Feb 13, 2007

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For loving the great nature, the poem of landscape has become something as my favourite. Every time, when I want to read a poem, I would always find the poems of landscape at the first. And Li Bai (701―762)'s poems is always the No.1. Can you imagine?   23 years ago, my dissertation of bachelor degree was just about the lyrics of landscape by Song Dynasty (960-1279) poet Xing Qiji. Just for this dissertation, I had read all of the poems and lyrics of Tang dynasty (618 - 917) and Song Dynasty (960-1279), over 100 thousand ones. :-)

So, today, I would like to introduce a new poem Shan Zhong Wen Da -- A Reply in the Mountain by Li BaiThis little poem writes out how the poet loves the great nature so that he rather than stays in the Green Mountain instead of the human world, because he thinks that there is a better feeling there. :-)

About Li Bai's poems, I have introduced some for you and now I have made the links here and hope they are little bit help to you to know something more about Chinese culture and language:

No.8:Chinese Classical Poem 0069 & Shirley Created Music-0059: Song Meng Haoran Zhi Guangling -- A Farewell Song to Meng Haoran at Yellow Crane Tower
No.7:Chinese Classical Poem 0062 & Shirley Created Music-0052: Stay Overnight in a Temple in the Mountain
No.6: Classical Poem 0061 & Shirley Created Music-0051：Sitting Alone Below Jingting Mountain
No.5:Classical Poem 0060 & Shirley Created Music-0050：Drinking in the Moonlight Alone
No.4: Classical Poem 0057   & Shirley Created Music-0047:To Present A Poem to Wang Lun
No.3: Classical Poem--0039 & Shirley Created Music-0029: Looking at the Lushan Mountains' Waterfall
No.2: Classical Poem 0054   & Shirley Created Music-0044：A Song of Mount Emei.
No.1: Classical Poem 0055 & Shirley Created Music-0045: Sailing from Baidi City at Dawn

Along with the time, after I have created 63 pieces of music to match the Chinese classical poems, now I do feel quite easy to write. I just used about 15 minutes and I completed the writing for this poem.

So, I am thinking that maybe it is time for me to write some music for a longer poem in the coming time... Can you imagine the longest Chinese poem has about 2000 lines... :-) Maybe next time, I would write a piece of music for a poem that is 8 lines. :- )

MAIN MEANING OF THE POEMLISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM

A Reply in the Mountain

Li Bai      ( Tang )

I am asked why I am interested in the Green Mountain.
I do not reply except a big smile with an easy heart.
the peach blossoms are without their trace
along with the flowing water,
There is another heaven and earth here
that is better than the human world...

Another Translation By the Other:

I am asked why I am staying in Green Mountain high,
Feeling at ease, I only smile with no reply.
Peach flowers fall on the stream and quiet they flow away,
Here is a better world than what we have each day.

NEW WORDS AND RONUNCIATION :

Please hit any Chinese character that you need help with, to see its Chinese pinyin, pronunciation, and meaning and follow me to read it.

CHINESE CHARACTERS:


山中问答

李白   （唐）

问余何意栖碧山，
笑而不答心自闲。
桃花流水杳然去，
别有天地非人间。

LISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM

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 Forum For Friends as well.
Shirley Zhang
Written, Sung, Translated and Recorded on Sun, Jan 14, 2007