Ci Lyrics · LT201

Short Lyrics

Short, delicate song lyrics under 58 characters.

39works

5dynasties

15authors

Tang

618–90710 works
  1. Deva-Like Barbarian: Layered Hills of Gold Shimmer and FadeWen TingyunIlluminating the blossom in front and back mirrors, flower and face reflect in mutual beauty. Newly pasted on embroidered silk robe, paired golden partridges in flight.
  2. Deva-Like Barbarian: Crystal Pillow Behind Crystal BlindsWen TingyunBehind crystal blinds upon a glass pillow, warm fragrance stirs dreams on mandarin-duck brocade. Willows over the river resemble mist, wild geese fly beneath the fading moon.
  3. Water Clock Song: Jade Incense BurnerWen TingyunParasol trees, midnight rain, heedless that sorrowful souls dread hearing it. Leaf by leaf, drop by drop, dripping upon empty stone stairs until dawn.
  4. Dreaming of the South: Ten Thousand RegretsWen TingyunToilette finished, leaning alone upon the river-viewing tower. A thousand sails pass by yet none is his, slanted sunlight tender, waters flowing on and on. Heartbroken by White Duckweed Islet.
  5. Deva-Like Barbarian: Everyone Speaks of the Splendor of JiangnanWei ZhuangEveryone speaks of the splendor of Jiangnan; a traveler should only grow old in Jiangnan. Spring waters are greener than the sky; falling asleep listening to rain aboard a painted boat.
  6. Deva-Like Barbarian: Now I Recall the Joys of JiangnanWei ZhuangNow I recall the joys of Jiangnan: in those days I was young and spring robes were light. Riding a steed leaning by the slanted bridge, entire pavilions of crimson sleeves waved in greeting.
  7. Deva-Like Barbarian: Melancholy Farewell Night at Red ChamberWei ZhuangSpeaking of love upon the lute strings. The moon of those days still shines, which once illuminated colorful clouds returning home.
  8. Lotus Leaf Cup: Remembering That Year Beneath the FlowersWei ZhuangRemembering that year beneath the flowers, deep in the night, when I first met Lady Xie. Twin crystal pillows beside tortoiseshell screens, casting away all worldly fame.
  9. The Daoist Priestess: The Seventeenth of the Fourth MonthWei ZhuangThe seventeenth of the fourth month, exactly one year ago today, when I parted from you. Suppressing tears, feigning to lower my face; bearing bashful shame, half-knitting brows. Unaware my soul was shattered, left only with dreams following along.
  10. Wutong Shadow · The Setting Sun SlantsLü Dongbin (Lü Yan)The setting sun slants down; the autumn wind blows chillingly. Who upon a solitary skiff plays the jade flute, awakening floating reflections upon the Xiang River?

Ten Kingdoms

907–97914 works
  1. Magpie on the Bough: Who Says Idle Longings Have Long Been Cast AwayFeng YansiWho says idle longings have long been cast away? Whenever spring arrives, melancholy returns as before. Daily before blossoms drinking myself sick, begrudging not my rosy cheeks wasting away in the mirror.
  2. Magpie on the Bough: Plum Petals Fall from Crowded Boughs in Ten Thousand FlakesFeng YansiPlum blossoms shed from crowded boughs in ten thousand flakes, still lingering in tender passion, imitating snow twirling in the wind. Last night's flute songs scattered so easily; sobering from wine only brings infinite sorrow.
  3. Paying Homage at the Golden Gate: Sudden Breeze RisesFeng YansiA sudden breeze rises, wrinkling a whole pond of spring water. Idly teasing mandarin ducks along perfumed paths, fingers rubbing crimson apricot pistils.
  4. Lady of Longevity: Spring Day BanquetFeng YansiAt the spring day banquet, a cup of green wine and a song sung anew. Bowing twice to make three wishes: first, may my lord live a thousand years; second, may I forever stay in health; third, like swallows upon the roof-beams, may we meet year after year.
  5. Extended Silk-Washing Stream: Lotus Fragrance Fades, Emerald Leaves WitherLi JingLotus fragrance fades and emerald leaves wither; autumn winds stir sorrow between emerald ripples. Wasting away together with glorious spring light, too painful to behold.
  6. Extended Silk-Washing Stream: Rolling Pearl Curtains onto Jade HooksLi JingRolling up pearl blinds onto jade hooks, spring sorrow locks the tiered tower as before. Who is master of petals falling in the wind? My thoughts wander on and on.
  7. The Beautiful Lady Yu: When Will Spring Blossoms and Autumn Moons EndLi YuPray ask how much sorrow can one mortal bear? Just like a river of spring waters surging endlessly to the east.
  8. Joy of Meeting: In Silence I Ascend the West Tower AloneLi YuCut it, it severs not; untangle it, it tangles more—such is the sorrow of parting. A taste unlike any other lingering in the heart.
  9. Joy of Meeting: Forest Blossoms Shed Their Spring CrimsonLi YuForest blossoms have shed their spring crimson, all too fleetingly. Powerless against morning cold rain and evening gale. Naturally human life is filled with eternal regret, as rivers forever surge to the east.
  10. Ripples Sifting Sand: Outside the Blinds Rain MurmursLi YuLean not alone upon the balustrade—boundless homeland rivers and mountains! Parting was easy, reunion is impossible. Flowing waters, fallen blossoms, spring is gone—one in Heaven, the other in the mortal world.
  11. Dance of the Cavalry: For Forty Years My Country and HomeLi YuMost agonizing was the day of hurried farewell to ancestral temples, when court musicians still played parting songs, weeping helplessly before palace maidens.
  12. Gazing South: How Boundless the RegretLi YuHow boundless the regret in last night's wandering dream! Returning to my lost kingdom in dream, waking to tears streaming down both cheeks.
  13. Peace and Happiness: Half of Spring Has Passed Since PartingLi YuThe sorrow of parting is just like spring grass: the further one journeys, the more it flourishes anew.
  14. Crows Chanting at Night: Last Night Wind Blended with RainLi YuLast night wind blended with rain, rustling through curtains in autumnal cries. Candles guttered, water-clocks ran dry as I tossed upon my pillow; rising and sitting, my soul found no peace.

