1. "Ode to the Discourse in the Hall" by Zen Master Huang Zhi of the Tang Dynasty
It is very difficult to get rid of the troubles in the world, so hold on to the rope tightly and do something.
How can you get the fragrance of plum blossoms without being bitten by the bone-chilling cold?
Translation: It is unusual to get rid of the worldly labor, and you must work hard to do it. Without going through the bone-chilling cold, there would be no fragrance of plum blossoms.
2. "Plum Blossoms" Wang Anshi, Song Dynasty
There are several plum blossoms in the corner, and Ling Han blooms alone.
I know it’s not snow from a distance, because there is a faint fragrance coming.
Translation: There are a few plum blossoms in the corner, blooming alone despite the severe cold. From a distance, you can tell that the white plum blossoms are not snow, because there is the fragrance of plum blossoms.
3. "Poetry to Fan Ye" Southern and Northern Dynasties - Lu Kai
I met the messenger by folding flowers and sent them to the Longtou people.
Jiangnan has nothing, just give me a sprig of spring.
Translation: When I met the post envoy going north, I went to pick plum blossoms and asked him to bring them to my friends in Longshan. There is no better gift to send to Jiangnan, so let me send you a plum blossom to announce the spring.
4. "White Plum" Yuan Dynasty - Wang Mian
This body is in the ice and snow forest, not like peaches and plums mixed with fragrant dust.
Suddenly the fragrance spreads all night long, spreading like spring throughout the universe.
Translation: White plum blossoms grow in the woods with ice and snow. They are not mixed with peach and plum blossoms and fall into the dust of the world. Suddenly, the fresh fragrance of this night spread out, spreading like a new year in the world.
5. "Early Plum Blossoms" Tang Dynasty - Zhang Wei
A white jade tree with cold plum blossoms stands next to the village road and the bridge over the stream.
I don’t know that the water flowers bloomed first, but it is suspected that they have not been sold after the winter snow.
Translation: There is a tree whose plum blossoms bloomed early in the cold weather, and its branches are as white as jade bars. It is far away from the village road where people and cars come and go, and is close to the stream bridge. People don't know that the winter plum blossoms bloom early near the stream, thinking that they are white snow that has not melted after winter.