This poem uses the flourishing plants of spring as a metaphor for a happy hermit's life. In the poem, the flowers and trees are happy in the forest, smelling each other's wonderful fragrance and have no desire to be plucked out of their environment. Likewise, the hermit has no desire to be pulled back into society.
Translation
By Zhang Jiuling | 張九齡 |
Lamentation 2 | 感遇其二 |
| |
The orchid leaves of spring are flourishing, abundant; | 蘭葉 春 葳蕤 |
Laurels are splendid and autumn is shining bright. | 桂華 秋 皎潔 |
So happy, happy is this life, they feel, | 欣欣 此生 意 |
Thus themselves becoming a season of delight. | 自爾 為 佳節 |
Who knows this? The hermit, the forest dwelling one. | 誰知 林棲者 |
Smelling the wind, sitting and mutually pleased, | 聞風 坐相悅 |
The grass and trees have a rooted heart; | 草木 有本心 |
Why then seek someone beautiful to pluck them out? | 何求 美人 折 |
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
| | |
張九齡 | 张九龄 | Zhāng Jiǔlíng |
感遇其二 | 感遇其二 | Gǎn yù qí èr |
| | |
蘭葉春葳蕤, | 兰叶春葳蕤, | Lán yè // chūn wēi ruí, |
桂華秋皎潔; | 桂华秋皎洁; | Guì huá // qiū jiǎo jié; |
欣欣此生意, | 欣欣此生意, | Xīn xīn // cǐ shēng yì, |
自爾為佳節。 | 自尔为佳节。 | Zì ěr // wèi jiā jié. |
誰知林棲者? | 谁知林栖者, | Shuí zhī // lín qī zhě? |
聞風坐相悅, | 闻风坐相悦? | Wén fēng // zuò xiāng yuè, |
草木有本心, | 草木有本心, | Cǎo mù // yǒu běn xīn, |
何求美人折? | 何求美人折? | Hé qiú // měi rén zhé? |
Literal Translation
Feel Encounter Its Two [Lamentation #2]
Orchid leaves spring flourishing overladen [with flowers],
Laurel splendid autumn white pure; [white pure = shining bright]
Happy happy this life think,
Self thus become delightful season.
Who knows forest dwelling one? [who knows = who would have thought?]
Smell wind sit mutual pleased,
Grass tree have root heart, [grass tree = vegetation, plants]
Why seek beauty person pluck [off]?
Year:
2011
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