Poetry · LT106

Regulated Octaves

Eight-line regulated verse with strict tonal patterns and antithetical middle couplets.

149works

6dynasties

51authors

Tang

123 works

618–907

  1. Spring ViewDu FuBeacon fires have burned through three months; a letter from home is worth ten thousand pieces of gold.
  2. Farewell to Vice-Magistrate Du on His Posting to ShuWang BoIf within the four seas a bosom friend remains, heaven's farthest edge is next door.
  3. Autumn Twilight in the Mountain DwellingWang WeiBright moon shines among the pines; clear spring flows over rocks. Though spring blossoms fade at will, the noble recluse may naturally stay.
  4. Mission to the FrontierWang WeiAcross the vast desert a lone column of smoke rises straight; over the long river the setting sun hangs round.
  5. Visiting an Old Friend's CottageMeng HaoranGreen trees encircle the village edge; emerald mountains slant beyond outer walls. Opening windows toward threshing yards, winecups in hand we talk of mulberries and hemp.
  6. Gazing on Mount TaiDu FuSomeday I shall surely mount the highest peak, and look down upon all other mountains dwarf-small!
  7. Climbing HighDu FuBoundless falling leaves rustle and shower down; unending Yangtze waters surge and roll on. Ten thousand leagues away lamenting autumn, forever a wandering guest; enduring a lifetime of sickness, all alone I climb the high terrace.
  8. The Brocade ZitherLi ShangyinOn vast azure sea bright moon weeps pearly tears; in Lantian under warm sun fine jade generates mist. Could this deep affection wait only to become a distant memory? Even at that very moment, one was already lost in melancholy daze.
  9. Early Departure from Mount ShangWen TingyunCockcrow at thatched inn under the moon; footprints upon the frost of wooden bridge. Oak leaves carpet mountain trails; trifoliate orange blossoms brighten post-station walls.
  10. To the Neighbor Maiden · Easy to Find a Priceless GemYu XuanjiShy of the sun, shielding with gauze sleeves; melancholy in spring, sluggish to dress. A priceless gem is easy to attain, yet rare indeed is a devoted lover. Weeping secretly upon the pillow, broken-hearted amidst flowers. When you yourself can gaze upon dashing Song Yu, why fret over Wang Chang?
  11. Gazing with Sorrow in Jiangling, Sent to Zi'anYu XuanjiMaple leaves in thousand and ten thousand branches; dusk sails move sluggishly past the river bridge. My heart pining for you is like the West River's surge, coursing eastward day and night without ever ceasing.
  12. Seeking Lu Hongjian Without Finding HimJiaoran (Monk Jiaoran)I knock at the gate, but no dog barks; about to leave, I ask at the house to the west.
  13. Presented to Grand Tutor QianGuanxiu (Monk Guanxiu)The hall is full of guests, three thousand drunk among flowers; a single sword, chill as frost, holds fourteen prefectures.
  14. Inscribed on a Mountain Dwelling's Wall in Late Spring (No. 1)Guanxiu (Monk Guanxiu)The brushwood gate is quiet, the millet rice fragrant; smoke rises from the mountain home as the spring rain clears.
  15. Early Plum Blossoms · Deep in the Snow of the Front VillageQiji (Monk Qiji)Ten thousand frozen trees seem ready to snap; solitary roots alone awaken with hidden warmth. Deep in the thick snows of the forward village, last night a single branch blossomed into flower. The breeze wafts secret fragrance forth; birds peer down upon its pure white charm.
  16. Hearing That the Imperial Army Has Recovered Henan and HebeiDu FuI turn to look at my wife and children: where has their sorrow gone? Rolling up my books and poems any which way, I am wild with joy.
  17. Grass on the Ancient Plain: A FarewellBai JuyiWildfire can never burn it all away; when the spring wind blows, it comes to life again.
  18. Welcoming Rain on a Spring NightDu FuIt follows the wind, slipping secretly into the night, moistening all things finely, without a sound.
  19. Yellow Crane TowerCui HaoAs the sun sets, where is my home village? Mist and waves on the river make one sorrow.
  20. The Chancellor of ShuDu FuHe led the army out but died before victory came, forever making heroes weep until their robes are soaked.
  21. Untitled: Hard It Is to MeetLi ShangyinThe spring silkworm spins its silk until it dies; the candle's tears dry only when it has burned to ash.
  22. In Reply to Letian, Who Gave Me a Poem at Our First Meeting in YangzhouLiu YuxiBeside the sunken boat a thousand sails go by; before the sickly tree ten thousand trees burst into spring.
  23. Passing Through Zou and Lu, Sacrificing to Confucius and SighingLi Longji (Emperor Xuanzong of Tang)He sighed over the phoenix, lamenting his ill fortune; he grieved for the unicorn, bemoaning that his Way had come to an end.
  24. The Imperial Capital, Ten PoemsLi ShiminThe Qin river land makes a mighty imperial seat; the Hangu Pass makes the royal residence imposing.
