Translation

Wang Wei (701-761)

王維
Mount Zhongnan

終南山


A Highest Peak
that winds near heavenly gates

太乙
近天都
And links continuously,
joining mountains to the sea.

連山
接海隅
White, the clouds
revolve around my gaze

白雲
迴望合
But a darkish mist
then comes—and I see nothing.

青靄
入看無
Dividing Heaven and Earth,
the central peak transforms

分野
中峰變
The darkness and light
to a mass of gullies and ravines.

陰晴
眾壑殊
I wish to seek
a place to stay the night,
欲投
人處宿

And call across the river,
to ask a woodsman.

隔水
問樵夫


Original Chinese

Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation



王維
王维
Wáng Wéi
終南山
终南山
Zhōng nán shān



太乙近天都,
太乙近天都,
Tài yǐ jìn tiān dū,
連山接海隅。
连山接海隅。
Lián shān jiē hǎi yú.
白雲迴望合,
白云回望合,
Bái yún huí wàng hé,
青靄入看無。
青霭入看无。
Qīng ǎi rù kàn wú.
分野中峰變,
分野中峰变,
Fēn yě zhōng fēng biàn,
陰晴眾壑殊。
阴晴众壑殊。
Yīn qíng zhòng hè shū.
欲投人處宿,
欲投人处宿,
Yù tóu rén chù sù,
隔水問樵夫。
隔水问樵夫。
Gé shuǐ wèn qiáo fū.
                                                                                          

Literal Notes

王維
King/ruler Maintain/preserve = Wang Wei (701-761)
終南山
End/finally South(ern/ward) Mountain/hill/peak
[End South=Mt. Zhongnan, near Xi’an]


太乙近天都,
Highest/extreme/very One/second/bent/climbing near/close/approach heaven/sky/imperial capital/metropolis
[Highest One= the main peak’s name of Mt.Zhongnan, also the alias of this mountain.]
連山接海隅。
To-link/join/connect/in-succession/continuously mountain/hill/peak join/extend/connect/catch/receive coastal/sea/ocean area/corner/nook/remote-place
白雲迴望合,
White/pure clouds curve/return/revolve/zigzag gaze(into the distance)/look-towards/look-at close/together/combine/unite
青靄入看無。
Green/blue/greenish-black mist/haze/cloudy-sky enter/go-into/join see/look-at/watch no/none/lack
分野中峰變,
Separate/divide field/open-country/wilderness middle/within/among/midst/in/center high-and-tapered-peak/summit/mountain-like-in-appearance change/transform
[Separate field=dividing line between distinct realms, boundary, field-allocation between terrestrial and celestial realms]
陰晴眾壑殊。
Overcast/cloudy/shady/dark clear/fine-weather many/numerous/crowd/masses/multitude gully/bed-of-torrent/narrow-ravine different/unique/special
欲投人處宿,
Desire/wish-for/want/long-for find/send/throw-oneself/cast/fling/jump people/man residence/place
lodge-for-the-night/rest/stop/stay-overnight
隔水問樵夫。
Separate/stand-or-lie-in-between/partition water/river ask(about)/inquire-after firewood/gather-wood/woodcutter man/male-adult
[firewood/gather-wood man= woodman, wood-cutter]


Year: 
2012