江淹 別賦
南朝（梁）
黯
然銷魂者，唯別而已矣！況秦吳兮絕國，復燕宋兮千里。或春苔兮始生，乍秋風兮蹔起。是以行子腸斷，百感悽惻。風蕭蕭而異響，雲漫漫而奇色。舟凝滯
於水濱，車逶遲於山側。櫂容與而詎前，馬寒鳴而不息。掩金觴而誰御，橫玉柱而霑軾。居人愁臥，怳若有亡。日下壁而沈彩，月上軒而飛光。見紅蘭之受露，望青
楸之離霜。巡曾楹而空揜，撫錦幕而虛涼。知離夢之躑躅，意別魂之飛揚。
故別雖一緒，事乃萬族。至若龍馬銀鞍，朱軒繡軸。帳飲東都，送客金谷。琴羽張兮簫鼓陳，燕趙歌兮傷美人。珠與玉兮豔暮秋，羅與綺兮嬌上春。驚駟馬之仰秣，聳淵魚之赤鱗。造分手而銜涕，感寂漠而傷神。
乃有劍客慚恩，少年報士。韓國趙廁，吳宮燕市。割慈忍愛，離邦去里。瀝泣共訣，抆血相視。驅征馬而不顧，見行塵之時起。方銜感於一劍，非買價於泉裏。金石震而色變，骨肉悲而心死。
或乃邊郡未和，負羽從軍。遼水無極，鴈山參雲。閨中風暖，陌上草薰。日出天而耀景，露下地而騰文。鏡朱塵之照爛，襲青氣之煙熅。攀桃李兮不忍別，送愛子兮霑羅裙。
至如一赴絕國，詎相見期？視喬木兮故里，決北梁兮永辭。左右兮魂動，親賓兮淚滋。可班荊兮贈恨，唯罇酒兮敘悲。值秋鴈兮飛日，當白露兮下時。怨復怨兮遠山曲，去復去兮長河湄。
又若君居淄右，妾家河陽，同瓊珮之晨照，共金爐之夕香。君結綬兮千里，惜瑤草之徒芳。慚幽閨之琴瑟，晦高臺之流黃。春宮閟此青苔色，秋帳含茲明月光。夏簟清兮晝不暮，冬釭凝兮夜何長！織錦曲兮泣已盡，迴文詩兮影獨傷。
儻有華陰上士，服食還山。術既妙而猶學，道已寂而未傳。守丹灶而不顧，鍊金鼎而方堅。駕鶴上漢，驂鸞騰天。蹔遊萬里，少別千年。惟世間兮重別，謝主人兮依然。
下有芍藥之詩，佳人之歌。桑中衛女，上宮陳娥。春草碧色，春水淥波。送君南浦，傷如之何！至乃秋露如珠，秋月如珪。明月白露，光陰往來。與子之別，思心徘徊。
是以別方不定，別理千名。有別必怨，有怨必盈。使人意奪神駭，心折骨驚。雖淵雲之墨妙，嚴樂之筆精。金閨之諸彥，蘭臺之群英。賦有凌雲之稱，辯有雕龍之聲。誰能摹暫離之狀，寫永訣之情者乎？
別賦 On Parting by Jiang Yan （444—505）
tr. E. C. Chang
黯然銷魂者，唯別而已矣！況 秦、吳兮絕國，複燕、趙兮千里。
No life events other than parting can make one feel
so despondent, dispirited, and soul-wrenching!
Think about the remoteness of the states of Wu and Qin!
Think about a thousand li between Zhao and Yan!
The thought of the distance to travel could be overwhelming.
或春苔兮始生，乍秋風兮暫起。是以行子腸斷，百感淒惻。
When spring mosses begin to grow,
or when autumn winds suddenly blow,
An event like this can break a traveler’s heart.
He is filled with mixed emotions to part.
風蕭蕭而異響，雲漫漫而奇色。舟凝滯于水濱，車逶遲於山側。棹容與 而詎前，馬寒鳴而不息。
The wind sounds differently as it soughs and sighs.
The clouds drift aimlessly in the colorful sky.
The boat moves around the shore sluggishly.
The carriage winds its way through the mountainside slowly.
The boatman appears reluctant to row.
The horse keeps neighing in the cold.
On Parting (pdf version)
Go to page "Ancient Proses" for more.
五載浮沉
張暢繁
浮沉已過五春秋。
暴雨狂風不再愁。
賤體仍難登峻嶺 ，
凡心尚可倣飛鷗。
虛懷認命消災禍，
諒己容人少怨尤。
他日若隨雲鶴去，
無需為我淚雙流。
The Mind of a Cancer Survivor
As a cancer survivor, I am blessed to
Have extended my life to five full years.
Strong winds and rains will no longer
Burden me with worries and fears.