  25. In the Second Year of Zhide I Left the Capital by the Jinguang Gate and Took a Byway to Fengxiang; Early in Qianyuan, Moved from Reminder of the Left to an Aide's Post in Huazhou, I Took Leave of Kin and Friends and Went Out by This Gate Again, Grieving for the PastDu FuWithout talent, I grow a little older each day; I rein in my horse and gaze back at the thousand palace gates.
  26. Palace Lament in SpringDu Xunhe (traditionally attributed)In the warm wind, birdsong breaks into pieces; as the sun climbs high, the flower shadows lie thick.
  27. On the Cicada, Written in PrisonLuo BinwangHeavy dew: it tries to fly but cannot rise; strong wind: its song is easily drowned.
  28. Written at Master Yi's Meditation ChamberMeng HaoranThe setting sun follows the last of the rain; the empty green of the hills falls into the shade of the court.
  29. Seeing Off Prefect Li of ZizhouWang WeiAfter a night of rain in the mountains, from the treetops hang a hundred tiers of springs.
  30. Mount ZhongnanWang WeiWhite clouds close behind me as I look back; the blue haze, once I enter it, is no longer there.
  31. Facing Lake Dongting: To Minister ZhangMeng HaoranIts vapours steam over the Yunmeng marshes; its waves shake the city of Yueyang.
  32. Meeting Feng Zhu in Chang'anWei YingwuFlowers open in the dim haze; swallows dart about, their young newly hatched.
  33. My Retreat at ZhongnanWang WeiI walk on to where the water ends, and sit and watch the moment the clouds rise.
  34. Mooring at Niuzhu by Night, Thinking of the PastLi BaiI too can chant my verses aloud, but that man can no longer hear them.
  35. Returning to the Southern Hills at the Year's EndMeng HaoranLacking talent, I am cast aside by an enlightened ruler; often ill, I am neglected by old friends.
  36. A Feast at Daoist Mei's Mountain LodgeMeng HaoranThe elixir stove has just been lit; the immortal peach trees are shedding their blossoms.
  37. Staying at Master Ye's Mountain Lodge, Waiting for Ding the Eldest, Who Does Not ComeMeng HaoranMoonlight in the pines brings the night's cool; wind and springs fill the clear silence.
  38. To a Daoist in the Mountains of QuanjiaoWei YingwuBut fallen leaves fill the empty mountains: where would I look for his tracks?
  39. Written on Returning to Mount SongWang WeiA ruined town stands over an old ferry; the setting sun fills the autumn hills.
  40. At the Banquet Granted in the Lizheng Hall Academy, Written on Command with the Rhyme LinZhang ShuoReciting the Odes, we learn of governance; expounding the Changes, we see Heaven's mind.
  41. Glad to Meet My Cousin, Then Saying Goodbye AgainLi YiAsking your surname, I am startled, as if we had never met; hearing your name, I recall the face of old.
  42. On the Huai, Glad to Meet an Old Friend from LiangchuanWei YingwuSince we parted like drifting clouds, ten years have flowed by like water.
  43. Parting from a Friend on a Spring NightChen Zi'angThe bright moon hides behind tall trees; the River of Stars sinks into the dawn sky.
  44. Stopping at Xuyi County at DuskWei YingwuPeople go home to the darkening hill town; wild geese come down on the pale reed isles.
  45. In Reply to Assistant Magistrate ZhangWang WeiPine wind blows open my loosened sash; the mountain moon shines on me playing the zither.
  46. Staying the Night on the Tonglu River, Sent to Old Friends in GuanglingMeng HaoranWind sounds in the leaves on both banks; the moon shines on a single lonely boat.
  47. Parting Words for Wang WeiMeng HaoranOf those in power, who will lend me a hand? Those who truly know me are rare in this world.
  48. Climbing Mount Xian with FriendsMeng HaoranHuman affairs rise and give way; their coming and going makes past and present.
  49. In Reply to Cheng Jin, Who Sent Me a Poem on an Autumn NightHan HongUnder the River of Stars, one autumn goose; through the night, the fulling blocks of a thousand homes.
  50. Seeing Off a FriendLi BaiDrifting clouds: the wanderer's mind; the setting sun: an old friend's feeling.
  51. Seeing Off a Friend Bound for ShuLi BaiMountains rise right up before your face; clouds are born beside your horse's head.
  52. Night Duty in the Chancellery in SpringDu FuStars shine down and the ten thousand doors seem to stir; beside the Ninth Heaven the moonlight is fuller.
  53. Written on the Wall of Chan Master Xuanwu's DwellingDu FuA flying staff keeps close to the cranes; a cup ferrying the water does not startle the gulls.
  54. Sent to Du, Reminder in the ChancelleryCen CanOur sage court has no faults to correct, so I find my remonstrances grow few.
  55. Climbing the Zongchi PavilionCen CanBeyond the railing the Qinling range lies low; in the window the Wei River looks small.
