Through the Dynasties · LH8

Northern and Southern

Landscape poetry, parallel prose and tonal rules, northern and southern folk songs, and mature literary theory

391works

7forms

59authors

Poetry

230 works

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

  1. Han & Northern Yuefu · Ballad of MulanAnonymous (Northern Dynasties folk song) · Yuefu BalladsTen thousand miles marching to war, crossing passes swift as flight. Chill air rings the watch clapper, cold light shines on armor. Generals die in a hundred battles, warriors return after ten years.
  2. Imitating the Hard Roads (No. 4)Bao Zhao · Old-Style SongsPour water onto flat ground, and it flows east, west, south, and north in divergent paths. Human life has its destined lot—how can one pace in sighs and sit brooding in grief?
  3. Imitating the Hard Roads (No. 6)Bao Zhao · Old-Style SongsFacing the banquet table I cannot eat; drawing my sword I strike the pillar in long sighs. How long is a real man granted in this mortal world? How can I pace timidly with drooping wings!
  4. Climbing the Tower by the PondXie Lingyun · Old-Style SongsUpon the pond green spring grass sprouts anew; garden willows transform with warbling songbirds. Mourning the exile songs of Bin, moved by the lush laments of Chu.
  5. Returning across the Lake from the Stone Cliff RetreatXie Lingyun · Old-Style SongsBetween dawn and dusk the air and light change; mountains and waters hold a clear radiance.
  6. Climbing Three Mountains at Dusk and Looking Back Toward the CapitalXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsThe lingering clouds of sunset spread out like damask; the clear river lies still like white silk.
  7. En Route to Xuancheng Departing Xinlin Anchorage for BanqiaoXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsAt the sky's edge I make out returning boats; among the clouds I discern the riverside trees.
  8. Song of the Chile PlainsAnonymous (Northern Dynasties folk song) · Yuefu BalladsThe Chile Plains beneath Mount Yinshan. The sky is like a grand yurt canopy covering all four wildernesses. The blue heaven is boundless, the vast wilderness unending—the wind blows, grass bends low, and cattle and sheep appear.
  9. Song of the Western IsletAnonymous (Southern Dynasties folk song) · Yuefu BalladsGathering lotus in South Pond in autumn, lotus blossoms rise taller than human heads. Bending low to play with lotus seeds, seeds as crystal-clear as water. If the south wind knows my heart, blow my dreams across to the Western Islet.
  10. Song of the Water in the RiverXiao Yan (Emperor Wu of Liang) (traditionally attributed) · Yuefu BalladsWhat more in life could wealth and rank hope for? My regret is not having married Wang next door to the east.
  11. The Shrike Flies EastXiao Yan (traditionally attributed) · Yuefu BalladsThe shrike flies east, the swallow west; the Herd-boy and the Weaving Girl meet only at their season.
  12. On My Wife Napping in the DaytimeXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsSmiling in a dream, her charming dimples open; her sleeping coils of hair press on fallen flowers.
  13. Song of the Roosting CrowsXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsAt the singing house in the tall tree the crows would roost; the silk curtains and kingfisher hangings are lowered for you.
  14. Imitating 'Meeting on a Narrow Road'Xun Chang · Old-Style SongsThe eldest wife weaves white and patterned silk; the second wife sews gauze robes.
  15. Imitating the Ballad 'Green Grass Along the River'Xun Chang · Old-Style SongsFirst it said: let each of us take care; then it said: we will long think of each other.
  16. Two Miscellaneous Poems: A Soldier's Widow and a Waiting WifeWang Wei · Old-Style SongsI waited for you and you never came home; now I compose my face and go to the coffin.
  17. Seventh Night of the Seventh Month: On the Herd Boy and the Weaver GirlXie Huilian · Old-Style SongsIn the Milky Way there is a divine pair who all year long cannot be together.
  18. Pounding Cloth for the Winter RobesXie Huilian · Old-Style SongsI cut it with the knife from my box and sew it into clothes for ten thousand li away.
  19. Written in the Old Style: Damask Figured with SwansXie Huilian · Old-Style SongsWe are joined like water in one cup: who could tell the Zi from the Sheng?
  20. After "On and On, Going On and On"Liu Shuo · Old-Style SongsThe fragrant years have their flowering months, but my beloved has no day of return.
  21. After "How Bright the Moon"Liu Shuo · Old-Style SongsThe river is wide and has no bridge; the mountains are high and the road hard to cross.
  22. After "In the First Month of Winter the Cold Air Comes"Liu Shuo · Old-Style SongsOne page could not hold all it meant; read three times over, its feeling still overflows.
  23. After "Green, Green the Grass by the River"Liu Shuo · Old-Style SongsHer husband has long been away on labour service; steadfast, she keeps watch from dusk to dawn.
  24. Ode on the Herd Boy and the Weaver GirlLiu Shuo · Old-Style SongsTheir deep feelings are not yet poured out, and the flying light has already slipped away.
  25. Beneath the Moon on the Seventh NightWang Sengda · Old-Style SongsThe joy of meeting cannot last the night; holding back tears, they weep at the dividing River.
  26. For the Weaver Girl, to the Herd BoyYan Yanzhi · Old-Style SongsIt is not the toil of shuttle and loom I resent; I only grieve that the blossoms fade.
  27. Poem of Qiu HuYan Yanzhi · Old-Style SongsIs southern gold not precious? Yet in her own mind she holds it light.
  28. Enjoying the Moon at the West Gate of the CityBao Zhao · Old-Style SongsOn the fifteenth and the sixteenth, a thousand li apart, you and I share it.
  29. After the Song of the Capital at LuoyangBao Zhao · Yuefu BalladsSince ancient times all love has thinned and ended; why should your feeling alone stay strong?
  30. Imitating the Yuefu "Song of White Hair"Bao Zhao · Yuefu BalladsStraight as a red silk string, clear as ice in a jade jar.
  31. The Mulberry PickersBao Zhao · Old-Style SongsThe bright prime is hard to bring back; for whom should a deep heart run dry?
  32. Going Home in a DreamBao Zhao · Old-Style SongsAsleep, the long road seemed short; awake, the great river parts us again.
  33. Imitating the Ancients: Before the Riverside Grass Turns YellowBao Zhao · Old-Style SongsThinking of this, how great is my sorrow! The night is long and the sorrow grows.
  34. On a Pair of SwallowsBao Zhao · Old-Style SongsWith a sad song they leave an old love; carrying mud, they seek a new companion.
  35. Two Poems for an Old FriendBao Zhao · Old-Style SongsCold ashes, once dead, may burn again; an evening flower is fresh once more at dawn.
  36. In the Manner of Ruan Ji, Infantry CommanderWang Su · Old-Style SongsI send word to men in the flower of youth: favour and profit cannot be counted on.
  37. Two White Swans Come FlyingWu Maiyuan · Yuefu BalladsAt every step a tear falls; a thousand li away I still wait for you.
  38. Song of Sunny SpringWu Maiyuan · Yuefu BalladsSong Yu sang 'Sunny Spring', and the men of Ba only heaved long sighs.
  39. Long PartingWu Maiyuan · Yuefu BalladsHow is it that I parted from you just when I was in the prime of my years?
  40. Endless LongingWu Maiyuan · Yuefu BalladsThe eaves are hidden by a tree of a thousand frosts; a ten-year orchid withers in the yard.
  41. Imitating 'Green, Green the Riverside Grass'Bao Linghui · Old-Style SongsIn this life, who does not part? But I resent that you went so early to war.
  42. Imitating 'A Guest Came from Far Away'Bao Linghui · Old-Style SongsIts wood bears a grain of longing; its strings carry the music of parting.
  43. Written after a Letter, for One AwayBao Linghui · Old-Style SongsSince you went away, I sit by the window and never smile.
  44. In the Old Manner, for Someone of TodayBao Linghui · Old-Style SongsMy beauty will be gone in a single morning; only my unchanging heart will remain.
  45. Written for Guo Xiaoyu, Wife of the Monk Ge: Two PoemsBao Linghui · Old-Style SongsI hold the tears of a whole lifetime, through autumn and on through spring.
  46. On a Fan of the Seven TreasuresQiu Juyuan · Old-Style SongsAs times change, the old is soon forgotten; as seasons turn, all vie to keep the new.
  47. Listening to the Singing Girls Next DoorQiu Juyuan · Old-Style SongsAmong the clouds sweet notes ring through; on the tail of the wind lovely voices come.
  48. Two Poems in the Old MannerWang Rong · Old-Style SongsI waited for you, and you never came; autumn geese fly by in pairs.
  49. On the PipaWang Rong · Old-Style SongsIts strings carry thoughts and feelings; among the flowers it lodges spring longing.
  50. On a CurtainWang Rong · Old-Style SongsI always gather the smoke of the golden censer, and at times hold the sound of the jade zither.
  51. Mount Wu Is HighWang Rong · Yuefu BalladsDisconsolate, I sit and long for her, as the autumn wind comes down on the green of the court.
  52. For Registrar Wang: Two PoemsXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsHaving met once, she longs for ever, and would send her heart on fluttering wings.
  53. Matching Registrar Wang: A Lady's GrievanceXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsOnce a single glance from you weighed heavy, and a thousand in gold seemed cheap.
  54. Listening to the Singing Girls: Two PoemsXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsFull of feeling, their dancing moves slow; hearts inclined, their songs are drawn out.
