New Bamboo
- Poetry of Zheng Xie

《新竹》

中文原文

新竹高于旧竹枝，全凭老干为扶持。

明年再有新生者，十丈龙孙绕凤池。

English Translation

The new bamboo outgrows the old

Relying on the elder’s selfless support.

Newcomers next year will rise still taller,

Hemming Phoenix Pool* if joined together.

Alludes to the imperial estate, being almost always vast.

- Last updated: 2024-07-16 10:41:59

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.

List of Chinese poets