  56. Climbing the City Tower of YanzhouDu FuOn the lone crag the Qin stele still stands; in the ruined city the Lu palace remains.
  57. Written in the Imperial Retinue on the Way to DengfengSong ZhiwenFrom dark valleys a thousand banners emerge; the hills ring as ten thousand chariots come.
  58. Written after Wine for Zhang XuGao ShiWhen the mood comes his brush turns sage; after wine his talk grows wilder still.
  59. The Jade Terrace AbbeyDu FuThey say a crane bearing a piper passes over this hilltop from time to time.
  60. Viewing the Landscape Painting Li Gu Requested of His Brother the AdjutantDu FuIn this life I drift along with all things: by what road can I leave the dust of the world?
  61. Thoughts Written While Travelling at NightDu FuStars hang low and the level plain is wide; the moon surges as the great river flows.
  62. Climbing Yueyang TowerDu FuWu and Chu are split apart to the south-east; heaven and earth float on it day and night.
  63. Seeing Off Editor Cui on the Eastern CampaignChen Zi'angThe royal army does not delight in war; you, sir, be wary in wielding arms.
  64. Climbing Xie Tiao's North Tower in Xuancheng in AutumnLi BaiAmid the households' smoke the oranges and pomelos look cold; autumn's colours age the wutong trees.
  65. Visiting Xiangji TempleWang WeiThe spring's voice sobs over steep rocks; the sun's colour is cold on the green pines.
  66. Seeing Off Censor Zheng, Banished to MinGao ShiYou are sure to meet with rain and dew again; go now, and beware the wind and waves.
  67. Miscellaneous Poems from Qinzhou, No. 19Du FuThe old folk long for a Flying General; when will the court talk of raising the altar?
  68. The Temple of YuDu FuCloud vapours rise from the hollow walls; the river's roar runs over white sand.
  69. Drinking at Night in YouzhouZhang ShuoHad I not been made a general of this frontier town, who would know how deep the favour runs?
  70. Gazing Out over the Han RiverWang WeiThe river flows beyond heaven and earth; the hills' colour hovers between there and not there.
  71. Living at Leisure at Wangchuan: To the Scholar Pei DiWang WeiAt the ferry the last of the setting sun remains; over the village rises a single thread of smoke.
  72. Written at the Post Station North of Dayu RidgeSong ZhiwenMy journey is far from over; on what day shall I come home again?
  73. Listening to Jun, a Monk from Shu, Play the QinLi BaiThe flowing-water music washes the traveller's heart; its lingering notes merge with the frosty bell.
  74. To Meng HaoranLi BaiI love you, Master Meng; your free spirit is known throughout the world.
  75. Crossing Past Jingmen: A FarewellLi BaiThe mountains end with the opening plain; the river flows on into the vast wilds.
  76. Cool ThoughtsLi ShangyinAt the edge of the world I keep reading my dreams, and wrongly fear you have a new friend.
  77. North QingluoLi ShangyinThe whole world lies within a mote of dust; why should I cling to love and hate?
  78. The CicadaLi ShangyinBy the fifth watch the cry thins nearly to nothing; the whole tree is green and does not care.
  79. Wind and RainLi ShangyinYellow leaves are still beset by wind and rain; in the green towers the pipes and strings play on.
  80. Falling BlossomsLi ShangyinA fragrant heart spent with the spring: all it gains is tears upon my clothes.
  81. At Fengji Station, Seeing Off Lord Yan Once More: Four RhymesDu FuBack alone to my river village, I will tend the rest of my life in solitude.
  82. Leaving the Grave of Grand Commandant FangDu FuNear my tears no earth stays dry; low in the sky there are broken clouds.
  83. Remembering My Brothers on a Moonlit NightDu FuFrom tonight the dew turns white; the moon is brightest over home.
  84. Thinking of Li Bai from the Edge of the SkyDu FuFine writing hates a prosperous fate; demons delight when men go by.
  85. Moonlit NightDu FuScented mist dampens her cloud-like hair; the clear light chills her jade-white arms.
  86. Staying at an InnDu MuMy distant dream goes home and lasts till dawn; a letter from home comes a year late.
  87. Miscellaneous Poem: Moon Over the Han CampShen QuanqiSadly, the moon above her chamber shines long over the Han camp too.
  88. Thoughts in the Early ColdMeng HaoranMy homesick tears are spent abroad; I watch a lone sail at the sky's edge.
  89. On the Set Theme of Evening Rain, Seeing Off Li ZhouWei YingwuThrough the haze the sails come heavy; in the gloom the birds fly slow.
  90. Gazing at the Moon, Thinking of One Far AwayZhang JiulingOver the sea the bright moon rises; at the ends of the earth we share this hour.
  91. Seeing Off a Friend Travelling EastWen TingyunHow many are left on the river? From the sky's edge a lone oar returns.
  92. The Temple of the First Ruler of ShuLiu YuxiWith a chancellor he could found a state, but the son he fathered was no match for him.
