Cultural Understanding
This is a collection of traditional Japanese Wakas and their translations recommended by Yuko Tanaka. 百人一首 contains one hundred Wakas by one hundred poets. They are also playing cards.“Waka” (和歌） is a type of Japanese poetry, that contains syllables: 5, 7, 5, 7, 7 in this order. 2. 持統天皇 春過ぎて 夏来にけらし 白妙の 衣ほすてふ 天の香具山 Spring has passed,And the white robes […]
MoreOriginal Text: 春江潮水連海平，海上明月共潮生。灩灩隨波千萬裏，何處春江無月明!江流宛轉繞芳甸，月照花林皆似霰;空裏流霜不覺飛，汀上白沙看不見。江天一色無纖塵，皎皎空中孤月輪。江畔何人初見月？江月何年初照人？人生代代無窮已，江月年年望相似。不知江月待何人，但見長江送流水。白雲一片去悠悠，青楓浦上不勝愁。誰家今夜扁舟子？何處相思明月樓？可憐樓上月徘徊，應照離人妝鏡臺。玉戶簾中卷不去，搗衣砧上拂還來。此時相望不相聞，願逐月華流照君。鴻雁長飛光不度，魚龍潛躍水成文。昨夜閒潭夢落花，可憐春半不還家。江水流春去欲盡，江潭落月復西斜。斜月沉沉藏海霧，碣石瀟湘無限路。不知乘月幾人歸，落月搖情滿江樹。 Translation: The spring river rises and falls, blending in with the ocean A bright moon peaks out, surging with the waves Waves shimmer under the moonlight, stretching into the distance The moon and the spring river accompany each other The river wraps around the vegetation filled plains, flowing Flowering bushes refract the […]
MoreThis is the original English translation of the renowned Chinese poem 《将进酒》(literally meaning I Will Drink) by Abby Lu. Original Chinese: 《将进酒》, 李白 君不見黃河之水天上來，奔流到海不復回。君不見高堂明鏡悲白髮，朝如青絲暮成雪。人生得意須盡歡，莫使金樽空對月。天生我材必有用，千金散盡還復來。烹羊宰牛且爲樂，會須一飲三百杯。岑夫子，丹丘生。將進酒，杯莫停。與君歌一曲，請君爲我側耳聽。鐘鼓饌玉不足貴，但願長醉不願醒。古來聖賢皆寂寞，惟有飲者留其名。陳王昔時宴平樂，斗酒十千恣讙謔。主人何為言少錢？徑須沽取對君酌。五花馬，千金裘。呼兒將出換美酒，與爾同銷萬古愁。 English Translation (Including Title):“Future Indulgence,” Li Bai Look, the Yellow River’s waves roll from the sky, running to the ocean, never to return. Look, the melancholy of white hair in front […]
MoreAn English translation of a work of ancient Chinese literature, 《木兰诗》. An attempt by Abby Lu. Original work: 《木兰诗》，無名氏 唧唧复唧唧，木兰当户织。不闻机杼声，唯闻女叹息。问女何所思？问女何所忆？女亦无所思，女亦无所忆。昨夜见军帖，可汗大点兵，军书十二卷，卷卷有爷名。阿爷无大儿，木兰无长兄，愿为市鞍马，从此替爷征。东市买骏马，西市买鞍鞯，南市买辔头，北市买长鞭。朝辞爷娘去，暮宿黄河边。不闻爷娘唤女声，但闻黄河流水鸣溅溅。旦辞黄河去，暮至黑山头。不闻爷娘唤女声，但闻燕山胡骑声啾啾。万里赴戎机，关山度若飞。朔气传金柝，寒光照铁衣。将军百战死，壮士十年归。归来见天子，天子坐明堂。策勋十二转，赏赐百千强。可汗问所欲，“木兰不用尚书郎，愿借明驼千里足，送儿还故乡。”爷娘闻女来，出郭相扶将。阿姊闻妹来，当户理红妆。小弟闻姊来，磨刀霍霍向猪羊。开我东阁门，坐我西阁床。脱我战时袍，著我旧时裳。当窗理云鬓，对镜贴花黄。出门看火伴，火伴皆惊惶。同行十二年，不知木兰是女郎。“雄兔脚扑朔，雌兔眼迷离；两兔傍地走，安能辨我是雄雌！” English Translation by A.L: “Ode to Mulan,” Anonymous Again and again, the sound of thread. Mulan weaves by the door. There is no sound of the loom, just the hush of a woman’s sigh. Ask […]
MoreAn English translation of a work of ancient Chinese literature about an ugly hut, 《陋室铭》. An attempt by Abby Lu. Original text: 《陋室铭》，刘禹锡 山不在高，有仙则名。水不在深，有龙则灵。斯是陋室，惟吾德馨。苔痕上阶绿，草色入帘青。谈笑有鸿儒，往来无白丁。可以调素琴，阅金经。无丝竹之乱耳，无案牍之劳形。南阳诸葛庐，西蜀子云亭，孔子云：何陋之有？ English translation by A.L: “On an Ugly Hut,” Liu Yuxi It is not about the height of the pinnacle. What gifts the mountain with prominence is the presence of a deity. […]
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The Big Duck 