Classical Chinese Quotes & Paintings ·2025 Series
~ Dr. Jian Xu
Through layered mountains and winding waters, it seems no road remains,�yet in shaded willows and bright blossoms, suddenly—another village appears.
�山重水复疑无路，柳暗花明又一村。
~ Lu You (陆游, 1125–1210), Southern Song dynasty poet and patriot, from Visiting Shanxi Village (《 游山西村》)
At dusk the green mountains fade into distance,�In the cold sky, a poor cottage stands alone.�From behind the brushwood gate comes the bark of dogs—�Through wind and snow, one makes his way home by night.
�日暮苍山远，天寒白屋贫。�柴门闻犬吠，风雪夜归人。
~ Liu Changqing (刘长卿, Tang dynasty, 709–785), from Lodging with the Master of Mount Hibiscus on a Snowy Night (《 逢雪宿芙蓉山主人》)
Flowers bloom and fade—
how many times can we see them?
Let us sing loudly, without lament.
When next year’s peonies return in bloom,
where will we meet again?
花开花谢，都来几许。
且高歌休诉。
不知来岁牡丹时，
再相逢何处。
~ Ye Qingchen (叶清臣, 1000–1049), Song dynasty scholar-official and poet, from He Sheng Chao · Farewell (《 贺圣朝·留别》)
From the boshan censer, bright flames exhale fragrant mist,�red candles lead the way to the chamber for changing clothes.�How goes the night? The night stretches long and endless,�before the rooster crows next door, wild geese fly past in the cold.
�博山炯炯吐香雾，红烛引至更衣处。�夜如何其夜漫漫，邻鸡未鸣寒雁度。
~ Liu Yuxi (刘禹锡, 772–842), Tang dynasty poet, from Song of the Dressing Chamber (《 更衣曲》)
Yet a day will come when the long wind breaks the waves;�I shall hoist my cloudlike sail and cross the boundless sea.
�长风破浪会有时，�直挂云帆济沧海。
~ Li Bai (李白, 701–762), Tang Dynasty poet, from Hard Roads Ahead, No. 1 (《行路难·其一 》)