1. "Reading on an Autumn Night is always marked by the end of two drums" by Song Dynasty poet Lu You
Original text:
Gao Wu Ce Ce conveys the chill, stacking drums to force the winter away sleep period.
The autumn nights are getting longer and hunger is causing trouble, and a cup of yam is filled with fine rice.
Translation: The tall sycamore trees were making a sound, and there were waves of chill. I was very interested in reading, and suddenly I heard the drums urging me to fall asleep. The autumn night is long, and I am hungry. It is difficult to read any more. Drinking a cup of potato porridge cooked with yam is better than that delicacy.
2. "Poem to Encourage Learning" by Yan Zhenqing, a calligrapher of the Tang Dynasty
Original text:
It is the time for men to study when the lights are on at three and the chickens are on at five.
Black-haired people don’t know how to study early, and white-haired people regret studying late.
Translation: From midnight every day until the rooster crows, it is the best time for boys to study. In their youth, they must know how to study hard and study diligently. But if you only know how to play and don't know how to study hard, you will regret when you are old that you didn't know how to study hard when you were young. When you get older, you will regret why you didn't know how to study hard when you were young.
3. "Winter Night Reading Shows Ziyu" by Lu You, a poet of the Song Dynasty
Original text:
The ancients spared no effort in learning, and it was only when they were young that they were able to achieve success.
What you have learned on paper will eventually make you realize it, but you will definitely know that this matter must be carried out.
Translation: The ancients spared no effort in learning, and often did not achieve success until old age. After all, the knowledge gained from books is not perfect. If you want to deeply understand the truth, you must practice it yourself. 4. "Reading Poems" by Han Yu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty
Original text:
There are not many problems with reading, but there are many problems with thinking about others.
If you are suffering enough, you will no longer learn, and if you are already learning, you will not be able to learn.
Translation: When reading, I am afraid that I will not read enough, and when I think about it, I am afraid that I will not understand. I am afraid that I will think that I am enough and will not continue to learn. Once I have learned, I am afraid that I will not continue.
5. "Guanshu" by Yu Qian, a poet of the Ming Dynasty
Original text:
The books are as affectionate as old friends, and the joys and sorrows of the morning and evening are close to each other.
There are three thousand words in front of my eyes, and there is not a speck of dust in my chest.
The source of living water is everywhere, and the east wind brings new flowers and willows every time.
The golden saddle and jade are looking for a beautiful guest. If you don’t believe that there will be no spring in our house.
Translation: My feelings for books are like friends that have been with me for many years. No matter whether I am sad or happy in the morning or evening, I always have them with me. After browsing countless words in front of my eyes, I no longer have any distracting thoughts in the world. Fresh ideas come in a steady stream and are inexhaustible, like flowers and willows changing into new colors in the east wind. Astride the golden saddle, the dignitaries still lamented that the trace of her beauty was hard to find, and they did not believe that there was a special spring scene in this study.