Ryūnosuke Akutagawa 芥川龍之介 (1892-1927), the Japanese novelist known for Rashōmon and Kappa, was also a talented kanshi poet. That is to say, he mastered the delicate art of composing classical style poems in Chinese like those aristocrats did in the Heian period. Living during the Taishō to Shõwa period, he beheld the rapid change of … Continue reading A New Year Kanshi poem by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa
Tag: Poetry
To the Tune “Water Clock” by Wen T’ing-yun 溫庭筠《更漏子》
更漏子[唐]溫庭筠 柳絲長，春雨細，花外漏聲迢遞。驚塞雁，起城烏，畫屏金鷓鴣。香霧薄，透簾幕，惆悵謝家池閣。紅燭背，繡簾垂，夢長君不知。 To the Tune “Water clock” Wen T'ing-yun Long willow branches, light spring rains,Beyond the flowers, the distant sound of water clock drops.The geese at the frontier startled up,And the crows in the city fly off.On the painted screen, there are golden partridges.The thin fragrant fog permeates trough the layered curtains.Sad is she in … Continue reading To the Tune “Water Clock” by Wen T’ing-yun 溫庭筠《更漏子》
Moon Gazing at P’en Pavilion on Mid-Autumn Night by Po Chü-i 白居易《八月十五日夜湓亭望月》
八月十五日夜湓亭望月 [唐] 白居易 昔年八月十五夜，曲江池畔杏園邊。 今年八月十五夜，湓浦沙頭水館前。 西北望鄉何處是，東南見月幾回圓。 昨風一吹無人會，今夜清光似往年。 Moon Gazing at P'en Pavilion on Mid-Autumn Night Po Ch'ü-i Remembering the mid-autumn night in the old days, I, gathering with other newly elected officials, was at the Apricot Garden adjoining the Ch'ü-chiang Pond. Another mid-autumn night comes this year; I, in exile, am standing in front of … Continue reading Moon Gazing at P’en Pavilion on Mid-Autumn Night by Po Chü-i 白居易《八月十五日夜湓亭望月》
The Beauty by Tu Fu 杜甫《佳人》
佳人 [唐] 杜甫 絕代有佳人，幽居在空谷。自云良家子，零落依草木。 關中昔喪亂，兄弟遭殺戮。官高何足論，不得收骨肉。 世情惡衰歇，萬事隨轉燭。夫婿輕薄兒，新人美如玉。 合昏尚知時，鴛鴦不獨宿。但見新人笑，那聞舊人哭。 在山泉水清，出山泉水濁。侍婢賣珠迴，牽蘿補茅屋。 摘花不插髮，采柏動盈掬。天寒翠袖薄，日暮倚修竹。 The Beauty by Tu Fu An unrivaled beauty there is, residing reclusively in the empty valley. “A woman of a decent household I was,” said herself, “but then scattered into the deep woods.” “When the rebellions rose in the capital, all my siblings have been slain. … Continue reading The Beauty by Tu Fu 杜甫《佳人》
Between Thought and Expression 