Sep 19, 2010

Listen to Shirley to Sing the Poem in Chinese & English Sep 18, 2010
Listen to Shirley Singing the Poem in Chinese Sep, 2007

Listen to Shirley to Explain,Sing the Poem & Follow Me to Read It
Follow Shirley to Read the New Chinese Charaters & the Poem

Read Shirley's Comment on the Poem

See Shirley Created Paintings & Calligraphy for the Poem Sep 19, 2010
See Shirley Created Picture for the Poem Oct 17, 2009
See Shirley Created Picture for the Poem Sep 9, 2007

Shirley Written Chinese Calligraphy for the Poem Oct 18, 2009


Today, I would like to introduce one of my favorite Chinese classical poems Ji Yangzhou Haichuo Panguan - A Poem That Sent to Yangzhou Official Hai Chuo by Tang Dynasty (816-907) Poet Du Mu (803 - 852).

Du Mu (803-852) is one of the most important representative poets in the later period of Tang Dynasty (816-907). He started to learn the Confucian theory from he was very young. He cared for the society progress and country's fate, wanted to help the poor people. However, he was not lucky enough on his career. Therefore, he spent a lot of time on literature and made a high accomplishment on many things.

Poetry, especially Jue Ju is his highest achievement and helped him to have a same reputation as Li Shangyin, and be called "Little Li Du" (The big “Li Du” is Li Ai and Du Fu) in Chinese poetry history.

Until now, there are still about 450 poems and essays of him in the world. I had introduced another two poems for you and you can review them by the links below:

Classical Poem - 0116 & Shirley Created Music-00116: Qing Ming - Tomb-Sweeping Day

Classical Poem - 0117 & Shirley Created Music-008: Shan Xing -- Travel In A Mountain   

I have translated the title of this poem to be An Autumn Song for it has written out of the very true and touching feelings that how the poet missed his friend in a fall/autumn night with a very simple language.

If you have been to the South of the Yangtze River, then you would have found that that even though the fall/autumn has ended, the grass is not yellow at all, the mountains are still green and the water is still blue. But, when the autumn wind is blowing over the land in the moonlight, people will still feel a little bit cold and cannot help thinking of their family members and friends in the far away. .

Just with the similar feelings in the similar night, the poet thought of one of his good friends in the North of the Yangtze River ? Yang Zhou and wrote a letter, in fact a poem to him.

With only 28 words, the poet has "Painted Out" some beautiful autumn views in the South of China with mountains, water, grass, bridge, moonlight, people, flute, plus sounds and colors... give us a very big room of imagination...

So, according to what I have felt from this poem, I created a piece of music and wrote a comment in 2005, then in 2007, 2009 and this weekend, Sep 19, 2010, I created 3 paintings to match it. And I have re-translated, re-sung, re-written and re-edited my works.   

Since this was just the first cooperation between my music professor and I, time was tight and I could not stand up for a long time for I just had an oportation in the hospital 10 days ago. So, we are not satisfy the singing and music yet.

Anyway, I do hope that my effort will be some of help with you to learn Chinese language and cultures.

MAIN MEANING OF THE POEM:

The mountains are green and indistinct,
The water is blue and flowing far away,
The fall ends in Jiangnan, the Grass is not wither/yellow yet.
Twenty-four bridges/bridge are/is covered by the moonlight,
Where are you teaching people blowing flute?

CHINESE CHARACTER AND PRONUNCIATION

You are welcome to hit any Chinese word to see its Chinese pinyin, meaning, pronunciation and follow me to read them

寄扬州韩绰判官--Ji Yangzhou Haichuo Paiguang

杜牧    -- Du Mu

青山隐隐水迢迢--qīngshān yǐnyǐn shuǐ tiáotiáo，
秋尽江南草未凋--qīujìn jiāngnán cǎo wèi diāo。
二十四桥明月夜--ěrshísì qiáo míngyuè yè，
玉人何处教吹箫--yùrén héchù jiào chuīxiāo。


If you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirleyz004@yahoo.com. You are welcome to publish your opinions in Message Board as well.

Shirley Zhang
Written, Sung, Translated & Recorded Sun, Dec 25, 2005 /Sun, Sep, 9, 2007 / Sun, Oct 18, 2009/ September 19, 2010