Jun 24, 2007

Following Shirley to Read the Poem in Chinese
Listen to Shirley to singing the Poem
Shirley Created Picture for the poem
Shirley Written Chinese Calligraphy for the Poem
How Chrysanthemum As Traditional Medicine & Food in Chinese Culture


Hi, friends, do you like flowers? What kind of flowers is your favorite?

In China, people love many kinds of flowers. Chrysanthemum is one of the flowers that have been best loved. Different from lotus, people love chrysanthemum for it is blossoming in the later autumn when the other flowers have died down as the last flower in whole of a year, just like some great people with a very strong quality in the hard environment. :-)

Also, people love chrysanthemum for it has the other quality that can grow up in any place, in a mountain, a farm, or a garden, just like a gentleman who does not care for the fame and gain, does not follow the situation in the officialdom and enjoy a peaceful common life as a common person. :-)

So, chrysanthemum has been admired from many different sides by poems and artist for many years.

This poem that was written by Tang Dynasty poet Yuan Zhen: Ju Hua --Chrysanthemum just expresses the feeling that how the poet enjoyed chrysanthemum's strong quality and expressed him self’s character. :-)

I have written a Chinese calligraphy, created a piece of music, and a picture to match it.

I do hope that my effort will be a little bit help to you to know more about Chinese culture and to improve your Chinese level.

As far as the Tang Dynasty Yuanzhen, I have introduced some of his poems to you. You can hit the links below to review them:

MAIN MEANING OF THE POEMLISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAYING & SINGING THE POEM

Chrysanthemum

Yuan Zhen ( Tang)

My house is encircled
by so many clusters of chrysanthemums in the later autumn,
just like in Tao Yuanming's home already.
I am enjoying my chrysanthemums around of my fence,
I have not realized that it is the time of sun set gradually.
It is not for chrysanthemums are my favorite flowers,
just because there will not be the other flowers
that will be enjoyed after blossoming of this kind of fllowers.

NEW WORDS AND PRONUNCIATION :

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:

菊花

元稹   （ 唐 ）

秋丛绕舍似陶家，
遍绕篱边日渐斜。
不是花中偏爱菊，
此花开尽更无花。


LISTEN TO SHIRLEY SINGING 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 Message Board as well.

Shirley Zhang
Written, Sung, Translated and Recorded on Sun, June 24, 2007