Wang Wei: Zhongnan Mountain Retreat

终南别业

中岁颇好道
晚家南山陲。
兴来每独往
胜事空自知。

行到水穷处
坐看云起时。
偶然值林叟
谈笑无还期。

Zhongnan Bie Ye

Zhong sui po hao dao
Wan jia nan shan chui.
Xing lai mei du wang
Sheng shi kong zi zhi.

Xing dao shui qiong chu
Zuo kan yun qi shi.
Ou ran zhi lin sou
Tan xiao wu huan qi.

Zhongnan Mountain Retreat

In middle age partial to the Dao Buddhist doctrine
Late in life build a house bordering the Southern Mountains Passion and joys always seem to arrive when alone
Only measure of success is knowledge of self.

Walk to the river’s source
From time to time sit and watch the clouds arise By chance I met the forest caretaker, a wise old man
We talk and laugh, don’t return for quite some time.

Notes:

Zhongnan Mountains: near the southern suburbs of the capital city Chang’an

River’s source: reference to the poem Peach Blossom Water Source by Tao Yuanming