My damaged body does keep me from
Reaching the top of a high mountain.
But my mind can still wander around
Like a sea gull flying over the ocean.
Accepting fate and emptying mundane desires
Lessen the impact of disastrous events.
With forgiveness and tolerance,
I have now fewer grudges and complaints.
When the time comes for me to vanish
With the clouds and cranes,
Do not shed your tears, my dear,
For I have no regret but gratitude to proclaim.
氣質
張暢繁
一片孤雲吊碧空，清新如洗入雙瞳。
無鄰更顕純真美。混雜多嫌格調濃。
湖畔寒梅衝雪出，林中百卉待冰溶。
上天下地原難比，兩物雖殊氣質同。
Elegant qualities
A lone cloud hangs in the blue sky.
So clear and refreshing, it brightens my eyes.
Drifting alone, it appears pure and sound.
An elegant style may be blurred when many clouds are around,
The plum tree by the lake is eager to bloom in the snow.
Not until the ice has melt do other flowers in the woods put on a show.
Cloud and plum blossom have little in common to compare.
But elegant qualities can be felt on earth or in the air.
幸福 張暢繁
來如百卉吐春紅。 去似孤鴻渡夜空。
地合時宜林木茂﹐ 風調雨順麥禾豐。
人間禍福非天定﹐ 世上江洋任我通。
恐後爭先誰得利﹐ 同舟共濟互包容。
What Is Happiness?
When it comes, it is like hundreds of spring flowers in bloom.
When it is gone, it resembles a wild goose flying at night alone.
With good timing and soil condition, trees and plants will grow at their best.
With favorable climate, an abundant yield of rice and wheat will come at the time of harvest.
Human fortunes and misfortunes are not just determined by Heaven.
It is up to us to decide if we can go across all the rivers and oceans.
Who is to gain when everyone is anxious to be ahead of other persons?
We will all be better off if we show mutual concern and tolerance.
人生一世 張暢繁
偷得浮生共幾年？學行學講已千天。
成家立業需深造，育子供書得賺錢。
要職榮銜終夢幻，新愁舊恨溢心泉。
悠閒歲月何其短，近半流光在睡眠。
A Lifetime How many years in life can you steal in all?
It takes more than a thousand days just to learn to walk and talk.
To start a family and career, you must continue to study and learn the tools.
Then you must earn enough money to raise your children and send them to schools.
High positions and prestigious status may turn out to be a dream.
New sorrows and old wounds may keep overthrowing your mental stream.
Alas! Happy time in retirement indeed is so short!
Not to mention that you must spend half of your time to sleep and snore!
觀書有感
朱熹
半畝方塘一鑑開，
天光雲影共徘徊。
問渠哪得清如許？
為有源頭活水來。
Reflections on Reading
Zhu Xi (Song Dynasty)
Tr. E.C. Chang
A square pond the size of half an acre is like a mirror.
In it we can see the sunlight and clouds drift or linger.
Ask me why it is so clean and clear?
From its source comes an endless flow of water.
无题
晏殊（991－1055）
油壁香車不再逢，峽雲無跡任西東。
梨花院落溶溶月，柳絮池塘淡淡風。
幾日寂寥傷酒后，一番蕭瑟禁煙中。
魚書欲寄何由達，水遠山長處處同。
Untitled
by Yan Shu (Song Dynasty)
Tr. E.C. Chang
Her painted and scented carriage can no longer be found.
No one knows where the clouds over the Wu Gorge are bound.
The pear blossoms in the courtyard are brightened by moonlight.
The willow catkins dance over the pond and the wind is light.
After I got drunk, I fell very lonesome for several consecutive days.
In the midst of the Cold-Food Festival, everything seems so desolate.
I wish you could see it, but where can I send this letter?
Everywhere I go: So wide is the mountain and so long is the river!
花影 宋 蘇軾
重重疊疊上瑤臺
幾度呼童掃不開
剛被太陽收拾去
卻教明月送將來
Flower shadows
Su Shi (Song Dynasty)
Tr. E.C. Chang
On the marble terrace shadows pile one upon another during the day.
Despite my repeat demands, my servant failed to sweep them away.
The setting sun finally gets rid of them as it comes down.
But it will return in seconds whenever the bright moon is around.
和子由澠池懷舊
蘇軾（宋）
人生到處知何似，應似飛鴻踏雪泥。
泥上偶然留指爪，鴻飛那復計東西。
老僧已死成新塔，壞壁無由見舊題。
往日崎嶇還記否，路長人困蹇驢嘶。
Responding to Ziyou’s Poem: Remembering Mianchi
Su Shi (Song Dynasty)
Tr. E.C. Chang
What is this drifting life like? Do you know?
It is like a wild goose treading on the snow.
Its tracks are left on the soil without knowing why.
And the wild goose does not care where to fly?