  55. On a Former Palace Lady of Handan Married to a Menial SoldierXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsIn dreams, suddenly, it seems she still speaks of being received at the private feasts.
  56. Autumn Night of Crickets and Fulling BlocksXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsWho can bear to live apart so long? Autumn ends, and winter comes again.
  57. On a LampXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsAlone it faces the evening of longing, shining in vain on the seams of a dancing robe.
  58. On a CandleXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsI resent you, moon of the autumn night, for leaving me the shade of the inner chamber.
  59. On a MatXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsI only hope a silk robe will brush it, and never let white dust spread over it.
  60. On a Mirror StandXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsHer jade face sees only itself, in vain; she always fears your feeling will fade.
  61. Falling Plum BlossomsXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsAt dusk they fall and scatter for good; your favour cannot be won back.
  62. Song of the Concubine of the Prince of ZhongshanLu Jue · Yuefu BalladsThis humble wife is finished in the end; and you, my lord, where will you go at last?
  63. Song of the Bright Moon over the Eastern HillsBao Zhao · Yuefu BalladsWhat is a thousand in gold worth? What counts lies in the spirit between us.
  64. Song of the East Gate: A Traveller PartsBao Zhao · Yuefu BalladsA wounded bird dreads the bowstring; a weary traveller dreads the sound of parting.
  65. The Flowering Tree in Early SpringWang Rong · Yuefu BalladsThose who come and go and linger here: the fair one cannot be met.
  66. A Palindrome Poem of Frontier SpringWang Rong · Old-Style SongsParted love is cut off by the long road; sighs gather deep in the inner chamber.
  67. Counsellor Xiao Goes West: Written on Night DutyWang Rong · Old-Style SongsThe small heart knows no near or far; but the borderlands have wind and frost.
  68. The Singing Girls of Bronze Sparrow TerraceXie Tiao · Yuefu BalladsEven the jade throne is silent and lonely; how much more so a concubine of no weight.
  69. To an Old Friend, with Pollia from the Fragrant IsleXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsHow can we walk hand in hand, pouring wine and writing new poems?
  70. Parting from Jiang of the Water BureauXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsAfter we part, if you can think of me, why lament that we live in different lands?
  71. A Night of PartingXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsIn the hall of parting the candles burn out; behind the farewell curtains the zither is sad.
  72. On a Bamboo Warming CageXie Tiao · Old-Style SongsClose-woven, yet its use calls for openness; its pattern slants, but its nature is not crooked.
  73. Song of Handan and Cong TerraceLu Jue · Yuefu BalladsLonging, I would lift my skirts and go; at Cong Terrace the sun has already set.
  74. Since You Went Away · The Willows SwayYu Xi · Yuefu BalladsYou left, and no word has come; I see only the yellow cranes in flight.
  75. In the Old Manner: PartingJiang Yan · Old-Style SongsSeeing you off seems like only yesterday, yet the dew before the eaves has already beaded.
  76. In the Manner of Lady Ban: The FanJiang Yan · Old-Style SongsSecretly I grieve that the cool wind will come and blow on the trees by my jade steps.
  77. In the Manner of Minister Zhang: Parting SorrowJiang Yan · Old-Style SongsA fair lady strokes her sounding zither, keeping watch by empty curtains through the clear night.
  78. In the Manner of the Monk Xiu: Lament at PartingJiang Yan · Old-Style SongsAt dusk the blue clouds gather, and the fair one has still not come.
  79. In Reply to Vice Director Liu's Lament for a Soldier AbroadQiu Chi · Old-Style SongsThough fish play to the south and north, in the end they return beside the lotus leaves.
  80. In Reply to Palace Attendant Xu's Poem to a Wife on Another's BehalfQiu Chi · Old-Style SongsWho would speak of the hardships of service? I hug my knees and sigh in vain.
  81. Climbing High to View the SpringShen Yue · Old-Style SongsThe spring wind shakes the many trees, lush and thick, both green and red.
  82. Lament of Zhaojun · From the Pixiang HallShen Yue · Yuefu BalladsShe began with the tune of Bright Spring, and ends with a Song of Bitter Cold.
  83. Written for a Young Man Newly MarriedShen Yue · Old-Style SongsShe puts Zhao Feiyan to shame and makes Qin Luofu a laughing-stock.
  84. Song of Walking Hand in HandShen Yue · Yuefu BalladsWhat she fears is that rosy cheeks are brief, and a lord's favour cannot last long.
  85. There Is One I Long For · Westward to LongshouShen Yue · Yuefu BalladsMarching west, I climb Longshou; looking east, I cannot see my home.
  86. Song of Night After Night · The River of StarsShen Yue · Yuefu BalladsThe lone lamp is dim and gives no light; at the cold loom I am still weaving at dawn.
  87. A Spring Poem: Willows Like SilkShen Yue · Old-Style SongsSpring grass is green and green again; the traveller's heart is wounded at this season.
  88. On Peach BlossomsShen Yue · Old-Style SongsThe red petals already blaze bright, and now they hold the sunlight too.
  89. On the Moon · Moonlight on a Quiet NightShen Yue · Old-Style SongsMoonlight comes down upon the quiet night; the night is still, and the haze and dust are gone.
  90. On the Willow · Light Shade over JianzhangShen Yue · Old-Style SongsWith the wind the branches knot and come loose; wet with dew, they are soft and long.
  91. On the Transverse Bamboo FluteShen Yue · Old-Style SongsIn the tune there is a deep meaning; my true heart, how could you know it?
  92. Six RemembrancesShen Yue · Old-Style SongsWhen she smiled she had no equal; when she pouted she was lovelier still.
  93. Embroidery at the CollarShen Yue · Old-Style SongsWithout a sound, it seems a breeze is stirring; with no wind, the branches move of themselves.
  94. The Slippers on Her FeetShen Yue · Old-Style SongsHer skirt parts as she comes to the dancing mat; her sleeves brush round the singing hall.
  95. Imitating 'Green, Green the Riverside Grass' · Dust on the BedShen Yue · Old-Style SongsMy old love I must not remember; at midnight I sigh long.
  96. Imitating 'The Three Wives'Shen Yue · Yuefu BalladsThe youngest wife alone has nothing to do; she faces the mirror and paints her moth brows.
  97. In the Old Manner: Below Cong TerraceShen Yue · Old-Style SongsA brocade quilt gives no warmth to one alone; my silk robe is fragrant for nothing.
  98. Dreaming of a BeautyShen Yue · Old-Style SongsI watched you standing, then lying stretched beside me; suddenly I woke, and you were not there.
  99. Imitating the Ancients: A Lone Bird on the Cassia BoughShen Yue · Old-Style SongsNot that there is no other mate for me; my small heart will never change.
  100. Early SpringShen Yue · Old-Style SongsWith nothing to do we follow the plum blossom, and in the empty air put our faith in the willows.
  101. Mourning One GoneShen Yue · Old-Style SongsAlas, the way of humans is different: once gone, one vanishes forever.
  102. Poems on Fulling ClothLiu Yun · Old-Style SongsOn the waterside flats the leaves come down; over the hilltops the autumn clouds fly.
  103. Alone and UnseenLiu Yun · Yuefu BalladsHolding a broom in the Changxin Palace, who knows that she alone is never seen?
  104. Crossing the Mountain PassesLiu Yun · Yuefu BalladsMy heart grows more troubled day by day, as the autumn wind sings in the slender branches.
  105. Miscellaneous Poem · Light Clouds, Warming ColoursLiu Yun · Old-Style SongsYou know only that seeking office is right, and never think that parting is wrong.
  106. Lament of the Changmen PalaceLiu Yun · Yuefu BalladsNo more does he think of the golden house; how would he see the heart in the Changmen Palace?
  107. Southern River Song · White Duckweed on the SandbarLiu Yun · Yuefu BalladsOn the sandbar I gather white duckweed; the sun goes down on spring south of the river.
  108. She Rises in the NightLiu Yun · Yuefu BalladsDewdrops gleam on the kingfisher net; moonlight comes into the orchid terrace.
  109. Threading Needles on the Seventh NightLiu Yun · Old-Style SongsMeeting the cold, I take up my night sewing, and draw out fine thread by the light of the moon.
  110. On a Rush MatLiu Yun · Old-Style SongsThough it lacks the lightness of single-cocoon silk, happily it has the colour of a green robe.
  111. On a Singing GirlJiang Hong · Old-Style SongsShe does not show herself whole to others, but hides half behind light gauze.
  112. On a Dancing GirlJiang Hong · Old-Style SongsAs she lifts her sleeves she already strikes a pose; as she moves her feet, grace again.
  113. On Red NotepaperJiang Hong · Old-Style SongsIt carries the heart of parting, and is the wrapping of longing too.
  114. On the Rose · Planted by the DoorJiang Hong · Old-Style SongsUnshaken, the scent already swirls; with no wind, the petals fly of themselves.
  115. In the Style of XieHe Zilang · Old-Style SongsLonging for you, she strikes the tight-set zither bridges; how slender her jade-white fingers are.
  116. In Reply to Secretary Yu Qian's Poem in the Old MannerHe Zilang · Old-Style SongsWhen will my lord come home, to pour a cup of wine with me?
  117. In Reply to Young Master Miao's 'Watching the Moon'He Zilang · Old-Style SongsIn the cool, clear water of the jade pool, the moth-brow moon is mirrored.
