卜算子·我住长江头 李之仪 （1048 — 1127） 我住长江头，君住长江尾。 日日思君不见君，共饮长江水。 此水几时休，此恨何时已。 只愿君心似我心，定不负相思意。 Song of Divination: I Live at River-source Li Zhiyi (1048 – 1127) I live at river-source; you live at river-mouth. Day after day I think on you but see you not, though we drink from the same river. When will the river stop; when will my pining cease? I would that your heart be as my heart; then my longing thoughts will not be in vain ..read more

Bright yellow used to be royal’s color in the history of China, exclusively. However, it was originally a popular color for everyone. Chinese people, from about 4600 years ago till today, respected King Yan and King Huang as their honorable ancestors. Huang means yellow in Chinese language. In an ancient legend, the Dragon Ying Long had assisted King Huang defeated his enemy and built a prosperous kingdom. This Dragon Ying Long, in Chinese Mythology, is guarding in the middle section of the heaven, which is representative of the color yellow and the earth. Bright yellow is also the color of ..read more

In ancient China, ink black was considered as representative of the sky, the most mysterious and honorable place. Therefore, it had been the most noble color for thousands of years in history of China and was widely used in important ceremonies and royal etiquette. The ancestor of Shang Dynasty (1600 B. C. — 1046 B. C.) was believed ancestor of a mythical ink black bird, since when black was the color that kings would wear and use. Until Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.— 207 B.C.), ink black was still the most honorable color for royals. The great philosopher Lao Tzu, the writer of Tao Te Ch ..read more

望岳 杜甫 （712 — 770） 岱宗夫如何？齐鲁青未了。 造化钟神秀，阴阳割昏晓。 荡胸生曾云，决眦入归鸟。 会当凌绝顶，一览众山小。 Gazing at Mount Dai Du Fu (712 – 770) Whatever is this Elder Dai?   Qi and Lu sides | ceaseless verdant terrain. Creation tolls of wondrous works;  Yin and Yang faces | cleave dusk and dawn twain. Clouds passed ere spirit cleansed;  returning birds engulf corner ken. Ascend until at utmost peak; glance upon yon mountains meek. Note: Elder Dai here refers to Mount Tai in Tai'an city, Shandong Province ..read more

使至塞上 王维 （701 — 761） 单车欲问边，属国过居延。 征蓬出汉塞，归雁入胡天。 大漠孤烟直，长河落日圆。 萧关逢候骑，都护在燕然。 An Official Reaches the Frontier Fortress Wang Wei (701 – 761) A carriage en route to appraise the front | The vassal kingdom extends past Juyan As tumbleweed I leave the Han fortress | Like returning geese I enter nomad skies In vast desert a lonely smoke pillar | O’er long river a round setting sun At Windswept Pass I meet scout cavalry | Their commander is yon in Yanran ..read more

江南春 杜牧 （803 — 852） 千里莺啼绿映红， 水村山郭酒旗风。 南朝四百八十寺， 多少楼台烟雨中。 Spring South of the Yangtze River Du Mu (803 – 852) Warblers chirp for miles around, greenery accentuates red blossoms; waterside village rests against mountain, and tavern flags fly. Of the four hundred eighty monasteries of the Southern Dynasties, how many structures yet stand in rain misting by? Click to Read Southern Dynasties (420 – 589) and Yangtze River ..read more

鹊桥仙·纤云弄巧 秦观 （1049 — 1100） 纤云弄巧，飞星传恨，银汉迢迢暗度。 金风玉露一相逢，便胜却人间无数。 柔情似水，佳期如梦，忍顾鹊桥归路。 两情若是久长时，又岂在朝朝暮暮。 Deities on Magpie Bridge: Wispy Cloud Adeptly Plays Qin Guan (1049 – 1100) Wispy cloud adeptly plays, shooting star regret conveys; The distant, distant milky way doth quietly float past. A golden breeze, a jadelike dew, a single yearly date; all common lovers’ counterparts assuredly surpassed. Tender love akin to water, hours sweet as dreams; ‘tis suffering to turn around and homeward bridge alight! If lovers two stay true forevermore, why need they be together morn and night? Read the Story about ..read more

山居秋暝 王维 （700 — 781） 空山新雨后，天气晚来秋。 明月松间照，清泉石上流。 竹喧归浣女，莲动下渔舟。 随意春芳歇，王孙自可留。 Autumn Dusk: A Hermit on the Mountain Wang Wei (700 – 781) Bare mountain after fresh rain; autumn arrives on evening air. Bright moon shines between pines; clear springs run over rocks. Bamboos rattle as washing women return; lotus jostle as fishing boats plunge. Let the spring flowers droop as they may; he, for one, chose here to stay. Picture from sugger88 ..read more

无题·昨夜星辰昨夜风 李商隐 （约813 — 858） 昨夜星辰昨夜风，画楼西畔桂堂东。 身无彩凤双飞翼，心有灵犀一点通。 隔座送钩春酒暖，分曹射覆蜡灯红。 嗟余听鼓应官去，走马兰台类转蓬。 Untitled (Last night’s constellations, Last night’s breeze) Li Shangyin (about 813 – 858) Last night’s constellations, last night’s breeze | on ornate building’s west slopes, to Osmanthus Hall’s east. Beside me nay beautiful phoenix for tandem flight | inside us yea spirits twine of single thread. Sitting apart for Pass the Hook with genial spring wine | choosing teams for guessing games aside red candlelight. Sigh— the drumbeat, duty begins | I spur my horse, and blow like tumbleweed. Read More Abo ..read more

嫦娥 李商隐 （约813 — 858） 云母屏风烛影深， 长河渐落晓星沉。 嫦娥应悔偷灵药， 碧海青天夜夜心。 The Goddess in the Moon Li Shangyin (about 813 – 858) On a mica folding screen, illuminated shadows retreat, The Milky Way curves slowly down, stars fade come morning. She who surely regrets stealing the elixir of immortality, Her heart sees only jade sea and teal sky, night after night. Read the Legend of Chang E Artist Liu Danzhai paints the picture of Chang E ..read more