  93. Reaching Jianmen on the Journey West to ShuLi LongjiGreen cliffs close in a thousand fathoms high; red peaks part where the Five Strongmen cut.
  94. Moved by the Moon: To My Brothers Scattered by War and FamineBai JuyiGazing at the same bright moon, we must all be in tears: one night, one longing for home, in five places at once.
  95. Attending a BanquetShen QuanqiGreen curtains in the dressing tower keep spring; gold studs on the dance hall borrow the sun.
  96. River VillageDu FuThe swallows in the hall come and go as they please; the gulls on the water stay close and friendly.
  97. For the Recluse ZhuDu FuThe autumn stream is only four or five feet deep; the country boat holds just two or three people.
  98. Choubi Post StationLi ShangyinHis talent was truly no less than Guan Zhong's and Yue Yi's; but Guan and Zhang were fated to die, so what could he do?
  99. Spring RainLi ShangyinThrough the rain the red tower looks cold as I gaze at it; through the bead curtain of rain the lamp flickers, and I go home alone.
  100. A Night at HeadquartersDu FuAll night the horn sounds, grieving to itself; the moon in mid-sky is lovely, but who is there to look?
  101. Written with Friends at the Xianyou TempleHan HongWhy seek a world beyond this one? The human world has its own land of immortals.
  102. Venting My Grief, No. 1Yuan ZhenToday my salary is over a hundred thousand cash, and for you I can only offer sacrifices and hold rites for the dead.
  103. Night in the PavilionDu FuAt the fifth watch, drums and horns sound stirring and sad; over the Three Gorges, the Milky Way's reflection trembles.
  104. Replying to Secretary Jia Zhi's Poem on the Morning Audience at Daming PalaceDu FuIn the warm sun the dragons and snakes on the banners stir; in the light breeze over the palace halls, swallows and sparrows fly high.
  105. Replying to Secretary Jia's Poem on the Morning Audience at Daming PalaceWang WeiThe gates of the ninefold heaven open on the palace halls; the robes and caps of ten thousand nations bow before the crown.
  106. Replying to Secretary Jia Zhi of the Secretariat on the Morning Audience at Daming PalaceCen CanFlowers greet the swords and pendants as the stars begin to set; willows brush the banners while the dew is not yet dry.
  107. On the Ninth Day at the Cui Family Estate in LantianDu FuWho will still be well when we meet here next year? Drunk, I hold the dogwood and look at it closely.
  108. Little SolsticeDu FuThe riverbanks wait for the last month to unfurl their willows; the hills defy the cold, ready to open the plum.
  109. Climbing the TowerDu FuSpring on the Brocade River comes from heaven and earth; drifting clouds over Jade Rampart change from past to present.
  110. Sent to Li Dan YuanxiWei YingwuOften ill, I long for my fields and village; with refugees in my county, I am ashamed of my pay.
  111. Written at the Wangchuan Estate after Long RainWang WeiOver the wide, misty paddies white egrets fly; in the deep shade of summer trees orioles sing.
  112. Seeing Off Sheriff Li, Demoted to Xiazhong, and Sheriff Wang, Demoted to ChangshaGao ShiGibbons crying in the Wu Gorge will bring a few lines of tears; geese returning past Hengyang will carry how many letters?
  113. Passing Through HuayinCui HaoLofty Mount Hua looks down on the capital; no blade could carve its three peaks.
  114. Recalling the Past at Xisai MountainLiu YuxiHow many times have people grieved over the past? The mountain, as before, rests its head on the cold current.
  115. By the Qujiang, Two Poems: No. 1Du FuOne petal flying takes away from spring; ten thousand blown on the wind truly sadden me.
  116. Never SeenShen QuanqiNorth of the White Wolf River letters have stopped; south of Red Phoenix City the autumn night is long.
  117. For Supervising Secretary GuoWang WeiWithin the palace the bell rings sparsely as the offices grow late; birds call in the chancellery, and the clerks are few.
  118. Climbing the Phoenix Terrace at JinlingLi BaiThe Three Hills half drop away beyond the blue sky; the two waters part around White Egret Isle.
  119. A Guest ArrivesDu FuThe flower path has never been swept for a guest; my wicker gate opens today for the first time, for you.
  120. Gazing out over the CountrysideDu FuWar dust across the land keeps my brothers from me; at the sky's edge I weep, one man far away.
  121. Climbing the City Tower of Liuzhou: To the Prefects of Zhang, Ting, Feng and LianLiu ZongyuanTrees on the ridges, layer on layer, block my thousand-mile gaze; the river winds like a heart twisted nine times over.
  122. Crossing South at LizhouWen TingyunFrom a few clumps of sand-grass the gulls scatter; over ten thousand acres of river fields a single egret flies.
  123. The Shrine of Su WuWen TingyunMaoling never saw him made a marquis; in vain he weeps to the autumn waves for time gone by.

