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《将进酒》or Invite to Drink, by Li Bai (701-762) 君不见黄河之水天上来，奔流到海不复回。君不见高堂明镜悲白发，朝如青丝暮成雪。人生得意须尽欢，莫使金樽空对月。天生我材必有用，千金散尽还复来。烹羊宰牛且为乐，会须一饮三百杯。岑夫子，丹丘生，将进酒，杯莫停。与君歌一曲，请君为我倾耳听。钟鼓馔玉不足贵，但愿长醉不愿醒。古来圣贤皆寂寞，惟有饮者留其名。陈王昔时宴平乐，斗酒十千姿欢谑。主人何为言少钱，径须沽取对君酌。五花马，千金裘，呼儿将出换美酒，与尔同销万古愁。 Jūn bù jiàn huáng hé zhī shuǐ tiān shàng lái,Bēn liú dào hǎi bù fù huí.Jūn bù jiàn gāo táng míng jìng bēi bái fà,cháo rú qīng sī mù chéng xuě.Rén…

《行径华阴》or Passing by Huayin, by Cui Hao (?-754) 岧峣太华俯咸京，天外三峰削不成。武帝祠前云欲散，仙人掌上雨初晴。河山北枕秦关险，驿路西连汉畤平。借问路旁名利客，何如此地学长生。 Tiáo yáo tài huà fǔ xián jīng,tiān wài sān fēng xuē bù chéng. Wǔ dì cí qián yún yù sàn, xiān rén zhǎng shàng yǔ chū qíng. Hé shān běi zhěn qín guān xiǎn, yì lù xī lián hàn zhì píng. Jiè wèn lù páng míng lì kè, hé rú cǐ dì xué cháng shēng. English: Passing by Huayin The towering and…

《赋得江边柳》, or “A Poem on the Riverside Willows” by Yu XuanJi (844-871) 翠色连荒岸，烟姿入远楼。影铺秋水面，花落钓人头。根老藏鱼窟，枝低系客舟。萧萧风雨夜，惊梦复添愁。 Cuì sè lián huāng àn,yān zī rù yuǎn lóu.Yǐng pù qiū shuǐ miàn,huā luò diào rén tóu.Gēn lǎo cáng yú kū,zhī dī xì kè zhōu.Xiāo xiāo fēng yǔ yè,jīng mèng fù tiān chóu. English: The green colors (of the willows) connect to the desolate riverbank, The disposition of the smoke enters…

行行重行行 Walking and Walking by Anonymous Han dynasty poet with Pinyin and English translations available.

Xíng Xíng chóng xíng xíng – yì míng （汉 -hàn） 行行重行行，与君生别离。相去万余里，各在一天涯。道路阻且常，会面安可知？胡马依北风，越鸟巢南枝。相去日已远，衣带日已缓。浮云蔽白日，游子不顾返。思君令人老，岁月忽已晚。弃捐勿复道，努力加餐饭。 PINYIN: Xíng xíng chóng xíng xíng,Yǔjūn shēng bié lí. Xiāng qù wàn yú lǐ, Gè zài yì tiān yá. Dào lù zǔ qiě cháng, Huì miàn ān kě zhī? Hú mǎ yī běi fēng, Yuè niǎo cháo nán zhī. Xiāng qù rì yǐ yuǎn, Yī dài rì yǐ huǎn. Fú yún bì bái rì, Yóu zǐ bú gù fǎn. Sī…

A translation with pinyin of Su Shi's 春宵 Spring Night poem.

chūn xiāo – sū shì (宋 – sòng) 春宵一刻值千金， 华有清香月有阴。 歌管楼台声细细， 秋千院落夜沉沉。 PINYIN: Chūn xiāo yí kè zhí qiān jīn, Huá yǒu qīng xiāng yuè yǒu yīn. Gē guǎn lóu tái shēng xìxì, Qiū qiān yuàn luò yè chén chén. ENG: In a spring night, a short time is worth gold and riches, Flowers emit a sweet fragrance as the moon clouds over. In the high buildings, the sounds of music are soft, And the courtyard with the…

