浣溪沙 . 旋抹红妆看使君（其一） 原作：苏轼 英译：戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红 旋抹红妆看使君， 三三五五棘篱门。 相挨踏破茜罗裙。 老幼扶携收麦社， 乌鸢翔舞赛神村。 道逢醉叟卧黄昏。 All the women run back home for a quick make-up （ Poem One） - to the tune of Huanxisha written by: Sh Shi ( 11th century) translated by: Gordon Osing and Julia Min All the women run back home for a quick make-up. In threes and fives they gather as the governor comes. Pushing each other on tiptoes at the bramble gates, the whole village is out with offerings to their gods. The crows and eagles are diving low in greed, folk songs and drums inviting gods to the streets. By dusk no one’s around but me a bit drunk,-- an old man sleeping it off in the settling dust. Appreciation: For appreciation, please go to the last poem in this series: Blossoms of date trees rain down on shirts and kerchiefs. Reference: 1. baike.baidu.com (百度百科) 5. All pictures are selected from google search.

江城子·天涯流落思无穷 (别徐州) 原作：苏轼 英译：闵晓红 天涯流落思无穷； 既相逢，却匆匆。 携手佳人，和泪折残红。 为问东风余几许? 春纵在，与谁同! 隋堤三月水溶溶； 背归鸿，去吴中。 回首彭城，清泗与淮通。 欲寄相思千点泪， 流不到、楚江东。 A traveller of the world, a seeker for the soul (Leaving Xuzhou) - to the tune of Jiangchengzi written by: Su Shi ( 11th century) translated by: Julia Min A traveller of the world, a seeker for the soul, I feel like we’ve just met; Now I’m set to go. “How much spring is left me?” I ask East God as I pluck the last bloom for my love in sorrow. “And who will be my good friends in Huzhou?” The March river rippling forward in Sui Levees, I start southward, my back to the returning geese. The joint of Si and Huai vanishing in my sight, all the cosy flashbacks begin to unfold, brimming;- How can I flow my tears now to Chu River East? Notes： 1.     East God: east wind is the main wind direction in spring, also called ‘East God’, another name for ‘Spring God’. 2.     Sui Levees:  the grand canal built in Sui and Tang dynasties to lead water north. Here it refers to the water from the Bian River (a branch of Si River) to the Huai River; 3.     returning geese: the wild geese would fly from south to north in Spring. Although Su Shi was governor in Xuzhou for only two years, he already felt like home, hence ‘returning’. Huzhou is in the south of Xuzhou. 4.     Chu River: the other name for River Si that flows through Xuzhou and joins River Huai in Xuzhou City; But Huzhou is some distance away from the river. Appreciation: This is a farewell lyric, a ci song written upon leaving Xuzhou to Huzhou after Su Shi was appointed to be the governor of Huzhou. Only 23 months in Xuzhou, Governor Su had already established himself as a father-like figure loved by the locals, even freshly remembered today among the Xuzhou people. Every school child knows him through his poems listed in their textbooks. For a thousand years, no other governor or mayor ever passed him in the minds of Xuzhou people. He led the people building levees ( The Su Levees) and the Yellow Tower against flood, opening coal mines for the winter, and restoring the local iron metallurgical industry, and many more. Plus he has left some famous calligraphy and three hundred poems there and this one probably the last one composed before arriving at his new post in Huzhou. At the age of 42, Su Shi and his followers were called ‘the Old Party’ or ‘Yuanyou Party’, a name to define against ‘The New Party’. The New Party were in the peak of enacting their New Laws at this time. Being disfavoured by the Throne, Su Shi chose to be dispatched from the Court to help with some hand-on work on regional administration. And it turned out he quite enjoyed his stay in Xuzhou though his political ambition for the Song still remained as a hard knot, hence the human inquiry: “How much spring is left me? I ask East God.”  Indeed, Su Shi, with his temples thinning by the year, aspired going back to the Court with his followers to bring things back to order for a stronger and greater Song. Instead, he was dispatched, travelling north and south, even as far away as Hainan Island, footing the biggest map ever in the entire history of civil servants dispatchment of the Song Dynasty.  Yet, his life was intensely lived with vigour and passion shared by everyone around him. And his artistic vibes have become ever more vibrant over a thousand years. Reference: 1. 杜杰华《苏轼在徐州》 2. 无犀 原创 ( souhu.com)

