英译唐诗, Tang Poems English Translation, bilingual, Tangshi, 唐诗英译中英对照双语版, 附历史背景, 诗歌轶事, 诗人小传.

唐诗英译, 篆字书法孙罗玛琍孙国强 (母与子) Tang Poems English Translation, zhuanzi calligraphy by Marie Sun and Alex Sun (mother and son) at MarieSun.com
Trump’s granddaughter, Arabella wins Chinese hearts by reciting Chinese Tang Poems.
特朗普外孙女 - 阿拉贝拉会背诵唐诗还会背诵三字经及唱中国歌. Tang Poem calligraphy, zhuanshu calligraphy, shudo, shufa,
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A. 25 Tang Poems (volume 1 )

唐诗英译, 篆字书法孙罗玛琍孙国强 (母与子) Tang Poems - English Translation, bilingual edition, zhuanzi calligraphy by Marie Sun and Alex Sun (mother and son) at MarieSun.com

(under construction)

Price: US $2.00 at US Amazon.com.

It covers from poem #01 to #25.

Note: * --- available for viewing

孟浩然 Meng Haoran

#01 *

春晓 Spring Dawn

李白 Li Bai

#02 *	黄鹤楼送孟浩然之广陵 Seeing Meng Haoran off at Yellow Crane Tower
#03	清平调词之一 Qingping Song (1)
#04	望庐山瀑布 Look Out Over Mount Lu Waterfall
#05	夜宿山寺 Night Lodging in a Mountain Temple
#06 *	靜夜思 Thoughts on a Still Night
#07 *	月下独酌 Drinking Alone by Moonlight
#08	早发白帝城 Setting out Early from Baidicheng
#09	独坐敬亭山 Sitting Alone at Mt. Jingting
#10	赠汪伦 Present to Wang Lun
#11	春思 Longing in Spring
#12	子夜吴歌 - 秋歌 A Midnight Wu Song for Autumn

杜甫 Du Fu

#13	春望 Spring Observation
#14	石壕吏 Shihao Official
#15	月夜忆舍弟 Thinking of Young Brothers on a Moonlit Night
#16	絕句 A Quatrain
#17	旅夜书怀 Writings of a Night Lodging

陈子昂 Chen Ziyang

#18	登幽州台歌 Ascending Youzhou Terrace

贺知章 'He Zhizhang

#19 *

回乡偶书 Random Musings on a Homecoming

王翰 Wang Han

#20 *

出塞 Beyond the Border (Fine grape wine...)

王昌龄 Wang Changling

#21 *

出塞 Beyond the Border (Qing moon Han gate...)

王之涣 Wang Zhihuan

#22	出塞 Beyond the Border (Yellow River white clouds...)
#23 *	登鹳雀楼 Mounting the Stork Tower

崔颢 Cui Hao

#24	黄鹤楼 The Yellow Crane Tower

张继 Zhang Ji

#25 *

枫桥夜泊 Anchored at Night by the Maple Bridge

The Tang Poems translations on this page may be freely copied for educational or noncommercial positive purposes uses (i.e., no gambling or pornography, etc.) with a reference to "Marie Sun and Alex Sun or at MarieSun.com" ; other uses must be explicitly authorized.

