Zhongnan Mountains
终 南 山
太 乙 近 天 都
连 山 到 海 隅。
白 云 回 望 合
青 霭 入 看 无。
分 野 中 峰 变
阴 晴 众 壑 殊。
欲 投 人 处 宿
隔 水 问 樵 夫。
Zhong Nan Shan
Tai yi jin tian du
Lian shan dao hai yu.
Bai yun hui wang he
Qing ai ru kan wu.
Fen ye zhong feng bian
Yin qing zhong he shu.
Yu tou ren chu su
Ge shui wen qiao fu.
Zhongnan Mountains
Tai Yi near the Heavenly Gates
Successive mountains extend to the ocean’s edge.
Looking back, white clouds come together
Do not see the blue-green mists connect.
The middle summit is on the dividing line of transformation
Numerous mountain canyons different: some clear, others shady and overcast.
Wanting to rejoin people, and put up with them for the night
Across the water I ask the woodcutter.
Notes:
Zhongnan mountains: Also known as the Southern Mountains, it was a place of Daoist and Buddhist hermits located south of the capital city of Chang’an (Xi’an).
Tai Yi: Name for both a mountain and a star
Tian Du: Heavenly Gates, name for both an imperial capital and a star, and therefore refers to a close connections between heaven and earth.