Budding Blooms - to the Tune of Jianzi Magnolia
- Poetry of Li Qingzhao

《减字木兰花·卖花担上》
Budding Blooms - to the Tune of Jianzi Magnolia by Li Qingzhao
中文原文( Chinese )

卖花担上，买得一枝春欲放。

泪染轻匀，犹带彤霞晓露痕。

怕郎猜道，奴面不如花面好。

云鬓斜簪，徒要教郎比并看。

English Translation

From a flower peddler in neighbourhood

I bought budding blooms for our room.

The pink tips are covered with morning dews

Still twinkling with golden red hues.


Her natural charm could fascinate my mate.

I regret my silly choice, but too late.

So pinned on my hair near my cheeks fair

I wear the blossom for him to compare.

Composed in her early marriage days when she was still a teenage girl, this ci poem is the only one in this music tune pattern from her collection left today. She was the happiest lady in the world living with her beloved husband who was then a carefree student at the Royal Academy in the capital city of Northern Song Dynasty. A glimpse of their daily life is manifested here, which is a treat for us to enjoy, especially the clever and witted zoom-in of a minute moment in the secret little mind of a sweet young lady.

- Last updated: 2024-11-08 20:11:13
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Why Chinese poems is so special?
The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
How to read a Chinese poem?
Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.

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