  118. On a Swaying Hairpin FlowerShen Manyuan · Old-Style SongsCut like lotus, it does not look made; shaped as flowers, it seems to have grown.
  119. Teasing Lady XiaoShen Manyuan · Old-Style SongsWhen the wind lifts the curtains now and then, one glimpses, as in a dream, her lovely form.
  120. On a Five-Coloured Bamboo Warming CageShen Manyuan · Old-Style SongsIn vain we sigh at its fine golden trim; who remembers it once soared toward the clouds?
  121. On a Lamp · The Silk Feast at DuskShen Manyuan · Old-Style SongsIt does not grudge the light moths circling it; it fears only the dawn, when the flies begin to buzz.
  122. Gazing at the River at Dusk, for Adjutant YuHe Xun · Old-Style SongsBright and clear, sails head for the shore; round and red, the sun sinks behind the islet.
  123. The Frivolous Youths of Chang'anHe Xun · Yuefu BalladsHis mulberry slingshot fires pearls for pellets; his white horse wears a golden bridle.
  124. Looking in the Mirror · Pearl Blinds Rolled at DawnHe Xun · Old-Style SongsThe wanderer has gone and not come home; her tear-streaked makeup wets her breast as she sits.
  125. Boudoir Lament · The Dawn River Sinks Behind the RoofHe Xun · Old-Style SongsMy longing for you never shifts; how is it different from the North Star?
  126. On the Seventh Night · The Immortal Carriage HaltsHe Xun · Old-Style SongsParted, they cannot say a word; the Milky Way swells into a rushing flood.
  127. On a Dancing CourtesanHe Xun · Old-Style SongsFollowing the song, she turns her slender hands; listening to the tune, she stirs her moth brows.
  128. Watching a New BrideHe Xun · Old-Style SongsWhat are they beside this night of bridal candles, when a light fan hides her rouged face?
  129. On a Courtesan's HouseHe Xun · Old-Style SongsNight flowers open on the boughs; a new moon rises in the mist.
  130. On White Gulls, Teasing One Who PartsHe Xun · Old-Style SongsEast and west, from here they go their ways; no shadow or sound of each other can reach them.
  131. After 'Green, Green the Riverside Grass'He Xun · Old-Style SongsA broken string still clings to its peg; a fallen leaf has only just left the bough.
  132. Teasing Consultant Liu XiaochuoHe Xun · Old-Style SongsLittle does she know the man bound for the dawn audience is already in the ragged line of geese.
  133. Gazing Out from an Autumn ChamberYu Dan · Old-Style SongsThe one she longs for never comes; in vain she keeps watch past the middle of the clear night.
  134. Dreaming at Night of Going HomeYu Dan · Old-Style SongsParted, we cannot see each other; it is hard to bear facing the spring light.
  135. Mount Wu Is High · Lofty Without EndFan Yun · Yuefu BalladsThick and soft, the morning clouds depart; dim and dark, the evening rain returns.
  136. Gazing at the Weaver GirlFan Yun · Old-Style SongsHer inch of feeling is tied in a hundred knots; her one heart hangs in ten thousand places.
  137. Lament for a Man Away at the WarsJiang Yan · Old-Style SongsOn what day will the frontier dust settle, and his war horse come back to the court?
  138. On a Beauty's Spring OutingJiang Yan · Old-Style SongsWhite snow has set into her jade-fine face; a bright pearl dots her crimson lips.
  139. In the Manner of Pan of the Yellow Gate: Telling My GriefJiang Yan · Old-Style SongsWhen the rain has stopped, no cloud comes back; when flowers fall, how could the petals stay?
  140. Song by the Pond: The Marsh OrchidShen Yue · Yuefu BalladsWhen wealth is spent, dealings end; when the bloom falls, love can hardly last.
  141. Autumn Night · The Moon Sets Toward MidnightShen Yue · Old-Style SongsDimly the fireflies sink into the mist; in long lines the geese cross the clouds.
  142. Matching Xiao Zixian's Poems in the Old MannerWu Jun · Old-Style SongsNot only do my tears turn to pearls; the pearls, too, are seen to turn to blood.
  143. Poems Exchanged with Liu YunWu Jun · Old-Style SongsThe parted crane flies a thousand li; the lone mate finds no rest at night.
  144. Mulberries by the Path · Soft and Swaying BoughsWu Jun · Yuefu BalladsDoes my old love know of this? The grief of parting sears my heart.
  145. The King of Qin Folds His RobesWu Jun · Yuefu BalladsIn Xianyang the spring grass is fragrant; the Qin ruler folds away his robes.
  146. Gathering Lotus · A Brocade Sash and Flowered PinsWu Jun · Yuefu BalladsI wish you would come back soon, while these lotus flowers are still fresh.
  147. Hand in Hand · Spring on the Banks of the Clear LuoWu Jun · Yuefu BalladsOld friends were once just like this; will new acquaintances ever remember us?
  148. For Du Rongcheng: Two Swallows Meet AgainWu Jun · Old-Style SongsI answer that the sea road is long, and with so much wind I had no strength to fly.
  149. A Spring Poem: Where Has Spring Come FromWu Jun · Old-Style SongsFrom where has spring come? It brushes my clothes and startles the plum.
  150. A Cast-Off Wife to Her Former HusbandWu Jun · Old-Style SongsMy heart broke at the place we parted; my looks waste away in tears.
  151. On a Handsome YouthWu Jun · Old-Style SongsA million is paid for one word from him, a thousand in gold to buy his company.
  152. On a Moonlit Night, for Chen of Nankang and His New BeautyWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsShe is sixteen and like a flower; the moon of the fifteenth is like a mirror.
  153. Seeing a Nobleman Welcome His New Beauty, a Few Lines for the OccasionWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsHappily Changqing has no partner yet, and Wenjun is newly widowed.
  154. Hearing a Neighbour Woman Weave at Night, with Censor SimaWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsStill afraid you have nothing to wear, night after night I weave at the window.
  155. Night Sorrow · Dew from the EavesWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsWho knows how my heart and eyes are thrown into confusion, so that, looking at red, I suddenly see green?
  156. Grievance in a Spring BoudoirWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsGrieving, I watch the powder on butterfly wings; weeping, I gaze at the spiders' threads.
  157. Pounding Cloth · As the Season's Pitch Pipes TurnWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsA foot of silk lies in a fish's belly; my inch of heart rides on a wild goose's foot.
  158. Telling a Dream on Someone's BehalfWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsOn waking, all was empty; only then I knew it had all been illusion.
  159. For Someone: So Near, Yet Never MeetingWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsI have someone of one heart with me, in my own village, not some distant county.
  160. In the Manner of 'Gathering Lovage', for the Former Concubine of Director HeWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsThe new one draws near with a smile; the old one withdraws, holding back her tears.
  161. A Few Rhymes at the Wine Feast of Wang of Jin'anWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsHer turning glances are not without meaning; from behind a tilted fan she looks this way again.
  162. A Love Gift Written for SomeoneWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsHappily there is a chance to lift my robe and wade across; full of feeling, I send a single word.
  163. The Grievance of Master He's ConcubineWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsThe banished minister and the abandoned wife: their fallen hearts are not hard to know.
  164. There Is One I Long For · Night Wind and FirefliesWang Sengru · Yuefu BalladsI know you are a wanderer by nature; but what of me, who also came from a singing house?
  165. A Favoured Concubine's Grievance, Written for SomeoneWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsIt is my sorrow that has made me thin, not that you prize a slender waist.
  166. A Concubine Grieves for Herself, Written for HerWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsA broken string can still be mended; a heart that has gone is the hardest thing to keep.
  167. Autumn Boudoir Lament · Slanting Light on the West WallWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsAll my toil and pain are in vain; in the end, they say, you do not know.
  168. For My Wife · Dust on the Jade BedXu Fei · Old-Style SongsSo for now I let a single letter speak for a heart twisted nine times over.
  169. Facing the Peach Tree Before Our Room, on the Day We Should Meet, for My WifeXu Fei · Old-Style SongsThe guarded walls cannot be crossed; I pick this blossom in place of the sacred hemp.
  170. Hearing Cloth Pounded Beyond the Walls at Night, from the Huaguan OfficeFei Chang · Old-Style SongsI can only hear, never see; alone at night I stand in empty grief.
  171. Matching Secretary Xiao's 'Longing on a Spring Morning'Fei Chang · Old-Style SongsThe water follows the peach blossoms away; spring comes back with the willows.
  172. Gazing at a Beauty in the Spring FieldsFei Chang · Old-Style SongsAt dusk below the tall tower, you should know my family name is Qin.
  173. On Looking in the Mirror · Dawn Light on the Apricot BeamsFei Chang · Old-Style SongsIn the city every woman paints her brows halfway up her forehead; it is not I alone who draw them long.
  174. Sunny Spring Sends Forth Its Mild AirFei Chang · Old-Style SongsWith a sweep of the sleeve one should keep the guest; having met, let us not make things hard for each other.
  175. On an Autumn Night the Cool Wind RisesFei Chang · Old-Style SongsA rosy face lasts only a while; when you come home, how can it still be in time?