Vol. #
Poem #

Tang Poems

English Translation

v1 #01	春晓孟浩然春眠不觉晓，处处闻啼鸟。夜来风雨声，花落知多少。	Spring Dawn Meng Haoren Indolent sleeping in spring, I'm unaware morning's here. Clearly I can hear, Birds' twittering everywhere. With last night's gust of wind and rain, I'm wondering - How many flowers Have fallen and scattered. (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v1 #02	黄鹤楼送孟浩然之广陵李白故人西辞黄鹤楼，烟花三月下扬州。孤帆远影碧空尽，唯见长江天际流。	Seeing off Meng Haoran for Guangling at Yellow Crane Tower Li Bai My old friend departs the west at Yellow Crane Tower, On a journey to Yangzhou among March blossom flowers. His lonely sail receding against the distant blue sky, All I see but the endless Yangtze River rolling by. (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v1 #06	静夜思李白床前明月光，疑是地上霜。举头望明月，低头思故乡。	Thoughts on a Still Night Li Bai Before the well lays the bright moonlight, As if frost blanketing the earth. My head tilts upwards at the glowing moon; My head lowers with thoughts of home. Why is the character "床" (sleeping bed, the structure of ...) translated as "well" in the poem? (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v1 #07	月下独酌李白花间一壶酒，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。	Drinking Alone by Moonlight Li Bai A jug of wine amidst the flowers, I drink alone with no soul around. I raise my wine cup to the moon and invite her down; Now we are three with my shadow. The moon, she does not drink, And my shadow follows my every move. But for the moment, The moon is my partner and I hang with my shadow. To enjoy life is to take advantage of youth. I sing, the moon hovers all around; I dance, the shadow follows in a messy stumble. Lucid, we enjoy each other knowingly; In drunken sleep, we go our separate ways. Bound to forever travel carefree, We shall meet again in cosmic paradise. (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v1 #19	回乡偶书贺知章少小离家老大回，乡音无改鬓毛催。儿童相见不相识，笑问客从何处来？	Random Musings on a Homecoming Hè Zhizhang I left home a young buck and returned an old man. My accent's the same, But sideburns silver have run. They greet me, the children, But know not who I am. Smiling they ask me, "you come to us, Dear sir, from which faraway land?" (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v1 #20	出塞王翰葡萄美酒夜光杯，欲饮琵琶马上催。醉卧沙场君莫笑，古来征战几人回？	Beyond the border Wang Han A fine grape wine, A luminous jade cup, A lust to drink, A lute calls to saddle up! Lying drunk on the battle fields, My lord, laugh not, Since days of yore, from battle, How many have come back? (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v1 #21	出塞王昌龄秦时明月汉时关，万里长征人未还。但使龙城飞将在，不教胡马度阴山。	Beyond the Border Wang Changling The brilliant moon in the times of Qin, The frontier fortresses in the times of Han, A war expedition of a myriad miles, With no one yet returned to the homeland. If but the Flying General of the Dragon Fortress were still alive, No barbarian cavalry would dare cross Yinshan. (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v1 #23	登鹳雀楼王之涣白日依山尽，黄河入海流。欲穷千里目，更上一层楼。	Climbing Stork Tower Wang Zhihuan The white sun leans against the mountain; The Yellow River flows to the seashore. Yearning to view another thousand miles? Ascend yet just another floor! (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v1 #25	枫桥夜泊张继月落乌啼霜满天，江枫渔火对愁眠。姑苏城外寒山寺，夜半钟声到客船。	A Night-Mooring at Maple Bridge Zhang Ji The moon is setting, Crows are cawing, Frost fills the sky. Riverside maples, Glowing fishing light, A sleepless, anxious night. Beyond the Gusu wall, From Cold Mountain Temple, The toll of the bell Reaches the passenger boat At midnight! (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)

About the Poets, Poems and Calligraphy:

This chapter lists the summary biorgraphy of each poet and the backgroung information or the motivation of the poem being created. A presentation of calligraphy in either zhuanshu/zhuanzi or xingshu style is also listed.

孟浩然 Meng Haoran

Meng Hao'ran (689 or 691 - 740; lived during the Early and High Tang periods), a famous landscape poet and grandfather of poet Meng Jiao 孟郊.

More than 10 years Li Bai's senior and also Li Bai's idol. Li Bai wrote many poems in admiration of Meng, among which are two famous ones -- "Presentation to Meng Haoran", and "Seeing Men Haoran off at Yellow Crane Tower". The latter is included in this book.

Meng Haoran, as a prominent landscape poet, had a major influence on poetry in the Early Tang era. This influence also extended into neighboring Asian countries, especially Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

#01 -- 春晓 Spring Dawn

Meng used plain and simple words to describe a spring morning scene. His poems are often filled with charming descriptions of nature. Most of his landscape poems reflect beings and objects coexisting in natural harmony. This was a reflection of his own life and pursuits - to live in the world without harming it or attempting to "conquer" it. But, rather, to preserve it as it was, and to be part of it and enjoy it.

calligraphy in zhuanshu/zhuanzi 篆书/篆字 style

Tang poems - English Translation, Spring Dawn calligraphy, poet Meng Haoren
孟浩然春晓春眠不觉晓处处闻啼鸟夜来风雨声花落知多少; 春晓书法 at mariesun.com

Tang poems Maple Bridge calligraphy, poet Meng Haoren 孟浩然春晓春眠不觉晓处处闻啼鸟
夜来风雨声花落知多少, 枫桥夜泊书法 at mariesun.com, The Beauty of Tang Poems and Chinese Calligraphy 唐诗与中国篆字书法之美

李白 Li Bai

Li Bai (701 - 762; lived mostly in the High Tang period and only a few years into the beginning of Mid Tang period), the most famous romantic poet in Chinese history, penned numerous masterpieces that are still memorized and chanted by Chinese of all ages today.

