Bai Juyi: On the Road From Longtan Temple to Shaolin Temple, Give This As a Gift to Tong You

 

[updated September 2022]

 

On the Road From Longtan Temple to Shaolin Temple, Give This As a Gift to Tong You

 

从 龙 潭 寺 到 少 林 寺 赠 同 有 者
山 屐 田 衣 六 七 贤
搴 芳 踏 翠 弄 潺 湲。
九 龙 潭 月 落 杯 酒
三 拼 松 风 飘 管 弦。
强 健 且 意 游 胜 地
清 凉 不 觉 过 焱 天。
始 知 驾 鹤 乘 云 外
别 有 逍 遥 地 上 仙。
Cong Long Tan Si Dao Shao Lin Si Ti Zeng Tong You Zhe

Shan ji tian yi liu qi xian
Qian fang ta cui nong chan yuan.
Jiu long tan yue luo bei jiu
San pin song feng piao guan xian.

Qiang jian qie yi you sheng di
Qing liang bu jue guo yan tian.
Shi zhi jia he cheng yun wai
Bie you xiao yao di shang xian.

 

On the Road From Longtan Temple to Shaolin Temple, Give This As a Gift to Tong You

Several wise men wearing mountain shoes and field clothes
Fragrant walk, capture and fiddle with emerald-green slow moving water.
Walking and fumbling slowly along from a cup of wine, moon sets on the Nine Dragon pond.
Wind drifting through a group of several pine trees to play a bamboo flute and the strings of musical instruments.

While health is strong and vigorous, one should travel to famous places
In this coolness and clarity, previous summer days cannot be felt.
Beginning to realize I am riding on a crane above the clouds
It is better here being leisurely and carefree above the earth.

 

Notes:

Longtan Temple: Located outside the city of Lijiang, Yunnan Province

Shaolin Temple:  A Zen Buddhist temple in Henan Province established in the fifth century AD.

Nine Dragon Pond: Located in a large and beautiful park in the outskirts of Lijiang city, Yunnan Province.