as the River Flows OnLi Qingzhao · AphorismsPetals drift down of themselves, the river flows on of itself; one longing, two places of quiet sorrow.
  195. Do Not Let Youth Slip By IdlyYue Fei · AphorismsDo not let your young head turn white in idleness, only to grieve in vain!
  196. Flowing Where It Ought to FlowSu Shi · AphorismsAll that can be known is that it always flows where it ought to flow and always stops where it cannot help but stop; that is all!
  197. Standing Inside the Mountain ItselfSu Shi · AphorismsI cannot know the true face of Mount Lu only because I stand inside the mountain itself.
  198. Too Laden with Sorrow to FloatLi Qingzhao · AphorismsI only fear the little grasshopper boat on the Twin Streams could never carry so much sorrow.
  199. Drunk, I Trim the Lamp to Gaze at My SwordXin Qiji · AphorismsDrunk, I trim the lamp to gaze at my sword; waking from dreams, I hear bugles across camp after camp.
  200. Duckweed Battered by the RainWen Tianxiang · AphorismsOur land lies shattered like willow down in the wind; my own life rises and sinks like duckweed battered by rain.
  201. Fallen to Mud and Ground into DustLu You · AphorismsFallen to mud and ground into dust, only its fragrance stays as it was.
  202. Green Hills Cannot Hold the River BackXin Qiji · AphorismsThe green hills cannot hold it back; in the end the river flows away to the east.
  203. All the Old Glory Swept Away by Rain and WindXin Qiji · AphorismsDance halls and singing terraces, all that heroic glory, have been beaten away by rain and wind.
  204. Too Cold Up in the Jade TowersSu Shi · AphorismsI would ride the wind back home, yet fear the towers of jasper and jade are so high I could not bear the cold.
  205. Ten Thousand Rivers and a Thousand MountainsZhao Ji · IdiomsHeaven is far and the earth is wide; across ten thousand rivers and a thousand mountains, who knows where my old palace lies?
  206. Ten Thousand Purples and a Thousand RedsZhu Xi · IdiomsEasily one recognises the face of the east wind: ten thousand purples and a thousand reds, all of it is spring.
  207. Unafraid of Clouds That Block the ViewWang Anshi · AphorismsI do not fear the drifting clouds that block my view, simply because I stand on the highest level.
  208. Serving as the Tiger's Ghostly AccompliceLi Fang et al. (comp.) · IdiomsThe chang ghost is a person who was eaten by a tiger; it goes before the tiger, calling out to clear the way.
  209. Keep Faithfully to the Mean: The Khitan Investiture of Shi JingtangXue Juzheng (comp.) · IdiomsMay you protect the people for ever, hold to one virtue, be careful in your position, and keep faithfully to the mean.
  210. Promote What Benefits, Abolish What HarmsWang Anshi · IdiomsTo revive the government of the former kings in order to promote what benefits and abolish what harms is not stirring up trouble.
  211. Trimming the Cold Lamp Through a Sleepless NightZhu Shuzhen · AphorismsGrief and illness follow one upon another; I trim the cold lamp to its end, yet no dream will come.
  212. Educating the People to Form Good CustomsZhu Xi · IdiomsYet for the state's aim of transforming the people and perfecting their customs, and for the scholar's way of cultivating himself and governing others, it may not be without some small help.
  213. Half an Acre of Square PondZhu Xi · AphorismsHalf an acre of square pond opens like a mirror; the light of the sky and the shadows of clouds drift together upon it.
  214. Sky Light and Cloud Shadows on the Square PondZhu Xi · AphorismsA half-acre square pond opens like a mirror; sky light and cloud shadows drift together upon it.
  215. Having Given My All: Wang Anshi at Baochan MountainWang Anshi · AphorismsIf I have given my all and still cannot arrive, I may have no regrets; who then could mock me?
  216. How Refreshing Is This WindSu Zhe · AphorismsHow refreshing is this wind! Is this something I share with the common people?
  217. Deluding the World and Deceiving the PeopleZhu Xi · IdiomsThose that delude the world, deceive the people and block humaneness and righteousness sprang up in confusion among them.
  218. Naming Any Object, He Wrote a Poem on ItWang Anshi · AphorismsFrom then on, whenever an object was named, he wrote a poem on it at once, and its style and thought had merit.
  219. No Going Forth Without a ReturnZhu Xi · IdiomsHeaven's course turns in cycles; there is no going forth without a return.
  220. Pared Away Day by Day, Month by MonthSu Xun · IdiomsCoerced by Qin's accumulated might, they were pared away day by day and month by month, and so hastened to their ruin.
  221. Ten Thousand Cash a Day Spent on FoodSima Guang · IdiomsHe Zeng spent ten thousand cash a day on food, and by his grandsons' time the family was ruined by arrogance and excess.
  222. As Easy as Turning Over One's PalmXue Juzheng (comp.) · IdiomsThis matter is as easy as turning over one's hand; success or failure lies in the hands of the Pacification Commissioner, Lord Yang.
  223. Once More the Spring Wind Greens the Southern ShoreWang Anshi · AphorismsThe spring wind once more greens the southern shore of the river; when will the bright moon light my way home?
  224. Darkened, Blinded and BlockedZhu Xi · IdiomsDarkened, blinded and blocked, its ills turning ever more chronic, until with the decline of the Five Dynasties ruin and disorder reached their extreme!
  225. The Ferry Crossing Lost in Moonlit MistQin Guan · AphorismsMist swallows the towers, the moon blurs the ferry crossing; I gaze until my eyes give out, and the Peach Blossom Spring is nowhere to be found.