Li Bai's ancestors were from Longxi, Chengji 陇西, 成纪, in present-day northern Qinan county, Gansu Province 秦安县北, 甘肃省. They were banished to Tiaozhi 条枝 in the Western Regions 西域, today's Central Asia, during the Sui Dynasty by the Sui ruler.

As for Li Bai's birth place, according to Guo Moruo 郭沫若, a historian and ancient writing scholar, Li Bai's ancestors moved from Tiaozhi to a prosperous silk trading city Suiye 碎叶, in Central Asia, and Li Bai was born over there. It was also known as Suyab, once a flourishing trading city on the Silk Road and now an archaeological site in modern day Ak-Beshim, Kyrgyzstan.

Li Bai's father, Li Ke 李客, was probably a very successful merchant, since the family was installed in one of the thriving commercial centers of the empire. In 705, Li's father moved the family back to China and settled down in Jiangyou, Sichuan Province 江油, 四川省. Li Bai's place of birth, his tall girth, and his angular facial features, suggested that he was possibly of mixed race. It was said that he was conversant in at least one foreign language due to his background and upbringing.

Speculated birthplace of Li Bai- Suiye (the blue drop shape) and his second "hometown" - Jiangyou, Sichuan Province 江油, 四川省 (the green drop shape):

(Source: Google map - click here to expand.)

In the summer of 742, Emperor Tang Ming Huang, who had caught wind of Li Bai's reputation, summoned him to the the capital Chang'an for an audience.

Emperor Tang Ming Huang, an expert on military strategy who also excelled at literature, greeted Li Bai at the Grand Palace in person. During the banquet, Li's personality, wit, and political views fascinated Tang Ming Huang. The emperor even personally seasoned the soup for Li Bai.

The next year, Li Bai was assigned a Hanlin 翰林 position at the Hanlin Academy 翰林学院 within the imperial court and appointed the state Grand Secretary. As a result of the emperor's favor, Li was never required to take the imperial examination (see Tang Poems volume 1) to attain the title of jinshi, a usual prerequisite for selection and assignment to a Hanlin position. Indeed, Li Bai never attempted to take the imperial examination at all. It was rumored that this was because his ancestors had been banished to Central Asia for some kind of crime. The norm at the time was that offspring of criminals were automatically disqualified from taking the exam, but his ancestors were banished in the Sui Dynasty (581 - 618) and the Sui was overthrown by the Tang in 618, some 80 years before Li Bai was born!

Being from a merchant family also would have disqualified him from taking the imperial examination, though. This policy was adopted most likely to prevent collusion between government employees and businessmen. But in reality, this policy was never consistently implemented. Highly wealthy merchants could always circumvent the rules and secure important government positions. One such example was Wu Shiyue 武士彠, a successful lumber businessman with good connections to the Tang royal family, who secured several important government positions early during the dynasty and indirectly helped his daughter - Wu Zetian 武则天 “usurp” the throne (There is an entire chapter devoted to Wu Zetian -- another Tang poetry promoter and grandmother of Tang Ming Huang -- in "Tang Poems" volume 2.) This regulation was eventually repealed by the following Song (Sung) Dynasty 宋朝, and almost all classes of males (and only males) were thereafter permitted to take the exam. In any event, during Li Bai's lifetime he often broke from convention and followed his own path.

In the beginning, Li led a fairly pleasant life at court. The famous verse "Guifei grinding ink, Lishi pulling off boots" "贵妃磨墨, 力士脱靴" describes this period. It depicts Yang Guifei 楊貴妃, Tang Ming Huang's most adored consort, grinding Chinese black inksticks into ink for Li to pen down a poem, while Gao Lishi 高力士, Tang Ming Huang's favorite eunuch 宦官, (and the most politically powerful figure in the palace), assists in pulling off Li's snow stained boots under Tang Ming Huang's request. All to facilitate Li’s comfort and creative genius. It was also suggested that whenever Li Bai published a new poem, there would be a run on paper in Chang'an, sending the price soaring, with everyone rushing out to obtain copies of his new work.

Li's main duty was to handle secretarial works and record tasks for Tang Ming Huang, which included accompanying Tang Ming Huang to important ceremonies and festivities and documenting them. Tang Ming Huang probably intended that through Li's exquisite writing, the records of his reign would be of particular interest to future historians and scholars.