A new memorial pagoda for the old monk rises above his burial place.
The poems we once wrote on the ruined wall are gone without a trace.
Do you remember the time when we were traveling on the rugged road?
The lame donkey brayed; we were tired and still have a long way to go.
Footnote: Ziyou was Su Shi’s younger brother.
贈劉景文
蘇軾（宋）
荷盡已無擎雨蓋，
菊殘猶有傲霜枝。
一年好景君須記，
最是橙黃橘綠時。
To Liu Jingwen
Su Shi (Song dynasty)
Tr. E. C. Chang
The umbrella-looking leaves of lotus are no longer standing.
The frosty stalks of the withered chrysanthemum still resist falling.
Be sure to remember the year’s best time and scene:
When oranges turn yellow and tangerines look green.
山園小梅
林逋 (宋)
眾芳搖落獨暄妍，佔盡風情向小園。
疏影橫斜水清淺，暗香浮動月黃昏。
霜禽欲下先偷眼，粉蝶如知合斷魂。
幸有微吟可相狎，不須檀板共金樽。
The Small Plum Tree in My Garden on the Hill
by Lin Bu (Song Dynasty)
tr. E. C. Chang
The plum tree is the only one in blossom after all other flowers have fallen.
So lovely, it is now the center of attention and affection in this small garden.
Its sparse shadows, in irregular pattern, float on the water so shallow and clear.
The faint fragrance at dusk can be felt as the bright moon begins to appear.
A bird, in the chill, peeps at the blossoms before it flies down to the twig.
If butterflies were around, they would definitely be fascinated by it.
I am fortunate enough to stand nearby chanting a few poetic lines.
I need neither clappers nor a wine jar to harmonize my rhymes. 
歲晚感懷
張暢繁
垂暮深知路漸窮。悠閒未盡近龍鍾。
良朋消失如群雁，老伴相依若兩松。
飲食隨心濃也淡，行為放縱靜而瘋。
天涯上網能常見，雲裡書圖入万瞳。
Sunset Years
During our sunset years, we will finally realize that the end of our path is near.
Happy days will soon be over and our bones may deteriorate beyond repair.
Good friends have vanished like geese disappearing in the sky.
Only our old companions still support us like two entwined pines.
So long as it is a balanced diet, eat whatever we like to satisfy our appetite.
Let them call us crazy or quiet, just do anything to please our body and mind.
We can still see old or new friends thousand miles away by surfing the net.
A library of books and pictures can enter our eyes from the clouds and air.
鷓鴣天 成就
張暢繁
為利為名賺大錢。
身家億萬有油田。
澄湖美屋兼游艇，
美酒佳肴赴盛筵。
人世短，命難延。
高脂糖尿病魔纏。
求神拜佛終無效，
贏得鮮花積墓前。
Accomplishments
Tune: Zhe Gu Tian
Profit and fame drive him to accumulate a lot of money.
His assets exceed one billion dollars with his oil-rich property.
He owns a lakefront mansion and a luxury yacht nearby.
Every day, he enjoys gourmet food, banquets, and good wine.
Alas, life is too short!
It will soon come to a halt!
He is inflicted with high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and more.
Prayers to God or Buddha will be of no avail sooner or later.
Soon flowers in front of his tomb will keep shining thereafter.
向上攀
張暢繁 等到榮休尚未閒。
行山已覺路途艱。
低丘看鶴穿雲過﹐
幽徑臨泉聽水潺。
悟道研經開境界﹐
吟詩譯賦少愁顏。
庸才似我能成事﹐
逐步登高向上攀。
Climbing up Step by Step
In retirement, I still don’t have a lot of leisure time.
It is not easy now to walk up and down a hillside.
But I can watch cranes flying through the clouds ---
on a higher ground.
Or, on a quiet path, I can listen to the spring water’s murmuring sound.
Studying classics and inspirational pieces can expand my mental space.
Chanting or translating poetry and the like can relax my face.
A mediocre person like me can still achieve something in life.
It is because I climb up step by step to reach my own height.
将进酒
李白 君不见，黄河之水天上来，奔流到海不复回。
君不见，高堂明镜悲白发，朝如青丝暮成雪。
人生得意须尽欢，莫使金樽空对月，
天生我材必有用，千金散尽还复来。
烹羊宰牛且为乐，会须一饮三百杯。
岑夫子！丹丘生！
将进酒；君莫停。
与君歌一曲，请君为我侧耳听。
钟鼓馔玉不足贵，但愿长醉不愿醒。
古来圣贤皆寂寞，惟有饮者留其名。
陈王昔时宴平乐，斗酒十千恣欢谑。
主人何为言少钱，径须沽取对君酌。
五花马， 千金裘。
呼儿将出换美酒，与尔同消万古愁。 Get Ready for the wine Li Bai
Tr. E. C. Chang
君不見黃河之水天上來，奔流到海不復回。
Don’t you see the water coming down from the sky to the yellow river?