和子由渑池怀旧 原作: 苏轼（11世纪北宋） 英译旧版: 戈登.奥赛茵, 闵晓红, 黄海鹏(1990) 英版修改: 闵晓红(2023) 人生到处知何似？ 应似飞鸿踏雪泥。 泥上偶然留指爪， 鸿飞哪复计东西！ 老僧已死成新塔， 坏壁无由见旧题。 往日崎岖还记否？ 路长人困蹇驴嘶！ How I compare the new arrivals in a life journey? --A poem echoing to my brother Ziyou’s “Mianchi in Memory” written by: Su Shi (1084) 1st En. trans. by: G. Osing, J. Min & H. Huang (1990) En. revision by: Julia Min (2023) How I compare the new arrivals in a life journey? Like the geese, tired in sky, shall land anywhere. Only for a brief rest before winging up to the air, Leaving claw prints on muddy snow here and there. As for the prints pointing east or west, who cares?! The old monk’s turned to ashes in a new pagoda, And no trace of our poems on the decaying wall. You wonder if I could recall our teenage years, - All the twists and turns, all the ventures together. I see two boys on neighing donkeys, all knackered! Notes: 1. Ziyou’s “Mianchi in Memory” : Here’s the original poem in Chinese: 怀渑池寄子瞻兄》(“相携话别郑原上, /共道长途怕雪泥。/归骑还寻大梁陌，/行人已渡古崤西。//曾为县吏民知否，/旧宿僧房壁共题。/遥想独游佳味少，/无言骓马但鸣嘶!”) Appreciation: Su Shi and his brother Ziyou had been great friends. They entered the Royal Exams together, Shi at 21 and Ziyou only 19, and were both enrolled on the top list, with Shi the best of all. Shi was posted to a minor job in Mianchi, which was meant as taining / internship. Ziyou saw his brother off by keeping him company all the way to the plains of Zhen. He also wrote him a poem on his way back. So this poem was a reply by Shi, echoing the rhymes of Ziyou’s lines ---an intellectual social correspondence popular at the time. Shi, or Dongpo had a short working experience in Mianchi before this trip. His brother Ziyou joined him there and the two teens had enjoyed many outings on horse back together – a sweet memory they cherished ever since. One of the trips took them to a Daoist temple where they were well received by an old monk. As if the day trip was not enough to unleash their excitements, they both wrote a poem on the wall with a writing brush. Dongpo was obviously disappointed after being told the old monk was gone and buried in a pagoda, and even more so to see no trace of their poems on the wall. For a moment he was captured in melancholy, a helpless feeling towards the changes in life. Yet he didn’t stop there to be overcome by it. Instead, a great spirit like Dongpo will break through and transcend to a new level of realization, thus the theme – a philosophical optimistic grace was already taking roots in the young mind of Su Shi， setting the stage for his future ideas. Reference: 1. Blooming Alone in Winter by Gordon Osing, Julia Min and Huang Haipeng，published by the People's Publication House Henan Province in 1990 (《寒心未肯随春态》戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红，黄海鹏) ("") 3. painting from Google；

和董传留别 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 英译: 闵晓红(2023.12) 粗缯大布裹生涯， 腹有诗书气自华。 厌伴老儒烹瓠叶， 强随举子踏槐花。 囊空不办寻春马， 眼乱行看择婿车。 得意犹堪夸世俗， 诏黄新湿字如鸦。 Farewell, My Dear Friend Dong Chuan Chinese original: Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Dongpo') English translation: Julia Min (Dec. 2023) A man of knowledge glows in spirit, Though dressed in basics roughly made. You have the golden senna pave your way After so many years with old school mates. You’d be so proud, and surrounded by fans, As the Gold List shows in fresh ink 'Dong Chuan'. Worry not if you can’t afford the horse in spring. Wealthy ladies in carriages would be your friends. Notes: 1.     ‘ golden senna’: hinting the time of this composition by mentioning the summer flower when all the applicants in the capital were fully occupied with reviewing for the annual Imperial Exam to be held in autumn. It’s said there were so many golden senna trees in the city that a popular saying goes: “ It’s a world of busy students in a world of golden senna.”(“槐花黄，举子忙”) 2.     ‘the Gold List’: refers to the Royal list of enrolled students; 3.     ‘the horse … carriages: The exam usually took place in autumn, and the celebration would be held in the coming spring. Big crowds would gather the street cheering to the winners, with the leader on the top list, called Zhuang Yuan, riding a decorated horse through the gallery. And this day was also locally called the Dating Day where unmarried ladies of highly-ranked families would watch from their carriages choosing an ideal mate for their future. Appreciation: It was during his 3-year probationary period when Su Shi first met Dong Chuan, and they had been great friends ever since. The two young talents had many enjoyable moments sharing views on life and career, especially their ambitions of great achievements for the country. They both loved poetry and often corresponded in verses echoing each other’s poems. This poem starts with a powerful line showing Su Shi’s appreciation of his friend’s graceful dispositions in contrast with his financial status. It was a common scenario that most of the applicants became short of money after years of focusing solely on their studies and also had to spend a considerable sum for months of accommodations in the capital city. Su Shi and his brother had a similar experience. Here, he seemed quite confident in Dong Chuan’s success in the Exam, encouraging him to go ahead holding his head high, even teasing him that he would get so busy with fans following him in the streets he might even find his ideal lady for marriage. Money should not be a concern by then. The first line in Chinese ‘腹有诗书气自华’(A man of knowledge glows in spirit) has become a popular saying in praise of a well-educated man whose spiritual aura shows an impact on his surroundings. Reference: m.gushiwen.cn picture from sohu.com/《每日一花》

海棠 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 旧版英译:戈登.奥赛茵, 闵晓红, 黄海鹏(1990) 新版及赏析: 闵晓红(2023) 东风袅袅泛崇光， 香雾空蒙月转廊。 只恐夜深花睡去， 故烧高烛照红妆。 The Flowering Crab-apple written by Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Dongpo') old En. trans. by G. Osing, J. Min & H. Huang (1990) new trans. + annot. by Julia Min (2023) The moon is turning the corner of the porch For a glimpse of her glorious beauty adored. The east wind slows down for her sweet perfume In the beaming waves of her budding blooms. I light a long candle, fearing she’d drowse away, So I won’t miss any moment of her short stay. Appreciation: This poem was written in 1083. It can be read as a pure enjoyment of a flowerholic over the sensual beauty of a blooming crap-apple tree, which was said to be growing in a neighbour’s yard in Huangzhou where Su Shi gave himself the new name Dongpo, meaning ‘the east slope’. There, he had his first experience of farming like a local common folk. It was believed the flower species were rarely found elsewhere other than his native place in the mountains of Sichuan in the west, the old capital of Chang’an (today’s Xi’an). I could imagine the blissful joy when Su Shi saw it in Huangzhou, a tree that could have brought many happy young memories fresh in mind. It is indeed a precious soothing moment during his exile life. Another association of the crap-apple flower is believed to be the high Tang Dynasty’s beauty, Lady Yang of Emperor Xuanzong (Yang Guifei). One day, she was summoned by the Emperor to be present at a royal banquet. After too much drink the night before she was slow to respond while kneeing down, still with drunken eyes, rosy cheeks and loosened hairdo. The Emperor had loved her every shade of grey and pink, and said, she’s not a drunkard. She’s a crap-apple flower drowsing in her sweet mist. Reference: 1. Blooming Alone in Winter by Gordon Osing, Julia Min, and Huang Haipeng， published by the People's Publication House Henan Province in 1990 (《寒心未肯随春态》戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红，黄海鹏) “Flowering Crabapple"--The east wind makes her dance and beam pure light/In the sweet mist of midnight as the moon declines./In dead of night I fear she’ll drowse away;/Light a long candle so she blooms till day.”) 2.Picture from Dragonsarmory.blogspot.com（龙军库博客）