After working for nearly two years at the imperial court, the incompatibility of Li's personality with court life began to take its toll, as Li was never one to be bound or driven by secular rules. Detesting the political machinations, Li Bai doubted if it was in his best interest to remain at the court. Hence his poems began to reflect his desire to leave his bureaucratic mission.

Recognizing that Li Bai was unwilling to continue serving in the court, Tang Ming Huang released him with a handsome severance in the spring of 744. After a series of farewell parties, Li Bai said goodbye to the royal court - the center of world power and influence that he had once obsessed about.

Leaving Chang'an and the setting sun behind him in a relaxed and light mood on his way home, he traveled to and toured Luoyang 洛阳, which had been the capital for more than six dynasties in China's history before Li Bai's time. Thus, by the Tang dynasty, it was already a famous historical cultural city and peony cultivation center. The poet Du Fu happened to be traveling in the area at that time, too, and so two of the greatest poets in Chinese history met for the first time. Li was 11 years Du's senior and was already an illustrious star poet. Du, on the other hand, had not yet garnered any fame for himself, and indeed, would not do so in his lifetime. Du, being younger than Li, exhibited the forthrightness, sincerity, and zeal in composing poems that Li had had in his earlier days. All these characteristics drew the two together and helped them form a solid friendship right way that lasted their entire lives.

Li Bai lived most of his life during the High Tang period, so his writings often reflected the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty at the peak of its prosperity. He had a brilliant mind and exceptional talent, mastering all the Tang poetry forms, and could move from one form to another effortlessly. As a leading figure in the romantic poetry movement, his poems were passionate and unrestrained in spirit. Du Fu once praised Li Bai's poems with the following couplet from his "Mailing to Li Bai Twenty Rhymes" "寄李太白二十韵" -- "When the pen descends, the thunderstorm startles; When the poem is completed, the spirits weep!" "笔落惊风雨，诗成泣鬼神". In his "Thinking of Li Bai on a Spring Day" "春日忆李白", he also asserted that "Bai's poems are without rivals, gracefully floating alone and high above the flock" "白也诗无敌，飘然思不群."

Li Bai's poems can be easily read, understood and moved by people of all levels of education. That is what makes Li Bai the most popular poet in Chinese history, and why his poems are the most widely memorized ones to this day. (For more details about Li Bai, please refer to Tang Poems volume 1.)

#02 -- 黄鹤楼送孟浩然之广陵 Seeing Meng Haoran off at Yellow Crane Tower

In the spring of 728 at age 27, Li Bai heard that Meng Haoran was going to take a trip to Yangzhou 杨州. Li Bai managed to travel to present-day Wuchang city in Hubei Province 武昌市, 湖北省 to meet with Meng for several days of adventure, after which they parted at the nearby Yellow Crane Tower. Li Bai wrote this famous poem describing the melancholic nature of his idol's departure.

The poem is filled with affection and paints a vision of a brilliant spring day pushed to the horizon by the endless and powerful Yangtze River. It is a vision and a force that also carries away the ardent heart of the poet as he watches his idol's lone boat vanish into the distant horizon.
Yangzhou (marked as number 1, view images) is located near the eastern terminus of the Yangtze River. Being prosperous, Yangzhou has always been famous for its dessert dim sum. The Yellow Crane Tower lies between Chongqing 重庆 and Yangzhou 扬州 by the Yangtze River:

(This map may be freely copied from www.mariesun.com for educational or noncommercial purposes of uses with a reference to "Marie Sun and Alex Sun" or at "MarieSun.com".) The map's outline is provided by Joowwww [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

calligraphy in zhuanshu/zhuanzi 篆书/篆字 style

Tang poems, poet Li Bai, Li Po 李白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书法
English translation at mariesun.com, ebook - The Beauty of Tang Poems and Chinese Calligraphy 唐诗与中国篆字书法之美

#03 -- 清平调词之一 Qingping Song

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B. 25 Tang Poems (volume 2 )

(Under construction now!)

Price: US $2.00 at US Amazon.com.

It covers from poem #26 to #50.

王维 Wang Wei

#26 *	相思 Deep Yearning
#27	九月九日忆山东兄弟 Homesick for My Brothers on September 9
#28	鹿柴 Deer Enclosure
#29	送別 Send Off
#30	渭城曲 Song of Weicheng

西鄙人 Xi Biren

#31 *

哥舒歌 Geshu Song

盧倫 Lu Lun

#32	塞下曲 (四首之二) Borderland Song (#2 of 4) (Tiger in dark woods...)
#33 *	塞下曲 (四首之三) Borderland Song (#3 of 4) (Chase in snow...)