  176. Gathering Water Caltrops · My Home by the Five LakesFei Chang · Yuefu BalladsAs if there in the middle of the water: in vain we two keep longing for each other.
  177. The Empress's Lament at Changmen PalaceFei Chang · Yuefu BalladsIn the days when you kept your darling in a golden house, who would have said you would not come in?
  178. Mount Wu Is High · Light Fading on the MountainFei Chang · Yuefu BalladsMorning clouds rise where they strike the rocks; evening rain dampens silken robes.
  179. There Is One I Long For · Crows Settling in Shanglin ParkFei Chang · Yuefu BalladsWhen the blind stirs I think you have come; thunder sounds like your carriage passing.
  180. In Reply to My Husband: Two PoemsLiu Lingxian · Old-Style SongsIf you would know how deep my hidden grief, the spring chamber is deep, and it is dusk.
  181. Lady Ban, at the Prince of Xiangdong's Command · Dusk at Changxin PalaceHe Sicheng · Yuefu BalladsLong and slow she watches the sun go down, then once more brushes the dust from the empty bed.
  182. Imitating the Ancients: Old Friends Must Not Be ForgottenHe Sicheng · Old-Style SongsAn old friend must not be forgotten, like the lasting fragrance of orchid and cassia.
  183. Meeting a Beauty in the Southern ParkHe Sicheng · Old-Style SongsThe wind lifts her grape-patterned sash; the sun shines on her pomegranate-red skirt.
  184. Boudoir Lament · The Nomad Pipes Keep Breaking OffWu Jun · Old-Style SongsThree thousand li lie between us; like the stars Shen and Shang, letters can hardly pass.
  185. Where Shall I Dwell?Wu Jun · Yuefu BalladsI keep my watch at dusk in vain; how can I meet again the days of the blue tower?
  186. The Charms of Three WivesWu Jun · Yuefu BalladsThe youngest wife, full of graces, presses the clear wine cup on you with a smile.
  187. On a Singing Girl · Back from the High HallWang Sengru · Old-Style SongsWith a second glance a city is easily toppled; a single smile costs a thousand in gold.
  188. Listening to the BlackbirdLiu Lingxian · Old-Style SongsRapt and delighted, I linger to listen, and so my makeup is left unfinished.
  189. The Fragrant Tree · Fanned by the Evening WindFei Chang · Yuefu BalladsIts boughs droop as if about to dance; its flowers open as if smiling.
  190. Song of Gathering Water Caltrops · Hand in Hand in a Fine MonthXu Mian · Yuefu BalladsGathering and gathering, we cannot go home; gazing and gazing, we linger long.
  191. Pounding Cloth · Autumn Garments for the Cold FrontierXiao Yan · Old-Style SongsFor whom should I adorn myself? Thinking of you wrings my heart.
  192. Imitating 'Chang'an Has a Narrow Lane' · Three Sons and Three Wives of LuoyangXiao Yan · Yuefu BalladsThe youngest wife alone is at leisure, tuning her reed organ by the winding pool.
  193. Imitating 'The Bright Moon Shines on the High Tower'Xiao Yan · Yuefu BalladsYou are the light of the eastern sun-tree; I am the mist by the western willows.
  194. Imitating 'Green, Green Grass by the River' · A Dream Cut ShortXiao Yan · Old-Style SongsHalf asleep I felt you had come; awake, there was no form at all.
  195. In Place of the Wife of Su Wu, Lord of the Dependent StatesXiao Yan · Old-Style SongsI have not finished reading the silk letter, and tears run down my cheeks like threads.
  196. Old Meaning · The Vine on the Pine and the Plant of ForgettingXiao Yan · Old-Style SongsHave you not seen the vine on the pine? Its leaves fall, but its roots do not move.
  197. The Fragrant Tree · Layered Blossoms in the Spring WindXiao Yan · Yuefu BalladsOne leaf passes through the spring wind, and blossom joins blossom of itself.
  198. There Is One I Long For · A Sash Knotted in DreamsXiao Yan · Yuefu BalladsThe twin silk sash at my waist ties itself in dreams into a lover's knot.
  199. Purple Orchids Beginning to SproutXiao Yan · Old-Style SongsTheir fragrance comes out with the season; gracefully they grow to meet it.
  200. The Weaving WifeXiao Yan · Old-Style SongsMy husband is ten thousand li away; with whom could I finish a bolt, or make a pair?
  201. The Seventh Night · Orchid Oil Burning Toward DawnXiao Yan · Old-Style SongsThis wondrous meeting is no ordinary festival; the tryst is a good year's gift.
  202. In Jest · Goddesses and the Belles of Yan and ZhaoXiao Yan · Old-Style SongsLong sleeves are sure to detain a guest, and clear song winds all about the beams.
  203. Song of Beauty in Eighteen Rhymes · The Singing Girl and Her GallantXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsThe dodder clings to the side of the pine; sweet melons trail east of the well.
  204. Songs and Strings of Shu · Ten RhymesXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsIn a spring gown she rinses silk in the brocade waves, turning her fan from the sun-crow.
  205. The Concubine's Ill Fate · Ten RhymesXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsParted alive, who pats my back? A sudden death would hardly come too late.
  206. The Newly Built Palace of Peace and JoyXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsPearl blinds let in the morning sun; golden blossoms brush the night wind.
  207. Twin Parasol Trees by the Empty WellXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsLate leaves hide the roosting phoenix; morning blossoms brush the crows at dawn.
  208. The Lady of Chu Sighs · A Long Night in the Quiet ChamberXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsA faint smile is not yet joy; a slight sigh turns back into grief.
  209. The Road of Luoyang · Fruit Piled in Tall CarriagesXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsGolden saddles flash on dragon-steeds; silk sleeves brush the spring mulberries.
  210. Breaking Willow Twigs · Pipes in the Empty WoodsXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsLeaves so dense that flying birds are blocked; wind so light the petals fall slowly.
  211. South Lake · From the Songs of YongzhouXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsLotus scent mingles with the musk on their clothes; the sound of oars follows the swift current.
  212. North Isle · From the Songs of YongzhouXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsGreen water splashes their long sleeves; floating moss stains the light oars.
  213. The Great Embankment · From the Songs of YongzhouXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsA cast-off wife skilled at weaving silk; a bewitching beauty used to counting coin.
  214. The Lotus Boat Buys Its PassageXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsTo know where the boat is passing, watch where the lotus leaves part.
  215. Watching a Hairpin Fall in the StreamXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsThe current sways and breaks our painted reflections; a hairpin falls and leaves my hair bare.
  216. A Spring Night · Coloured Paper Folded in VainXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsThe sound of the wind follows the music of the bamboo; the moon's colour is the pond's.
  217. A Winter Dawn · Why Rouge So EarlyXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsSince there is no one to see, what use is rouge so early?
  218. In Jest, in the Manner of Xie Huilian · Thirteen RhymesXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsPeach blossoms red as dots of paint; willow leaves tangled like silken threads.
  219. The Singing Girl's Resentment · Twelve RhymesXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsThe wanderer sends no word; her red lips are fragrant in vain.
  220. Matching Recorder Xu: Watching His Wife Make BeddingXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsCut in joy-uniting pleats, its pattern joins the mandarin ducks in pairs.
  221. Teasing Two Beauties with a PoemXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsShy, she has not yet stepped onto the stairs; smiling faintly, she comes out along the gallery.
  222. Autumn Boudoir, Night ThoughtsXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsIf you would know why I cannot sleep, hear the cloth being pounded beyond the city.
  223. Matching the Prince of Xiangdong · A Man of Note Delights in a Peerless BeautyXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsHer dressing window is screened by the green of willows; the well water mirrors the pink of the peach.
  224. Back in the City from a Halt on the MarchXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsThe sun warms the heart of the reeds; the wind carries the scent of plum buds.
  225. On a Discarded ConcubineXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsA lone swan gives up halfway; a lone luan-bird dies before the mirror.
  226. Writing in Play, Brush in HandXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsOn jade tables, peaches of the Queen Mother of the West; in gourd cups, pomegranate wine.
  227. Song of Beauty · Cinnamon Door and Apricot BeamsXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsA slanting window lets in the scent of buds; a thin crack draws in motes of light.
  228. Resentment · The Fan and the Autumn WindXiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsThe autumn wind and the white round fan were never at ease together.
  229. In the Manner of Marquis Shen's 'Night After Night'Xiao Gang · Yuefu BalladsWeeping on my pillow, I keep powder on my cheeks; my body never settles on the bed.
  230. The Seventh Night · The Heavenly Shuttle StopsXiao Gang · Old-Style SongsThe heavenly shuttle has long been weaving; only tonight does it stop to meet.