题西林壁 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 旧版英译:戈登.奥赛茵, 闵晓红, 黄海鹏(1990) 新版修改及赏析: 闵晓红(2023) 横看成林侧成峰， 远近高低各不同。 不识庐山真面目， 只缘身在此山中。 Inscribed on a wall of Xilin Temple written by Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Dongpo') old En. trans. by G. Osing, J. Min & H. Huang (1990) Revision+ annot. by Julia Min (2023) Let eye go: near is high as far as near is low. Sidewise you see a spine of ridges, outward peaks. How can you hope to view Mt. Lu from every side When your body is dwelling in her very eye? Appreciation: This poem was composed in 1084 when our poet Dongpo was transferred to Ruzhou which is closer to the capital, a positive gesture from the Royal Court. The temple was on his way to the new post, so he visited his monk friend Can Liao there in Mt Lu (庐山) in Jiangxi, a well-known sightseeing destination. Again the first two lines present the complexity of the natural beauty he saw while climbing Mt Lu, leading to the theme in the second couplet – an elevation of a conscious realisation that the subjective perspective could be incomplete, even misleading, as against the objective view of the whole picture of the world. I’d say this poem could serve as a good example of the Song ci poems which tend to seek a profound philosophical connotation to enlighten people’s mind with simple everyday language, a spiritual attitude of Zen. The last couplet has become a popular proverb in Chinese language. Reference: 1. Blooming Alone in Winter by Gordon Osing, Julia Min, and Huang Haipeng， published by the People's Publication House Henan Province in 1990 (《寒心未肯随春态》戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红，黄海鹏) (“Inscribed on Xilin Temple”-- Sideways you see a spine of ridges, outward peaks./Let eye go: near is high as far as near is low./How can you hope to know Lu Shan’s true face?/Your physical self is dwelling in her eye.”) 2. picture from baidu-TA说

琴诗 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 旧版英译:戈登.奥赛茵, 闵晓红, 黄海鹏(1990) 新版赏析修改: 闵晓红(2023) 若言琴上有琴声， 放在匣中何不鸣？ 若言声在指头上， 何不与君指上听？ The Qin Music written by Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Dongpo') old En. trans. by G. Osing, J. Min & H. Huang (1990) annot. revision by Julia Min (2013) I hear you say the music’s in the wood; Why can’t I hear it when it’s put away? You say the music’s in the fingers, good! But could one listen to his hands all day? Appreciation: Here’s an allegory of the pre-eminence of the subjective, specifically the artistically apprehended reality – the music, over the objective things of wood and fingers. To embody philosophical messages in the art world is seen as the embraced style of the Song writings and paintings. It also applies to life itself, both ancient and modern as the world evolves in a twining motion between the static and the dynamic, the yin and the yang. There’s likely an influence from his father Su Xun a famous essayist known for his bold but sophisticated comments supported with carefully constructed theories. He knew very well how the two worlds of art and actualities require each other. Reference: 1. Blooming Alone in Winter by Gordon Osing, Julia Min, and Huang Haipeng， published by the People's Publication House Henan Province in 1990 (《寒心未肯随春态》戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红，黄海鹏) 2. picture from “洛水琴客” via《每日头条》

