Reading Buddhist Classics With Zhao at His Temple in the Early Morning
- Poetry of Liu Zongyuan

《晨诣超师院读禅经》

Reading Buddhist Classics With Zhao at His Temple in the Early Morning by Liu Zongyuan

中文原文( Chinese )

汲井漱寒齿，清心拂尘服。

闲持贝叶书，步出东斋读。

真源了无取，妄迹世所逐。

遗言冀可冥，缮性何由熟。

道人庭宇静，苔色连深竹。

日出雾露余，青松如膏沐。

澹然离言说，悟悦心自足。

English Translation

I clean my teeth in water drawn from a cold well;

And while I brush my clothes, I purify my mind;

Then, slowly turning pages in the Tree-Leaf Book,

I recite, along the path to the eastern shelter.

...The world has forgotten the true fountain of this teaching

And people enslave themselves to miracles and fables.

Under the given words I want the essential meaning,

I look for the simplest way to sow and reap my nature.

Here in the quiet of the priest's templecourtyard,

Mosses add their climbing colour to the thick bamboo;

And now comes the sun, out of mist and fog,

And pines that seem to be new-bathed;

And everything is gone from me, speech goes, and reading,

Leaving the single unison.

Five-character-ancient-verse

- Last updated: 2024-04-21 10:19:28

· Pre： To My Daughter on Her Marriage Into the Yang Family

· Next：Dwelling By a Stream

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.

Reading Buddhist Classics With Zhao at His Temple in the Early Morning
- Poetry of Liu Zongyuan

List of Chinese poets

Pre-Qin Poetry

Han poetry

Six Dynasties Poetry

Tang poetry

Song Poetry

Yuan poetry

Ming poetry

Qing poetry

Reading Buddhist Classics With Zhao at His Temple in the Early Morning - Poetry of Liu Zongyuan

List of Chinese poets

Pre-Qin Poetry

Han poetry

Six Dynasties Poetry

Tang poetry

Song Poetry

Yuan poetry

Ming poetry

Qing poetry

Reading Buddhist Classics With Zhao at His Temple in the Early Morning
- Poetry of Liu Zongyuan