1. Jiang Xue
Liu Zongyuan [Tang Dynasty]
Thousands of birds have disappeared, and thousands of people have disappeared.
A man in a lone boat with a coir raincoat fishing fishing alone in the snow in the cold river.
Translation: On all the mountains, the birds have disappeared, and on all the roads there is no trace of people. On a lone boat on the river, an old man wearing a straw hat was fishing alone in the wind and snow.
2. Spring Hope
Du Fu? [Tang Dynasty]
The country is broken by mountains and rivers, and the city is full of spring vegetation.
I am moved to tears by the flowers in my heart, and I am frightened by the hatred of other birds.
The war rages on for three months, and a letter from home is worth ten thousand gold.
The white-headed scratches are shorter, and the lust is overwhelming.
Translation: The capital was invaded but the mountains and rivers remained the same, and the weeds and trees in Chang'an City grew luxuriantly. Feeling the defeated situation, she sheds tears when she sees the flowers blooming, feels melancholy and resentful in her heart, and is frightened when she hears the chirping of birds.
The continuous war has lasted for a spring. Letters from home are rare, and one letter is worth ten thousand taels of gold. Wrapped in sorrow, I scratched my head and thought. My white hair became shorter and shorter, and I almost couldn't insert the hairpin.
3. Night Mooring at Maple Bridge
Zhang Ji? [Tang Dynasty]
The moon is setting, crows are crows, and the sky is full of frost. The rivers, maples, and fishing fires are facing melancholy.
At Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City, the bell rang at midnight to reach the passenger ship.
Translation: The moon has set, the crows are crows and the sky is filled with cold air. The maple trees on the riverside and the fishing fires on the boats make it difficult for me to sleep alone in sorrow. The bells ringing at the Hanshan Ancient Temple outside Gusu City in the middle of the night reached the passenger ship I was traveling on.
4. Spring Dawn
Meng Haoran? [Tang Dynasty]
I sleep in the spring without realizing the dawn, and hear the singing of birds everywhere.
The sound of wind and rain at night makes one know how many flowers have fallen.
Translation: In the spring, it’s dawn before you know it, and you can hear the chirping of birds everywhere. Thinking back to the sound of wind and rain last night, I don’t know how many beautiful spring flowers were blown down.
5. Lu Chai
Wang Wei? [Tang Dynasty]
No one can be seen in the empty mountain, but people can hear their voices.
Returning to the deep forest, the light shines on the moss again.
Translation: No one can be seen in the quiet valley, only the sound of people talking can be heard. The afterglow of the setting sun reflected into the deep forest and shone on the moss in the dark place.