红梅 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 旧版英译:戈登.奥赛茵, 闵晓红, 黄海鹏(1990) 新版及赏析: 闵晓红(2023) 怕愁贪睡独开迟， 自恐冰容不入时。 故作小红桃杏色， 尚余孤瘦雪霜姿。 寒心未肯随春态， 酒晕无端上玉肌。 诗老不知梅格在， 更看绿叶与青枝。 The Red Plum Blossom written by Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Dongpo') old En. trans. by G. Osing, J. Min & H. Huang (1990) Revision+ annot. by Julia Min (2023) Timorous, a late sleeper, she blooms alone in winter, Fearing, too, her icy look not the style of the season. So she makes herself up like peach or apricot petals, On branches so slim that can brave the frost and snow. Her heart’s cold doesn’t go with the fashions of spring. What does she drink that turns her jade skin to crimson? The old poet knows only the look, not the true value. Her black boughs don’t need lush green to stand proud. Notes: 1. The old poet: referring to Shi Manqing（石曼卿）who wrote the verses – Let it (the plum tree) be a peach tree though it bears no green leaves; let it be an apricot tree but its branches are black.”(“认桃无绿叶，辨杏有青枝”). Su Shi mocks Manqing’s understanding here. Appreciation: IThis was composed during Su Shi’s banished life (Feb.1080 - Apr.1084) in the small town of Huangzhou (in Hubei Province today). The Chinese plum tree produces reddish blossoms thinly spotting her slim but strong boughs, with petals of snow jade texture, before her green leaf buddings. The flower is, arguably, the national flower of China, or safely we may say, one of the national flowers of China. Her stoicism and fortitude in braving the cold winter are often held in high regard by the Chinese poets, thus established a popular symbol of noble courage and a proud lofty spirit that finds her a sublime solitude in a pure world of snow and frost. Dongpo loved the plum blossom which, together with bamboo trees, rugged stones, and seemingly-dead wood, are often found in his paintings, connoting his isolated status and his enhanced spiritual qualities. An interesting feature in this poem is the rare perspective of looking at the red plum blossoms as the last to bloom at the end of winter, while most poems on the flower emphasize it as the first to bloom in early spring frost, a messenger of Spring God, suggesting a promising spring ahead. The personification, of imagining the tree as a beautiful lady, brings a life drama before our eyes – a proud beauty of noble spirit, in solitude and fortitude, drinking alone in the pure world of white snow. Reference: 1. Blooming Alone in Winter by Gordon Osing, Julia Min, and Huang Haipeng， published by the People's Publication House Henan Province in 1990 (《寒心未肯随春态》戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红，黄海鹏) “The Plum Blossoms” -- Timorous, a late sleeper, she blooms alone in winter,/Fearing, too, her icy look’s not the style of the season./So she sets out to make herself up like apricot petals,/On branches haggard from toughing the frosts and snow./Her heart’s cold doesn’t go with the fashions of spring./What does she drink that turns pure jade skin so happy a pink?/The old poet couldn’t change you to peach by any wish;/You can’t change a black bough or a leaf from what it deeply is. ”) 2. Baike.baidu.com (百度百科) 2. Picture from 博宝艺术网

江城子 · 密州出猎 原作：【宋】苏轼 英译旧版：戈登.奥赛茵、闵晓红 英译新版：闵晓红 老夫聊发少年狂， 左牵黄，右擎苍， 锦帽貂裘， 千骑卷平冈。 为报倾城随太守， 亲射虎，看孙郎。 酒酣胸胆尚开张， 鬓微霜，又何妨？ 持节云中， 何日遣冯唐？ 会挽雕弓如满月， 西北望，射天狼。 Hunting Outside Mizhou -to the tune of Jiangchengzi Chinese original: Su Shi ( 11th Century) English old version: G. Osing and J. Min English new version: Julia Min (2023) This old boy is truely young at heart and mind, A retriever by left hand, a falcon on the right. In coats of fur and hats of brocade we ride, Thousands of hoofbeats swept the hills in sight. I'd shoot a tiger like Sun Quan the heroic archer, To treat the whole town following me to the site. My old heart is fearless again, fired with wine. What does it matter so frost covers my temples high. When would Feng Tang be sent with the tally To help this governor who's ready to fight? Like the full moon I'd pull the bow tight and round. To northwest, I'd shoot the star of Sirius down! Appreciation: As the governor of Mizhou ( Nov. 1074 - Nov. 1076), Su Shi and