Rhapsodies

10 works

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

  1. Rhapsody on Lament for the South (Preface)Yu Xin · Parallel ProseThe sun is setting and the road is long; what kind of world is this? The general has gone and the great tree is scattered; the hero does not return and the cold wind sighs.
  2. Rhapsody on the Withered TreeYu Xin · Parallel ProseYears ago I planted willows, swaying south of the Han; now I see them shedding their leaves, forlorn by the river pools. If trees fare like this, how can a man bear it!
  3. Rhapsody on PartingJiang Yan · Parallel ProseWhat darkens the spirit and melts the soul is parting, and parting alone!
  4. Rhapsody on ResentmentJiang Yan · Parallel ProseLook out over the plain: creeping weeds entwine the bones, and grave trees grown a span thick gather in the souls. When human life comes to this, how can one speak of the Way of Heaven?
  5. Rhapsody on the Ruined City of GuanglingBao Zhao · Parallel ProseThe frontier wind is fierce, the walls are cold; wells and paths are gone, the grave mounds broken. A thousand years, ten thousand ages, all come alike to an end; what more is there to say!
  6. Rhapsody on a Small GardenYu Xin · Short RhapsodiesFish of an inch or two, bamboos of two or three stems;
  7. Rhapsody on SpringYu Xin · Short RhapsodiesIn Yichun Park spring has already come back; in Pixiang Hall spring clothes are being made.
  8. Rhapsody on the Dancing CraneBao Zhao · Short RhapsodiesIt cries clear notes on the red palace steps and dances its flying form in the golden pavilion.
  9. Rhapsody on Gathering LotusXiao Yi · Short RhapsodiesThen the charming youths and lovely maidens, rowing their boats, give their hearts.
  10. Rhapsody on a Wanderer's Wife's Autumn LongingXiao Yi · Short RhapsodiesIn autumn, what moon is not clear? With the moon, what autumn is not bright?