Song

960–127910 works
  1. Silk-Washing Stream (A Cup of Wine with a New Song)Yan ShuHelplessly blossoms fall away; seeming familiar, swallows return. In the small garden along fragrant paths, all alone I pace to and fro.
  2. Butterflies Lingering over Flowers (How Deep the Courtyard)Ouyang XiuDeep 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.
  3. Sheng Cha Zi (Lantern Festival)Ouyang XiuWhen 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.
  4. Immortal at the Magpie Bridge (Slender Clouds Weave Wonders)Qin GuanIf 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.
  5. Song of Divination (Dwelling at Dinghui Temple in Huangzhou)Su ShiA 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.
  6. Green Jade Cup (Lantern Festival)Xin QijiSearching for her thousands of times in the crowd; suddenly turning my head, that person is right there, where lantern lights are dim and waning.
  7. Chou Nu Er (Inscribed on the Wall on the Way to Boshan)Xin QijiIn 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!'
  8. Phoenix Hairpin (Pink Delicate Hands)Lu YouCruel 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!
  9. Song of Divination (Ode to the Plum Blossom)Lu YouHaving 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.
  10. Jianzi Mulanhu · Spring MelancholyZhu ShuzhenWalking 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.

Ming

1368–16441 works
  1. The Surging Yangtze River Rolls EastYang ShenThe surging Yangtze River rolls endlessly to the east, its billowing waves washing away all heroes of old. Right and wrong, triumph and defeat, turn to void in the blink of an eye. Green mountains remain unchanged as ever; how many crimson sunsets have they seen? White-haired fishermen and woodcutters on the river shoals are accustomed to watching autumn moons and spring breezes. Over a flagon of cloudy wine, we rejoice in reunion: how many deeds of past and present dissolve into cheerful laughter!

Qing

1636–19124 works
  1. Magnolia Blossom: Ancient Severing Words for a FriendNalan XingdeIf only human lives could remain forever like our first encounter, why should chilly autumn breezes mourn over painted fans? Lightly inconstancy alters an old love's heart, yet they falsely blame an old love's fickle heart.
  2. Everlasting Longing: A Stretch of Mountains, a Stretch of RiversNalan XingdeA stretch of mountains, a stretch of rivers, heading toward the far side of Shanhai Pass; deep into night gleam a thousand camp tent lamps. A watch of wind, a watch of snow, clamoring and shattering the homesick heart so dreams cannot form—in my homeland there is no such sound.
  3. Sands of the Washing Stream: Who Mourns in Chilly West WindNalan XingdeWho pities this solitary chill in the autumn west wind? Amid rustling yellow leaves closing the curtained casement, lost in memories standing in fading twilight. Soothed with wine, let not heavy spring slumber be stirred; betting on texts won fragrant spills of tea—in those days, I thought it was merely ordinary.
  4. Gathering Mulberry: The Moon in Tender Pity Must Smile at MeNalan XingdeThe bright moon in tender pity must smile at me, smile at my state today: betraying the heart of spring, walking alone and chanting in solitude. Lately I dread speaking of bygone days; under shallow moonlight and deep lamp shadows, where in dreams can drifting clouds be found?