his friends went hunting after their festive tour to a sacrificial ceremony. It is one of the poet's most heroic and robust ci poems with the subject being inspirationally patriotic and dramatically bold and ambitious. The reader might also take note of the poet's breezy pleasure for his success in public leadership, which reveals, in reality and spirit, his optimistic enthusiasm for a devoted official career for the people. The first stanza is again on the event and the second stanza goes to the theme, his hindsight of the day. The poetic vibes connect with the heroic style, regarded then as a new challenge to the elegant and graceful vibes of the existing solely sentimental ci school, or you may say Su Shi deliberately filled the gap with heroic style, which was desperately needed then during the constant threats from the Huns and the Jin at the west and north borders. The parallel performance of the two styles created a perfect scenario of the yin and yang, evolving to enrich the world of ci, establishing it as a more independently complete writing form distinguished further from the poetry category in literature. Notes: 1. Another title of this ci poem is “On Hunting.”“Mizhou” in the title is in today’s Jucheng County, Shandong Province. 2. 'this old man': referring to himself at the time when he was forty years old. 3. 'Sun Quan': refers to Sun Quan of the Three Kingdoms Period, who was famous for hunting on horseback, especially for his driving off a tiger by throwing his empty weapon in its face in a famous episode in folklore. Like his father, Sun Quan was considered as one of the best archers at the time. 4. 'Feng Tang': the governor of Yunzhong (under Emperor Wen of han) who defeated an invasion by the Huns. When asked to report the tally of enemies killed, the governor exaggerated the number by six and was disgraced and sentenced to heavy punishment, including the loss of his governorship. Feng Tang, who interceded on behalf of the governor for the return of his post, arranged for a second, true tally to be brought forth and the episode became famous for dramatizing honesty in government. A tally was an order issued by the emperor to generals and envoys. A tally to Yunzhong would be one for the Yunzhong Prefecture in the Han Dynasty, a county in Inner Mongolia today. 5. 'Sirius': the brightest star in the northwest sky from where our poet had the event. It is used here as a symbol for the invaders, mainly the Mongols. Reference: 1. Blooming Alone in Winter by Gordon Osing, Julia Min, and Huang Haipeng, published by the People's Publication House Henan Province in 1990 (《寒心未肯随春态》戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红，黄海鹏) (“Hunting Outside Mizhou"-- "This old boy's truly young at heart at the sight:/My left hand's led by a retriever, a falcon rides my right./In coats of fur and hats of silk brocade we ride, / Thousands of hoofbeats over a low bridge./The whole town's turned-out to follow its governor, watching./When I shot my tiger, the people surely saw heroic Sun Chuan.// Fired with the wine, my old heart became fearless once again. /What does it matter if, truth to tell, frost covers my temples./When will honest Feng Tang come with the tally that saves the governor?/I will pull the bow tight and round as the moon when it is fullest./Northwest I aim; I shoot the invading Tianlang Star.") 2. Other versions for your reference（许渊冲） http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_1534238f70102xgt4.html Pinyin and word-for-word translation: jiāng chéng zǐ . mì zhōu chū liè - to the tune of Jiangchengzi (outside Mizhou hunting) lǎo fū liáo fā shǎo nián kuáng - old man is being in youth's exuberate spirit; zuǒ qiān huáng ，yòu qíng cāng - left hand lead yellow hunting dog, right hold eagle; jǐn mào diāo qiú - silk brocade cap marten coat, qiān qí juàn píng gāng - thousand horses sweep smooth the ridge; wéi bào qīng chéng suí tài shǒu - to thank the whole city follow the governor; qīn shè hǔ ，kàn sūn láng - myself shoot tiger, let people see Sun Chuan; jiǔ hān xiōng dǎn shàng kāi zhāng - heated wine with breast bravery still open; bìn wēi shuāng ，yòu hé fáng ？- temples slightly frosty, what does it matter; chí jiē yún zhōng - hold a tally to Yunzhong; hé rì qiǎn féng táng ？- what day send Feng Tang; huì wǎn diāo gōng rú mǎn yuè - would draw carved bow like a full moon; xī běi wàng ，shè tiān láng - northwest looking shoot Sirius Star;