  226. Lotus Leaves Clear and Round Upon the WaterZhou Bangyan · AphorismsThe early sun on the leaves dries the night's rain; on the water, clear and round, one by one the lotuses lift in the wind.
  227. Depth in Seeking and ReflectingWang Anshi · AphorismsBecause their seeking and reflecting were deep, and there was nowhere they did not reach.
  228. Sunk Back Among the Ordinary CrowdWang Anshi · AphorismsThey said: 'He has sunk back among the ordinary crowd.'
  229. Walking the Straight Path: Sima Guang on Thrift and IntegritySima Guang · IdiomsA gentleman with few desires is not enslaved by things and can walk the straight path.
  230. Like a Sound in the Air: Yan Yu on the Magic of PoetryYan Yu · AphorismsLike a sound in the air, colour in a form, the moon in water, an image in a mirror; the words come to an end, but the meaning is endless.
  231. Won by Effort, Not Given by Heaven: Zeng Gong's Ink PondZeng Gong · AphorismsXizhi's calligraphy became excellent only late in life, so his ability must have been won by his own effort, not given by nature.
  232. Slender Clouds Weave Their Artful Patterns on QixiQin Guan · AphorismsSlender clouds weave artful patterns, shooting stars carry their grief, and across the far Milky Way they secretly cross.
  233. The Antelope Hangs by Its Horns: Poetry Without a TraceYan Yu · IdiomsLike an antelope hanging by its horns, they leave no trace to be found.
  234. Golden Wind and Jade Dew of the Double SeventhQin Guan · IdiomsOne meeting in the golden wind and jade dew outweighs countless meetings in the human world.
  235. Brocade Robes and Jade-Fine FoodSima Guang · IdiomsGoing from thrift to luxury is easy; going from luxury to thrift is hard.
  236. Clearing Away the Old to Lay Out the NewWang Anshi · IdiomsA comet is the means by which the old is swept away and the new laid out.
  237. Towers Lost in the Mist at ChenzhouQin Guan · AphorismsIn the mist the towers are lost; in the moonlight the ferries vanish; I gaze to the end of sight, and the Peach Blossom Spring is nowhere to be found.
  238. Extraordinary Sights Found Only in Remote PlacesWang Anshi · AphorismsYet the wonderful, magnificent, strange and extraordinary sights of the world are often in dangerous and remote places that people rarely reach, so those without determination cannot get there.
  239. Plum Blossoms Sent by Post RiderQin Guan · IdiomsPlum blossoms sent by post rider, silk letters carried by fish, pile up into sorrow beyond counting.
  240. A Silk Letter Carried in a FishQin Guan · IdiomsPlum blossoms sent by post rider, silk letters carried by fish, pile up into sorrow beyond counting.
  241. Letting No Outward Thing Wound One's Inner NatureSu Zhe · AphorismsIf his heart is at ease and he lets no outward thing wound his nature, where will he go and not be happy?
  242. A House of Gold Lies in BooksZhao Heng (traditionally attributed) · AphorismsTo live in comfort you need not build a lofty hall; within books there is a house of gold.
  243. Swallows Return, as if Known BeforeYan Shu · AphorismsNothing can be done: the flowers fall away; as if I knew them before, the swallows come back.
  244. Plum Blossoms Opening Alone in the ColdWang Anshi · AphorismsIn the corner of the wall, a few sprays of plum open alone, braving the cold.
  245. Fifteen Strings of CashAnonymous (Song–Yuan storytellers) · AphorismsI was at my wits' end and had no other way, so I had to pawn you to a merchant; and because I could not bear to part with you, I only took fifteen strings of cash.
  246. A Pagoda a Thousand Fathoms HighWang Anshi · AphorismsOn Feilai Hill stands a pagoda a thousand fathoms high; I have heard that at cockcrow one sees the sun rise from it.
  247. The Little Lotus Just Shows Its Pointed TipYang Wanli · AphorismsThe little lotus has just shown its pointed tip, and already a dragonfly stands on top of it.
  248. New Peach Charms Replace the OldWang Anshi · AphorismsOn a thousand gates and ten thousand homes the bright sun shines, and all replace the old peach charms with new.
  249. Unmoved Though Mount Tai Collapse Before Him: Su Xun on GeneralshipSu Xun · AphorismsThe way of the general is first to govern his mind. When Mount Tai collapses before him and his face does not change, when a deer springs up at his side and his eyes do not blink, then he can master gain and loss and face the enemy.
  250. Burning Aloeswood to Dispel the Summer HeatZhou Bangyan · AphorismsI burn aloeswood to dispel the sultry summer heat.
  251. Firecrackers Sound Out the Old Year: Wang Anshi's New Year's DayWang Anshi · AphorismsAmid the crackle of firecrackers the old year departs; the spring wind brings warmth into the Tusu wine.
  252. From Thrift to Luxury Is Easy, Back Is Hard: Sima Guang's Letter to His SonSima Guang · AphorismsBut it is human nature that from thrift to luxury is easy, and from luxury back to thrift is hard.
  253. Words End, Meaning Goes On: Yan Yu on Tang PoetryYan Yu · IdiomsLike a sound in the air, the colour of an appearance, the moon in water, an image in a mirror: the words come to an end, but the meaning has no end.
  254. Because I Stand on the Highest Level: Wang Anshi on Feilai PeakWang Anshi · AphorismsI do not fear drifting clouds will block my view, simply because I stand on the highest level.
  255. Each Lotus Leaf Lifted by the Wind: Zhou Bangyan's Summer PondZhou Bangyan · AphorismsThe early sun dries last night's rain on the leaves; on the water, fresh and round, the lotus leaves are lifted one by one by the wind.