[updated September 2022]
White-Capped Lakeside Pavilion, Evening Gaze Into the Distance
湖 亭 晚 望 残 水
湖 上 秋 泬 寥
湖 边 晚 萧 瑟。
登 亭 望 湖 水
水 缩 湖 底 出。
清 渟 得 早 霜
明 灭 浮 残 日。
流 注 随 地 势
洼 坳 无 定 质。
泓 澄 白 龙 卧
宛 转 青 蛇 屈。
破 镜 折 剑 头
光 茫 又 非 一。
久 为 山 水 客
见 尽 幽 奇 物。
及 来 湖 亭 望
此 状 难 谈 悉。
乃 知 天 地 间
胜 事 殊 未 华。
Hu Ting Wan Wang Can Shui
Hu shang qiu xue liao
Hu bian ean xiao se.
Deng ting wang hu shui
Shui suo hu di chu.
Qing ting de zao shuang
Ming mie fu can ri.
Liu zhu sui di shi
Wa ao wu ding zhi.
Hong deng bai long wo
Wan zhuan qing she qu.
Po ing zhe jian tou
Guang mang you fei yi.
Jiu wei shan shui ke
Jian jin you qi wu.
Ji lai hu ting wang
Ci zhuang nan tan xi.
Nai zhi tian di jian
Sheng shi shu wei bi.
White-Capped Lakeside Pavilion, Evening Gaze Into the Distance
Upon an autumn lake broad and silent
Wind rustling during lakeside evenings.
Climb atop a pavilion to gaze into the distance over the water
Water levels receded, lake bottom exposed.
Early frost around the clear and stagnant waters
Dim light from a transient setting sun.
Rivulet flows with gravity into the lake
Lake ponds without a uniform shape or display.
Deep water places harbor resting dragons
Patches of greenery coiled like snakes.
Some water a broken mirror to reflect with a sword blade
Rays of light not of one source.
For a long time I have visited mountains and rivers
Seen many secluded and fractional things and events.
Arrived here at this lakeside pavilion
Difficult to express and explain these shapes and forms.
Only now I know what is between heaven and earth
These special and beautiful things can never end.