惠崇春江晓景 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 旧版英译:戈登.奥赛茵, 闵晓红, 黄海鹏(1990) 新版修改及赏析: 闵晓红(2023) 竹外桃花三两枝， 春江水暖鸭先知。 蒌蒿满地芦芽短， 正是河豚欲上时。 On “A River Spring Dawn” --an inscription for the painting by Monk Hui Chong written by Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Dongpo') old En. trans. by G. Osing, J. Min & H. Huang (1990) Revision+ annot. by Julia Min (2023) When old bamboos set off a few peach blooms And one wild duck calls out: “The water is fine”, And asparagus and wormwood show green shoots, Then surfaces the globefish, in the nick of time. Appreciation: Hui Chong（965- 1017）was a Song Dynasty monk, and a painter particularly famous for his landscape paintings with mountains and water features often enriched with geese, ducks and birds – an expression of everyday life in the country, or in an academic word, humanism. It could be a collector seeking for an inscription from Su Shi on the painting. Unfortunately, like many artistic works lost to the invasion of the Jin and the Liao, or later in history, the painting is no longer found. Fortunately, the picture has lived through this poem, and has been very well-known ever since. Every school pupil in China can recite it. The 2nd line is often quoted in literature. Indeed, Su Shi has successfully put into living words the moment when all of nature come to life where other dimensions of physical sensations are technically built into the one surface of a painting. The painting pleases the eye like poetry, whereas the poem presents the picture in rhyming motion. The Song people would say: you can paint poetry, and also, you may compose a painting with words. For your interest, the western landscape paintings didn’t start as a genre until a few hundred years later, starting during the renaissance and peaked in industrial revolustion period. Reference: 1. Blooming Alone in Winter by Gordon Osing, Julia Min, and Huang Haipeng, published by the People's Publication House Henan Province in 1990 (《寒心未肯随春态》戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红，黄海鹏) (“Spring Dawn at the Hui Chong River” --“When old bamboo sets off a few peach blooms/And one wild duck calls out, “The water is fine!”/And onion tips and asparagus shoot green--/Then surfaces globefish, in the nick of time.”) 2. picture from baidu

东栏梨花（和孔密州五绝之一） 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 旧版英译:戈登.奥赛茵, 闵晓红, 黄海鹏(1990) 新版修改及赏析: 闵晓红(2023) 梨花淡白柳深青， 柳絮飞时花满城。 惆怅东栏一株雪， 人生看得几清明！ The Blooming Pear Tree by East Fence -an echo poem to one of Kong Mizhou’s five poems Chinese original by Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Dongpo') old En. trans. by G. Osing, J. Min & H. Huang (1990) Revision+ annot. by Julia Min (2023) Snow white are the blossoming pears, And liquid are the willows’ dark green. The catkins are floating like snowing; The town’s glowing with vibrant spring. At the east fence I find a lonely man, By a lonely tree like pure snow, sighing: How few are such a view of Qingming! How few can really see life’s meaning! Appreciation: Su Shi wrote this short poem in 1077 at the age of 41 in Suzhou. It’s a good example of the popular poetic form called ‘one stanza poem in 7-character’. Like Housman’s “Loveliest of Trees”, Su Shi’s poem on pear blossoms strain the heart to breaking with the beauty of a vibrant spring, and the certainty of winter and of our aging. The elegance of this poem is the manner in which it moves from scenic clarity through the fusing of sensation and emotion