Prose

18 works

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

  1. Reply to Secretary XieTao Hongjing · Letters & PrefacesThe splendor of mountains and rivers has been universally celebrated from antiquity. Lofty peaks pierce the clouds; crystal streams reveal their gravel beds. Rock cliffs on both shores shimmer in kaleidoscopic hues; verdant woods and emerald bamboo flourish through all four seasons.
  2. Letter to Zhu YuansiWu Jun · Letters & PrefacesWind and mist have completely vanished; sky and mountains share the same crystalline azure. Drifting with the current, wandering freely east or west. Across the hundred leagues from Fuyang to Tonglu, the marvelous mountains and wondrous waters are peerless under Heaven.
  3. Letter to Attendant ShiWu Jun · Letters & PrefacesSheer cliffs reach the sky and a lone peak enters the Milky Way.
  4. Proclamation of Mount BeishanKong Zhigui · Essays & MemorialsThe orchid canopy is empty and the night crane cries in resentment; the mountain man is gone and the dawn gibbons are startled.
  5. Letter to Chen BozhiQiu Chi · Letters & PrefacesIn the third month of late spring, south of the Yangzi the grasses grow tall, assorted flowers bloom on the trees and flocks of orioles fly about.
  6. Book of the Later HanFan Ye · Historical NarrativeWhere there is a will, the deed is done at last.
  7. Commentary on the Water ClassicLi Daoyuan · Travel WritingAlong the seven hundred li of the Three Gorges, mountains line both banks without a break.
  8. Essential Techniques for the Common PeopleJia Sixie · Essays & MemorialsHuman life depends on diligence; with diligence there is no want.
  9. Edict of Six ArticlesSu Chuo · Essays & MemorialsThe mind is the master of the whole person and the root of all conduct.
  10. Letter to the Prince of XiangdongXiao Gang · Letters & PrefacesLately I see that the literary style of the capital is unusually feeble and dull, vying in loose and shallow writing, hasty yet slack.
  11. Admonition to Daxin, Duke of DangyangXiao Gang · Letters & PrefacesThe way to conduct oneself is different from the way to write: in conducting oneself one must first be careful and grave; in writing one should be free and unrestrained.
  12. Master of the Golden TowerXiao Yi · NotebooksI always laughed at Huainan for having others write for him, and mocked Buwei for relying on others.
  13. Lament at the Tomb of Bi Gan of YinEmperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei · Epitaphs & ElegiesThe Marquis of Gui had already been minced: did you not see it? The Marquis of Xing had already been dried into meat: did you not hear it?
  14. Account of the Causes and Conditions of the Transmission of the Dharma TreasuryTan Yao (trans.) · Essays & MemorialsHe closed the gate of the evil destinies and opened the road to nirvana.
  15. Book of WeiWei Shou (comp.) · Historical NarrativeThe one who will complete my work is surely this child.
  16. Book of SongShen Yue (comp.) · Historical NarrativeHis family was poor; he had great ambitions and cared little for the niceties of conduct.
  17. Biographies of Eminent MonksHuijiao · Historical NarrativeThis was the beginning of monks in the land of Han.
  18. Annual Customs of Jing-ChuZong Lin · NotebooksOn the fifteenth of the first month, bean gruel topped with fat is made and offered at the doors.

Fables

7 works

Philosophical fables, historical allusion narratives, and primordial mythology.

  1. Gazing at Plums to Quench ThirstLiu Yiqing · Historical AllusionsA vivid hope can lift people's spirits enough to get them through hardship.
  2. A Great Talent Put to Petty UseFan Ye · Satirical ParablesWasting great talent on small tasks harms both the person and the nation.
  3. Guarding Against the First Small SignsFan Ye · Satirical ParablesStop trouble at its first small sign, before it grows beyond control.
  4. Seeing the Leopard Through a TubeLiu Yiqing · Historical AllusionsThough one sees only a spot, a discerning eye can infer the whole leopard.
  5. Drawing a Tiger That Looks Like a DogFan Ye · Satirical ParablesImitating what is beyond your reach leaves you a clumsy caricature.
  6. A Tower Built in the AirSanghasena · Satirical ParablesSeeking the top floor without building the foundation achieves nothing.
  7. The Blind Men and the ElephantDharmakshema (translator) · Satirical ParablesTaking one part for the whole leads everyone to insist on a partial truth.