白居易 Bai Juyi

#34	忆江南 (一) Jiang Nan Nostalgia(1)
#35 *	草 (赋得古原草送别) Grass

刘禹锡 Liu Yuxi

#36 *

乌衣巷 Black Clothes Alley

柳宗元 Liu Zongyuan

#37	江雪 River Snow

李绅 Li Shen

#38 *	悯农 (一) Sympathy for Farmers (1)
#39	悯农 (二) Sympathy for Farmers (2)

孟郊 Meng Jiao

#40 *

游子吟 Chant of the Itinerant Son

Jia Dao 贾岛

#41	寻隐者不遇 A Visit in Vain to the Recluse
#42	剑客 Swordsman

李益 Li Yi

#43	夜上受降城闻笛 Hearing a Flute at Night up on Shouxiang Beacon Tower
#44	江南曲 A Song of the Southern River

金昌绪 Jin Changxu

#45	春怨 A Spring Sign

杜秋娘 Du Qiuniang

#46	金缕衣 Golden Brocade Dresses

杜牧 Du Mu

#47	清明 Qing Ming
#48 *	泊秦淮 Mooring on the Qinhuai River

李商隐 Li Shangyin

#49	锦瑟 Jinse
#50	登乐游原 Ascending the Field of Diversions

v2 #26	相思王维红豆生南国，春来发几枝。愿君多采撷，此物最相思	Deep Yearning Wang Wei The red beans grow in the southern lands; Each spring their branches spread anew. Please gather as much as you wish, my lord, These incarnations of yearning love most true. (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v2 #31	哥舒歌西鄙人北斗七星高, 哥舒夜帶刀。至今窺牧馬, 不敢過臨洮。	Geshu Song Xi Biren The Big Dipper dangling on high, With sabre, Geshu patrols the night. Till now, they've preyed upon pasture horses, But, dare not cross Lingtao to fight. (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v2 #33	塞下曲 (四首之三) 卢纶月黑雁飞高，单于夜遁逃。欲将轻骑逐，大雪满弓刀。	Borderland Song (#3 of 4) Lu Lun A black, moonless sky, the wild geese fly high, The chieftain of the Huns at night in flight. Ready to dispatch a light cavalry to chase, Heavy snow muffles the bow and broadsword's might. (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v2 #35	草白居易离离原上草，一岁一枯荣。野火烧不尽，春风吹又生。远芳侵古道，晴翠接荒城。又送王孙去，萋萋满别情。	Grass Bai Juyi Grasses spread over the vast prairie, withering and returning each year. Wildfires cannot wipe them out; A gentle Spring breeze And again they sprout. Their far away fragrant verdure Invades the ancient routes; Under cloudless skies Their green entwines ruins. My dear friend, I'm seeing you off again, And even the lush foliages Feel the parting pain. (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v2 #36	乌衣巷刘禹锡朱雀桥边野草花，乌衣巷口夕阳斜。旧时王谢堂前燕，飞入寻常百姓家。	Black Clothes Alley Liu Yuxi Weeds and wildflowers spread by Vermilion Sparrow Bridge; Setting sunlight slants down Black Clothes Alley's entrance. Sparrows in olden days at courtyards of Wang and Xie mansions, Now flitter into ordinary people's humble houses. (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v2 #38	悯农 (一) 李绅春种一粒粟，秋收万颗子。四海无闲田，农夫犹饿死。	Sympathize with Farmers (1) Li Shen A grain of millet sown in the spring, Leads to a harvest bounty by the fall. Under the sky, no idle fields lie, Yet peasants succumb to starvation's pall. (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v2 #40	游子吟孟郊慈母手中线，游子身上衣。临行密密缝，意恐迟迟归。谁言寸草心，报得三春晖。	Chant of the Itinerant Son Meng Jiao A loving mother with thread in hand, Clothing draped over her traveling son, Densely stitching till the very end, With worries of a late and far off return. How can the tender grass ever repay The nurturing warmth of the spring sun? (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)
v2 #48	泊秦淮杜牧烟笼寒水月笼沙，夜泊秦淮近酒家。商女不知亡国恨，隔江犹唱后庭花。	Mooring on the Qinhuai River Du Mu Mist shrouds the icy water; Moonlight shrouds the sand, On Chinhuai I anchor at night, A wine-house close at hand. Courtesans oblivious to a defeated country's sorrow, Across the river, Still sing "Courtyard Flowers". (Marie Sun & Alex Sun at www.MarieSun.com)