to the final line, a pure lyrical expression. Adding more melancholy to the vibes is the mind reaction of the Chinese readers as the pear blossoms and the flying catkins in China represent separation between loved ones, a sense of loss and loneliness. You may find many Chinese poems use the flowers for the sentimental theme, which in turn has had an impact on all artistic works. And they shed flowers during Qingming Festival, a time of mourning over the departed friends and relatives. Reference: 1. Blooming Alone in Winter by Gordon Osing, Julia Min, and Huang Haipeng, published by the People's Publication House Henan Province in 1990 (《寒心未肯随春态》戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红，黄海鹏) (“The Blossoming Pear by the East Fence” – “ Snow-white the blossoming pears and liquid the willow’s green./the catkins are snowing; the town glows with spring./I find myself, sadly, at the east fence by the one snowy tree/ That teaches how few in a lifetime Qing Mings there’ll be.” 2. “Loveliest of Trees” by A.E. Housman (1859 –1936): “Loveliest of trees, the cherry now/Is hung with bloom along the bough,/And stands about the woodland ride/Wearing white for Eastertide.//Now, of my threescore years and ten,/Twenty will not come again,/And take from seventy springs a score,/It only leaves me fifty more.//And since to look at things in bloom/Fifty springs are little room,/About the woodlands I will go/To see the cherry hung with snow.” 2. picture from Google

赠刘景文 原作: 苏轼（字子瞻, 号东坡居士; 11世纪北宋） 旧版英译:戈登.奥赛茵, 闵晓红, 黄海鹏(1990) 新版修改及赏析: 闵晓红(2023) 荷尽已无擎雨盖， 菊残犹有傲霜枝。 一年好景君须记， 最是橙黄橘绿时。 To Liu Jingwen Chinese original by Su Shi (11th AC, social name 'Dongpo') old En. trans. by G. Osing, J. Min & H. Huang (1990) Revision+ analysis by Julia Min (2023) It’s a new winter when the lotus shed no rain; - Fading chrysanths still stand braving the frosty wind. Let ur eye go: just nearby draws a year’s best scene, Where oranges are golden, and tangerines green. Appreciation: This poem was written in Hangzhou in 1090 by our 55- year-old poet for his stressed friend Liu Jingwen who was 58 years old then. It was said Su Shi appreciated his talent and moral qualities, so he highly recommended him to the Royal Court. It could be Jingwen’s old age that he only got a minor promotion. And he died just two years later with his life dream unfulfilled, a rather sad ending of a loyal family with his father died as a famous general who fought the Huns in the west borders and all his other siblings gone before him. The landscape, represented here with the withered flowers and the trees laden with fruits, could be right there and then in front of the two friends, or more, while they were catching up at a pavilion by a pond, a meeting with food and drinks served and enriched with poems, paintings, and music, as being often the case with social gathering in the Song’s gentry class. The symbolic message is clearly revealed by carefully choosing lotus and Chrysanthemum which suggest purity, courage and noble spirit, while oranges and tangerines are often associated with good luck and prosperity. We can feel the poet’s optimistic vibes towards the ups and downs in life and his efforts to inspire his friend through hard times, encouraging him to maintain his pure and noble spirit like lotus and chrysanthemum. The gist of the poem connotes a deeper philosophical understanding that by changing your perspective, you may dramatically find a positive outlook even at a most stressful time. Reference: 1. Blooming Alone in Winter by Gordon Osing, Julia Min, and Huang Haipeng, published by the People's Publication House Henan Province in 1990 (《寒心未肯随春态》戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红，黄海鹏) (“To Liu Jingwen”—“It’s new winter and the lotus sheds no rains; / Chrysanthemum brave the frost with withered blooms./So much the nearer draws another perfect scene,/Where oranges are yellow and the tangerine are green.”) 2. picture from Google