Apr 8, 2006

LISTEN TO THE TEXTLISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM

Hi, friends, last weekend, we touched a poem about Lushan Mountain by Song Dynasty poet Su Shi(1037－1101) Do Not Know The True Feature Of Lushan Mountain? Just For You're In It. Today, I would like to introduce another poem about Lushan Mountain by Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai.

We have known that the poetry of Song Dynasty (960 --1126) trends to express philosophic theories, but Tang Dynasty (618 -907) poetry trends to expresse feelings. Now, let us to compare the two poems by the two greatest poets Su Shi and Li Bai to see whether it is true. :-)

Li Bai (701-762) is one of the most renowned and admired poets in China and he was one of the three greatest poets (Li Bai, Du Fu and Bai Juyi) in Tang dynasty. He was born in Chengji --it is near today's Gansu province. When he was 5 years old, he followed his father to Sichuan.

Li Bai was influenced by both Confucianism and Taoism. He started to travel in the country when he was 25 years old. Then he entered the court and became a member of the Han-lin Academy at the age of 42. He was greatly delighted and eager to serve the emperor like an ancient capable statesman. But the Emperor Xuanzong only had him as a wonderful palace poet to write trivial lyrics. Unwilling to serve such a meaningless function, Li Bai left the capital in less than two years, to start his second travel that was an aimless wandering all over the country. Then he was charged of being an adherent of the rebel and sentenced to exile, though pardoned on the way. He died of illness at Dangtu in today's Anhui.

Li Bai lived in the most flourishing times in the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). Most of his poems reflected a positive times spirit. He is considered as the foremost romantic poet in the Tang Dynasty and his style has been affecting the following poets until now.   

There are 1,100 of Li Bai's poems surviving now. They are very popular and be recited by Chinese from their childhoods.

This poem writes a wonderful view of a waterfall of Xiang Lu Peak in Lushan Mountain with a quite unique imagination, it is a very beautiful and charming poem.

As usual, I have written a piece of music to match it and hope you enjoy it. : -)


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

Looking at the Lunshan Mountain's Waterfall

By Li Bai
  
The violet clouds is around the Xiang Lu peak
under the sunshine,
a far away waterfall that seems like a river
is hanging in the sky.
Its flying water is flowing down straight
from three thousand feet high,
Is it the galaxy falling down
from the highest of heavens?

ATTACH: A TRANSLATION BY SOMEONE ELSE:

Watching From Afar The Waterfall On Mount Lu

The sunlit Censer Peak exhales a wreath of cloud;
Like an upended stream the cataract sounds loud.
Its torrent dashes down three thousand feet from high,
As if the Silver River* fell from azure sky.


NEW WORDS:

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

CHINESE CHARACTER AND PRONUNCIATION:

望庐山瀑布

李白［唐］

日照香炉生紫烟，
遥看瀑布挂前川。
飞流直下三千尺，
疑是银河落九天。


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 welcomed to publish your opinions in Forum For Friends as well.

--Shirley
Written, Translated and Recorded On Sun, April 9, 2006