To the Tune of [Chieh yü hua] - Lantern Festival
- Poetry of Zhou Bangyan

《解语花·元宵》
To the Tune of [Chieh yü hua] - Lantern Festival by Zhou Bangyan
中文原文( Chinese )

风消焰蜡，露浥红莲，花市光相射。

桂华流瓦。

纤云散，耿耿素娥欲下。

衣裳淡雅。

看楚女纤腰一把。

箫鼓喧，人影参差，满路飘香麝。

因念都城放夜。

望千门如昼，嬉笑游冶。

钿车罗帕。

相逢处，自有暗尘随马。

年光是也。

唯只见、旧情衰谢。

清漏移，飞盖归来，从舞休歌罢。

English Translation

The candle flames redden the breeze;

The lotus lanterns seem to freeze.

The sky brightens the fair and the fair the sky.

The titles are steeped in moonlight

When fleecy clouds disperse in flight,

The Moon Goddess would come down from on high.

In elegant dress appear

The southern maidens tender

With waist so slender.

The drums boom far and near,

The crowd’s shadows rise and fall,

Fragrance wafts over all. 


I remember the capital’s lantern night:

A thousand doors overwhelmed with light,

People made merry in laughter.

From golden cabs silk handkerchiefs dropped down,

The gallants ran after

The cabs as dim dust raised by steeds in the town.

But years have passed

Now I see only for my part

With an unfeeling heart

How time flies fast.

The cabs will not come back again

And people have sung and danced in vain.

（许渊冲 译）

- Last updated: 2024-07-31 21:51:28
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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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