Sayings

122 works

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

  1. Raising the Tray to Eyebrow LevelFan Ye · IdiomsMeng Guang raised the food tray to her brows when serving her husband; mutual respect between spouses.
  2. Unconcerned with TriflesFan Ye · IdiomsNot fussing over minor details or etiquette; easygoing and broad-minded in manner.
  3. Barely SatisfactoryFan Ye · IdiomsOriginally, still able to rouse spirits; now, passable or more or less satisfactory.
  4. Spilled Water Cannot Be GatheredFan Ye · IdiomsWhat is done cannot be undone, like spilled water that cannot be recovered.
  5. A Crane among ChickensLiu Yiqing (comp.) · IdiomsStanding out conspicuously from those around one in bearing or talent.
  6. A Rising TalentLiu Yiqing (comp.) · IdiomsA promising newcomer; an outstanding member of the younger generation.
  7. Old but Ever More VigorousFan Ye · IdiomsGrowing more vigorous and determined with age.
  8. Strength Fails the WillFan Ye · IdiomsWanting to do something but lacking the strength or ability.
  9. Too Much for the Eyes to Take InLiu Yiqing (comp.) · IdiomsSo much to see that the eyes cannot keep up.
  10. Silent, Imperceptible TransformationYan Zhitui · IdiomsOne's thinking or character is gradually changed by unnoticed influence.
  11. Pleasing to Heart and EyeXie Lingyun · IdiomsDelightful to the heart and pleasing to the eye.
  12. Quenching Thirst by Thinking of PlumsLiu Yiqing · IdiomsCao Cao's thirsty troops cheered by imagined plums; consoling oneself with fantasies.
  13. Ten Thousand People, One HeartFan Ye · IdiomsMillions united as one; complete solidarity.
  14. In High SpiritsLiu Xie · IdiomsOriginally of lofty, brilliant writing; now, elated and in high spirits.
  15. Different Mouths, One VoiceShen Yue · IdiomsMany people saying the same thing; unanimous.
  16. Leading into WonderlandLiu Yiqing · IdiomsDrawing one into an enchanting realm; captivating scenery or works.
  17. Too Many to Take InLiu Yiqing · IdiomsToo much beauty to take in at once; or too many matters to handle.
  18. A Hundred Feelings MingledLiu Yiqing · IdiomsAll kinds of feelings welling up at once; describes deeply mixed emotions.
  19. Growing Worse and WorseXiao Tong · IdiomsOriginally to develop further; now for something bad becoming even worse.
  20. Running Neck and NeckLiu Xie · IdiomsHorses harnessed side by side galloping together; being on a par with one another.
  21. Crouching Tiger, Hidden DragonYu Xin · IdiomsHidden dragons and crouching tigers; a place concealing undiscovered talent.
  22. Putting It Out of MindFan Ye · IdiomsGiving no thought to something, especially one's own safety or life.
  23. Overbearingly AggressiveLiu Yiqing · IdiomsAggressively overbearing; also, strikingly impressive in a way that puts others under pressure.
  24. Nipping Evil in the BudFan Ye · IdiomsTo check wrongdoing at its first sign and prevent it from growing.
  25. Viewing a Leopard Through a TubeLiu Yiqing · IdiomsSeeing only one spot of a leopard through a tube; a partial view, or inferring the whole from a part.
  26. Drawing a Tiger That Looks Like a DogFan Ye · IdiomsTrying to draw a tiger but ending with a dog; overreaching ambition or clumsy imitation.
  27. Thousand Character ClassicZhou Xingsi · Rhymes & JinglesHeaven is dark and earth is yellow; space and time are vast and wild.
  28. Heartbroken at PartingJiang Yan · IdiomsWhat dims the heart and melts the soul is parting, and parting alone!
  29. Layer upon Layer of CliffsLi Daoyuan · IdiomsCliffs piled on cliffs, peaks stacked on peaks, hiding the sky and screening the sun; unless it is noon or midnight, one sees neither sun nor moon.
  30. The Sky Like a Domed Yurt Over the GrasslandAnonymous (Northern Dynasties folk song) · AphorismsThe sky is like a domed felt tent, covering the plains on every side.
  31. Sky and Mountains Share One HueWu Jun · AphorismsWind and mist have all cleared away; sky and mountains share one color.
  32. Wondrous Peaks and Rare Waters of the FuchunWu Jun · AphorismsFrom Fuyang to Tonglu, a hundred li or so, the wondrous mountains and rare waters are unmatched in all the world.
  33. Hares Hard to Tell ApartAnonymous (Northern Dynasties folk song) · IdiomsThe buck's feet kick, the doe's eyes squint; but when two hares run side by side along the ground, who can tell if I am male or female?
  34. Ambition Stilled at the Sight of the PeaksWu Jun · IdiomsThose who soar to heaven like a hawk would still their hearts on seeing these peaks; those who manage the world's affairs would gaze into these valleys and forget to return.
  35. Peering into the Valleys and Forgetting to ReturnWu Jun · AphorismsThose who manage the world's affairs, peering into these valleys, forget to return.
  36. Wind and Haze Swept Clean over the Fuchun RiverWu Jun · AphorismsWind and haze were all swept clean; sky and hills shared one colour.
  37. Mulan Crosses Passes and Mountains as if FlyingAnonymous (Northern Dynasties folk song) · AphorismsTen thousand li she rode to the business of war, crossing passes and mountains as if flying.
  38. The Chile Plain Beneath the Yin MountainsAnonymous (Northern Dynasties folk song) · AphorismsThe Chile Plain lies beneath the Yin Mountains.
  39. Wind Bends the Grass to Reveal the HerdsAnonymous (Northern Dynasties folk song) · AphorismsThe sky is deep blue, the plain is boundless; the wind bends the grass and the cattle and sheep appear.
  40. Each Soldier Worth a Hundred at KunyangFan Ye · IdiomsHaving won victory upon victory, the officers grew ever bolder, and every one of them fought like a hundred.
  41. Spoils Beyond Counting at KunyangFan Ye · IdiomsThey captured all the army's supplies and baggage; the chariots, armour and treasures were beyond counting, a month of hauling could not finish them, and some of the rest was burned.
  42. The Son-in-Law Lying on the East CouchLiu Yiqing (comp.) · IdiomsOnly one young man lay on the east couch with his belly bare, as if he had heard nothing.
  43. Cliffs Where Five Colours Shine TogetherTao Hongjing · AphorismsOn both banks the stone cliffs shine together in five colours.
  44. Sunset Clouds Spread Like Patterned SilkXie Tiao · IdiomsThe lingering clouds spread out like patterned silk; the clear river lies still as white silk.
  45. Entering the Fish Market and No Longer Smelling the StenchXiao Gang · AphorismsSo those who gallop on their hunches and love fame over substance carve meat from the benevolent beast and play Xi Ke at Handan; they enter the fish market and forget its stench, and copying faults brings them disaster.
  46. Entrusted with a Young Orphan RulerFan Ye · AphorismsDeng Yu, Marquis of Gaomi, is foremost among the founding ministers, and Cang, King of Dongping, is generous and resourceful; both can receive the charge of a young orphan and stand unbending at a great crisis.
  47. Governing the Realm Together with the RulerSu Chuo · AphorismsTherefore emperors of former ages always said that those who governed the realm together with them were only good prefects and governors.
  48. Crumbling and Splitting ApartFan Ye · IdiomsAll the realm is crumbling and splitting apart; the situation is plain to see.
  49. Shrike and Swallow Flying ApartXiao Yan (traditionally attributed) · IdiomsThe shrike flies east, the swallow flies west; the Herdboy and the Weaver Girl meet only now and then.
  50. Diligence Keeps Want AwayJia Sixie · AphorismsThe commentary says: 'Life depends on diligence; with diligence there is no want.'
  51. A Name Recorded on Bamboo and SilkFan Ye · IdiomsI only wish that your virtue and might reach the four seas, and that I may render some small service and have my merit written on bamboo and silk.
  52. Swallowing One's Words and Pacing in SilenceBao Zhao · AphorismsMy heart is not wood or stone; how can it feel nothing? I swallow my words and pace in silence, not daring to speak.
  53. Singing Out One's Feelings and NatureXiao Gang · AphorismsI have never heard of poems that sing of feeling imitating the Domestic Regulations chapter instead.
  54. Belly Bare on the Eastern Couch: Wang Xizhi Chosen as Son-in-LawLiu Yiqing (comp.) · IdiomsOnly one young man lay on the eastern couch with his belly bare, as if he had heard nothing.
  55. Rich in Springs and Autumns: Yuan Shao Defends the Young EmperorFan Ye · IdiomsThe present emperor is rich in springs and autumns, and nothing bad about him has been made known to the realm.
  56. Biyu, the Girl from a Humble HouseXiao Yi · IdiomsBiyu, a girl of a humble house, came to marry the Prince of Runan.
  57. The Beauty of Hills and Streams: Tao Hongjing's LetterTao Hongjing · AphorismsThe beauty of hills and streams has been talked of by all since ancient times.
  58. A Heart Not Made of Wood or StoneBao Zhao · AphorismsThe heart is not wood or stone; how can it feel nothing? I swallow my voice and pace, not daring to speak.
  59. Thought Reaching Across a Thousand YearsLiu Xie · AphorismsSitting still and concentrating, thought links up with a thousand years; quietly changing countenance, vision passes through ten thousand li.
  60. Spirit Vigorous and Bright in WritingLiu Xie · AphorismsWhen the language is upright and firm, the bone of the writing is formed; when the spirit is vigorous and bright, its wind is clear.
  61. Ladling Boiling Water to Stop the BoilFan Ye · IdiomsLadling boiling water to stop it boiling is not as good as removing the firewood; lancing an abscess, though painful, beats letting it eat away within.
  62. Throwing Down the Brush to Take Up ArmsFan Ye · IdiomsA real man should at least follow Fu Jiezi and Zhang Qian and win merit in foreign lands; how can he spend his days among brushes and inkstones?
  63. Laying Open One's Heart and SoulFan Ye · IdiomsHow dare I not lay open my heart, to repay a ten-thousandth part?
  64. Drawing a Sword to Strike the PillarBao Zhao · AphorismsFacing my table I cannot eat; I draw my sword, strike the pillar and sigh long.
  65. Stirring the Heart into Song and DanceZhong Rong · AphorismsBreath moves things, and things move people; so the feelings are stirred and take form in dance and song.
