New Bamboo
- Poetry of Zheng Xie

《新竹》

中文原文( Chinese )

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