Song

16 works

960–1279

  1. Passing LingdingyangWen TianxiangSince ancient times who has escaped death? Keep a crimson heart to shine on bamboo annals.
  2. Visiting Shanxi VillageLu YouWhere mountains multiply and streams double one doubts there is any path; amid shady willows and radiant blossoms emerges yet another village.
  3. Replying to Ziyou's Poem Recalling Old Times at MianchiSu ShiWhat is a life, wandering from place to place? It must be like a flying swan treading on snowy mud.
  4. Venting My IndignationLu YouWarships in night snow at the Guazhou ferry; armoured horses in autumn wind at Dasan Pass.
  5. At Ehu, Matching the Rhymes of My Elder Brother the InstructorLu JiuyuanThe work of ease and simplicity will in the end be lasting and great; the enterprise of fragmentation will after all drift and sink.
  6. Composed by Imperial Command on the Lantern FestivalCai XiangHeaven's clear light lingers this evening; on earth a mild air holds back the spring gloom.
  7. In Reply to Ding YuanzhenOuyang XiuI doubt the spring wind ever reaches this edge of the world: in the second month the hill town has seen no flowers.
  8. Song of Flowers Worn in the HairShao YongI have lived through two generations of peace and seen four reigns at the height of glory.
  9. Feelings Lodged in WordsYan ShuMoonlight flowing over the pear-blossom courtyard; a light breeze over the willow-catkin pond.
  10. QingmingHuang TingjianA thousand years on, who knows the wise from the fool? Weeds cover the same mounds.
  11. Summer DaysZhang LeiSparse blinds invite the moon's shadow; a hollow pillow takes in the clamour of the stream.
  12. New BambooLu YouA clear breeze sweeps the ground and autumn comes first; under the red sun, noon passes unseen.
  13. Autumn Reflections on Greed and FameLu YouOnly at leisure do you feel a day as long as a year; drunk, even matters as big as heaven can rest.
  14. An Outing in the CountrysideCheng HaoDrink your fill and refuse no cup; I only fear the wind will scatter the blossoms.
  15. Visiting the Moon HallCheng HaoClouds idly mirrored in the water; under the trees a spring's sound comes of itself.
  16. Written by ChanceCheng HaoWatched in stillness, all things are content in themselves; the fine joys of the four seasons are shared with all people.

Ming

4 works

1368–1644

  1. Ode to CoalYu QianI only wish that all the common people be fed and warm, and I will not shrink from the toil of coming out of the mountain forests.
  2. Deep in the Study of StrategyQi JiguangTo be made a marquis is not my wish; I only hope the sea waves will be calm.
  3. Reading BooksYu QianBooks are as affectionate as old friends; morning and evening, in sorrow and joy, they keep me company.
  4. Seeing Off the Celestial MasterZhu QuanAt dawn he rides a single crane through the sky; at night among men he unties his two ducks.