Translation of 黄鹤楼送孟浩然之广陵, Sending Meng Hao Ran off at GuangLing to Yellow Crane Tower

huánghèlóu sòng mènghàorán zhī guǎnglíng – lǐbái （ 唐 – táng） 故人西辞黄鹤楼， 烟花三月下扬州。 孤帆远影碧空尽， 唯见长江天际流。 PINYIN: Huáng hè lóu sòng Mèng hào rán zhī guǎng líng Gù rén xī cí huáng hè lóu, Yān huā sān yuè xià yáng zhōu. Gū fān yuǎn yǐng bì kōng jìn, Wéi jiàn cháng jiāng tiān jì liú. ENGLISH: Sending MengHaoRan off to GuangLing at Yellow Crane Tower An old friend is taking leave at Yellow Crane Tower…

Translation of the Tang Dynasty poem Song of the Pipa (Pi Pa Xing) by Bai Ju Yi.

pí pa xíng – bái jū yì (唐 – táng） 浔阳江头夜送客， 枫叶荻花楸索索。 主人下马客在船， 举酒欲饮无管弦。 醉不成欢惨将别， 别时茫茫江浸月。 忽闻水上琵琶声， 主人忘归客不发。 寻声暗问弹者谁， 琵琶声停欲语迟。 移船相近邀相见， 添酒回灯重开宴。 千呼万唤始出来， 犹抱琵琶半遮面。 转轴拨弦三两声， 未成曲调先有清。 弦弦掩抑声声思， 似诉平生不得志。 低眉信手续续弹， 说尽心中无限事。 轻拢慢捻抹复挑， 初为 《霓裳》 后…

《竹》 AKA ”Bamboo" a poem by Ming Dynasty Poet Xu Wei (徐渭. Translated with pinyin and vocabulary at website.

zhú – xúwèi (明 – míng） 昨夜窗前风月时， 数竿疏影响书帏。 今朝榻向溪藤上， 犹觉秋声笔低飞。 PINYIN: Zhú Zuóyè chuāng qián fēng yuè shí, Shù gān shū yǐng xiǎng shū wéi. Jīn zhāo tà xiàng xī téng shàng, Yóu jué qiū shēng bǐ dī fēi. ENG: Bamboo Last night when the wind and the moon were in front of the window, A few bamboo poles' sparse shadows echoed in the study. This morning, the bed faces towards the paper on top, It feels…

回乡偶书, Impressions on Returning Home, by He Zhi Zhang 贺知章, translated with pinyin and vocabulary

huí xiāng ǒu shū – hè zhī zhāng (唐 – táng) 少小离家老大回， 乡音无改鬓毛衰。 儿童相见不相识， 笑问客从何处来。 PINYIN: Huí xiāng ǒu shū Shǎo xiǎo lí jiā lǎo dà huí, Xiāng yīn wú gǎi bìn máo cuī. ér tóng xiāng jiàn bù xiāng shí, Xiào wèn kè cóng hé chù lái. ENG: Impressions on Returning Home Young when I left home, old as I return, My dialect has not yet changed, but the hair on my temples is thinning. Children meet me not…

Examining a poem from Li Bai -- one of the most famous poets of the Tang Dynasty and Chinese Poetry scene.

yuè xià dú zhuó – lǐ bái (唐 – táng) 花间一壶酒， 独酌无相亲。 举杯邀明月， 对影成三人。 月既不解饮， 影徒随我身。 暂伴月将影， 行乐须及春。 我歌月徘徊， 我舞影零乱。 醒时同交欢， 醉后各分散。 永结无情游， 相期邈云汉。 PINYIN：Yuè xià dú zhuó Huā jiān yì hú jiǔ, Dú zhuó wú xiāng qīn. Jǔ bēi yāo míng yuè, Duì yǐng chéng sān rén. Yuè jì bù jiě yǐn, Yǐng tú suí wǒ shēn. Zàn bàn yuè jiāng yǐng, Xíng lè xū jí chūn. Wǒ gē yuè pái huái, Wǒ wǔ yǐng líng luàn. Xǐng shí tóng jiāo…

Ever wanted to learn more about the Mid-Autumn Festival (September 29th of 2023)? Here are some tales surrounding the holiday, as well as famous poems made with the holiday feeling in mind.

For whom do we eat mooncakes? Why is it that on every 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, many cultures across Asia reunite with their families to sit out and admire the moon? Why should the moon be admired, and how did this come to be in the first place?Chinese tales hold many beliefs about the holiday’s origins, and a quick look into history provides an added layer of understanding…