  66. Great Is the Power of Literary PatternLiu Xie · AphorismsGreat indeed is the power of pattern! How is it that it was born together with heaven and earth?
  67. Late in the Day With the Road Still LongYu Xin · IdiomsThe day is late and the road is long: what kind of world is this?
  68. The Willows I Planted in Years Gone ByYu Xin · AphorismsThe willows planted in years gone by swayed softly south of the Han; now I see them shedding their leaves, a bleak sight by the river's pools. If trees fare so, how can people bear it!
  69. Spring Grass Green at the Southern Shore of PartingJiang Yan · AphorismsSpring grass is green, spring water ripples clear; seeing you off at the southern shore, how can I bear this grief!
  70. Slender Wisdom, Grand DesignsXiao Yi · IdiomsOnce a man of ritual vessels, now a soldier in armour; my wisdom slender and my designs grand, where then is my fame?
  71. Setting Out at Dawn and Arriving by DuskLi Daoyuan · IdiomsLeaving Baidi at dawn and reaching Jiangling by dusk, a distance of twelve hundred li; even riding a galloping horse or the wind would not be so fast.
  72. Staff in Hand, Crossing North to Follow Liu XiuFan Ye · AphorismsWhen he heard that Liu Xiu was pacifying the lands north of the river, he took up his staff and crossed north, catching up with him at Ye.
  73. Not Turning on One's Heel Even Before DeathFan Ye · IdiomsI truly know my guilt and will face death without turning on my heel; I beg only five more days to destroy the chief villain, and then I will go to the cauldron. That is my wish in life.
  74. The Vital Breath Stirs All ThingsZhong Rong · AphorismsThe vital breath moves things, and things move people; so feelings are stirred and find expression in dance and song.
  75. Jiang Yan's Talent Run DryJiang Yan · IdiomsJiang Yan reached into his robe, took out a five-coloured brush and gave it to him. After that his poems had no fine lines at all, and people of the time said his talent was spent.
  76. A Monkey Washed and Wearing a CapXiao Gang · IdiomsIf you stood facing a wall, or were a monkey washed and wearing a cap, that I would not approve.
  77. As Distinct as the Clear Jing and the Muddy WeiXiao Gang · IdiomsDistinguish the clear from the muddy, making them as plain as the Jing and the Wei.
  78. The Clear River Smooth as White SilkXie Tiao · IdiomsThe lingering clouds disperse like brocade; the clear river lies calm as white silk.
  79. Swallow's Chin and Tiger's Neck: Ban Chao's FortuneFan Ye · IdiomsYou have a swallow's chin and a tiger's neck; you fly and eat meat. This is the face of a lord ten thousand li away.
  80. Wild Blossoms Filling the Room in Yu Xin's Small GardenYu Xin · AphorismsFallen leaves cover half the bed, wild blossoms fill the room.
  81. Repaying Every Angry Glare: Fan Ju's RevengeFan Ye · IdiomsEvery meal of kindness he repaid; every angry glare he avenged.
  82. Arrows Rain Down on KunyangFan Ye · AphorismsMassed crossbows fired at will, arrows fell like rain, and in the city people carried doors on their backs to fetch water.
  83. How Hard It Is to Find a True Listener: Liu Xie's LamentLiu Xie · AphorismsHow hard it is to find a true listener! The music is hard to know, those who know it hard to meet; to meet one happens once in a thousand years!
  84. Disaster Before a Heel Can Turn: Chen Fan's MemorialFan Ye · IdiomsIf I speak out fully, the villains will glare at me, and disaster will come before a heel can turn.
  85. A Tower Built in the AirSanghasena · IdiomsBy the sea, the vapours of the clam-dragon look like towers and terraces; over the wide plains, vapours take the shape of palaces.
  86. Guan Ning Cuts the Mat in TwoLiu Yiqing (comp.) · IdiomsGuan Ning cut the mat and sat apart, saying: you are no friend of mine.
  87. Lavish Ornament, Scant Feeling: Liu Xie on Hollow WritingLiu Xie · AphorismsLavish in ornament and scant in feeling, it is sure to weary those who savour it.
  88. Framing Words Straight and Upright: Liu Xie's Bone of WritingLiu Xie · AphorismsWhen words are framed straight and upright, the bone of writing is formed; when the spirit is brisk and vigorous, its wind is clear.
  89. Superb Words: Yang Xiu Solves the Riddle on the Cao E SteleLiu Yiqing (comp.) · IdiomsThat is, 'superb and exquisite words'.
  90. Abandoning the Root to Chase the Branches: Jia Sixie on FarmingJia Sixie · IdiomsAbandoning the root to chase the branches is condemned by the wise.
  91. Creeping Weeds Twine Round the Bones: Jiang Yan's Rhapsody on RegretJiang Yan · AphorismsLook out across the plain: creeping weeds twine round the bones, and great trees gather the souls.
  92. Armoured and Armed in the Front Line: Liu Yu at GouzhangShen Yue (comp.) · IdiomsGaozu always wore armour and bore sharp weapons, going ahead of his soldiers, and in every battle broke the enemy's front.
  93. Vision Reaching Ten Thousand Li: Liu Xie on the ImaginationLiu Xie · AphorismsIn silent concentration, thought joins a thousand years; with a quiet change of countenance, vision reaches ten thousand li.
  94. Seeing You Off at the Southern ShoreJiang Yan · AphorismsThe spring grass is green, the spring water ripples clear; I see you off at the southern shore, and how can I bear the grief!
  95. The Patterning of the Dao in NatureLiu Xie · AphorismsSun and moon, like paired discs of jade, hang down the bright images of heaven; mountains and rivers, gleaming like brocade, spread out the ordered forms of earth. This is the patterning of the Dao.
  96. Former Students and Old SubordinatesFan Ye · IdiomsThe Yuan clan has bestowed favours for four generations, and its former students and old subordinates are found throughout the realm.
  97. Cliffs That Hide the Sky and Blot Out the SunLi Daoyuan · IdiomsLayered cliffs and piled peaks hide the sky and blot out the sun; unless it is noon or midnight one sees neither sun nor moon.
  98. Standing Face to the WallXiao Gang · IdiomsTo stand with one's face to the wall, or to be a monkey wearing a hat, is what I will not accept.
  99. Bowing Low and Holding One's BreathFan Ye · IdiomsFrom then on the eunuchs and palace attendants all bowed low and held their breath, and did not dare leave the palace even on their days of leave.
  100. Leaping City Walls and Clearing Moats: Lü Bu's Red HareFan Ye · AphorismsBu always rode a fine horse called Red Hare, which could gallop over city walls and leap across moats.
  101. Yellow Silk and Young Woman: The Riddle of Cao E's SteleLiu Yiqing (comp.) · IdiomsYellow silk is coloured silk, which makes jue; young woman is a girl, which makes miao; daughter's son is woman and son, which makes hao; a mortar receives the pungent, which makes ci.
  102. Without Entering the Tiger's Den, How Can One Catch the CubFan Ye · IdiomsWithout entering the tiger's den, one cannot catch the cub. Our only plan now is to attack the barbarians with fire under cover of night.
  103. Telling River Trees Apart Among the CloudsXie Tiao · AphorismsAt the sky's edge I recognise returning boats; among the clouds I make out the river trees.
  104. First Spring Light Displaces the Lingering WindXie Lingyun · AphorismsThe first light of spring displaces the lingering wind; the new sun changes the old shade.
  105. South Wind, Blow My Dream to West IsleAnonymous (Southern Dynasties yuefu folk song) · AphorismsSouth wind, if you know my heart, blow my dream to the Western Islet.
  106. Why Walk Timidly with Drooping Wings?Bao Zhao · AphorismsHow long does a man have in this life? How can he shuffle along with drooping wings!
  107. Alone and Upright, Like UsBao Zhao · AphorismsSince ancient times the sages have all been poor and lowly; how much more men like us, alone and upright!
  108. Pattern Rests on SubstanceLiu Xie · AphorismsWater is yielding by nature, and ripples form on it; wood is solid in substance, and blossoms open on it: pattern rests on substance.
  109. Catkins Rising on the Wind: Xie Daoyun's Snow SimileLiu Yiqing (comp.) · AphorismsBetter to liken it to willow catkins rising on the wind.
  110. A Fairyland in the Realm of Desire: Tao Hongjing's Mountain LetterTao Hongjing · AphorismsThis is truly a fairyland in the realm of desire. Since the Duke of Kangle, no one has been able to share in its wonders.
  111. Water Poured on Level Ground Runs Every Way: Bao Zhao on FateBao Zhao · AphorismsPour water on level ground and it flows off east, west, south and north. Human life too is ruled by fate; how can I sigh as I walk and grieve as I sit?
  112. Ascending the Dragon Gate: An Audience with Li YingFan Ye · AphorismsAny scholar who was received by him was said to have ascended the Dragon Gate.
  113. What Does the Falling Snow Resemble? Xie An's Question to His FamilyLiu Yiqing (comp.) · AphorismsSuddenly the snow came down hard, and the Duke asked with delight: what does the swirling white snow resemble?
  114. Lotus Seeds Clear as Water: The Song of West IsletAnonymous (Southern Dynasties folk song) · AphorismsShe bends her head to play with the lotus seeds; the lotus seeds are as clear as water.
  115. Marquis Cai's Paper: Cai Lun's Gift to WritingFan Ye · AphorismsAnd so everyone under heaven called it Marquis Cai's paper.
  116. Shattering the Coral with an Iron Ruyi: Shi Chong's Contest of WealthLiu Yiqing (comp.) · AphorismsWhen Shi Chong had looked at it, he struck it with an iron ruyi, and it shattered at the blow.
  117. Heaven Dark and Earth YellowZhou Xingsi · AphorismsHeaven is dark, earth is yellow; the universe is vast and primeval.
  118. The Universe Vast and PrimevalZhou Xingsi · AphorismsHeaven is dark, earth is yellow; the universe is vast and primeval.
  119. Knowing a Fault, Be Sure to Mend ItZhou Xingsi · IdiomsKnowing a fault, be sure to mend it; having gained an ability, do not forget it.
  120. Ceaseless as a Flowing RiverZhou Xingsi · IdiomsLike a river flowing without rest, like a deep pool clear and reflecting.
  121. One Breath, Joined BranchesZhou Xingsi · IdiomsBrothers care most deeply for one another, sharing one breath like joined branches.
  122. Isolated, Narrow and Ill-InformedZhou Xingsi · IdiomsIsolated and ill-informed, I share the ridicule due to the ignorant.