It rushes all the way, without turning back, to be with the sea water.
君不見高堂明鏡悲白髮，朝如青絲暮成雪。
Don’t you see the lamentable white hair in the mirror of the great hall?
It looks like black silks in the morning but snow at nightfall?
人生得意須盡歡，莫使金樽空對月。
Whenever you are doing great, be sure to fully enjoy life.
Don’t ever show the moon an empty cup without wine!
天生我才必有用，千金散盡還復來。
My God-given talent will never be wasted in vain.
Once spent, a thousand gold coins will come again.
烹羊宰牛且為樂，會須一飲三百杯。
Let’s cook lamb and beef to please our body and mind.
Why not drink in a row three hundred cups of wine?
岑夫子，丹丘生，將進酒﹐杯莫停。
Master Cen and Scholar Danqiu,
Please get ready for the wine!
Don’t put your cups aside!
與君歌一曲，請君為我傾耳聽。
I will sing you a song immediately.
Please lend me your ears and listen carefully.
鐘鼓饌玉何足貴，但願長醉不願醒。
Wonderful music and delicious food are really not that important.
Ah, how I wish to remain drunken and not be awaken!
古來聖賢皆寂寞，唯有飲者留其名。
Scholars and sages are the lonely people since ancient time.
Only the names of wine drinkers will be known even after they die.
陳王昔時宴平樂，斗酒十千恣歡謔。
Cao Zhi, the Prince of Chen, once held a banquet at the Pingle Palace.
For enjoyment, a dou of wine for ten thousand coins was a fair price.
主人為何言少錢，逕須沽取對君酌。
How can you, the host, say you are short of money for the wine?
Let’s go get it right away so that we will drink together and have a great time.
五花馬，千金裘，呼兒將出換美酒，與爾同消萬古愁。
Come over here, son, go exchange the precious horse and fur for the fine wine.
Let us drink to our heart’s content until we get rid of all the sorrows since ancient time!
李白詩 阿鏜曲 倪百聰唱 吳佳倫鋼琴伴奏 Go to page "lyrics and song" for more.
詩與邏輯 張暢繁
名句總朦朧。
情濃景也豐。
花流傷感淚﹐
鳥怨別離風。
白髮長千丈﹐
秋霜滿曉穹。
誇張人性化﹐
違理卻由衷。
李白：白髮三千丈。
張繼：月落烏啼霜滿天。
Poetry and Logic
Famous verse lines tend to be misty in meaning.
Scenery, when fused into emotion, could communicate
like a human being.
Thus, flowers, in sadness, shed their tears.
Birds blamed the wind for separating them in despair.
Li Bai likened his sorrow to the thousand-feet-long white hair.
To Zhang Ji, the sky was pervaded by the autumn frost everywhere.
Lines of personification, though exaggerating
and illogical, can indeed reveal one’s genuine feeling.
長恨歌 （唐） 白居易
漢王重色思傾國，御宇多年求不得。
楊家有女初長成，養在深閨人未識。
天生麗質難自棄，一朝選在君王側。
回眸一笑百媚生，六宮粉黛無顏色。
春寒賜浴華清池，溫泉水滑洗凝脂。
侍兒扶起嬌無力，始是新承恩澤時。
雲鬢花顏金步搖，芙蓉帳暖度春宵。
春宵苦短日高起，從此君王不早朝。
承歡侍宴無閑暇，春從春遊夜專夜。
後宮佳麗三千人，三千寵愛在一身。
Song of Everlasting Regret
By Bai Ju Yi
Translated by E. C. Chang
漢王重色思傾國，御宇多年求不得。
The Han emperor was obsessed with finding an unsurpassable beauty.
Royal search for years failed to meet the criteria of His Majesty.
楊家有女初長成，養在深閨人未識。
A daughter had grown into womanhood in the Yang family.
Growing up in the women’s chamber, she was not known for being pretty and lovely.
天生麗質難自棄，一朝選在君王側。
A born beauty was not supposed to be left alone.
So, one day she was chosen to stand beside the throne.
回眸一笑百媚生，六宮粉黛無顏色。
She was so seductive when she glanced back with a smile.
All court ladies were overshadowed as if they appeared under gloomy light.
春寒賜浴華清池，溫泉水滑洗凝脂。
She was called up to bathe in the Hua Qing Pool in the chill of early spring.
Powder and grease were washed away with the smooth water in the hot spring.
侍兒扶起嬌無力，始是新承恩澤時。
So frail and delicate, she stood up with the help of the maids.
This marked the beginning of receiving the emperor’s grace.
雲鬢花顏金步搖，芙蓉帳暖度春宵。
Tingling ornaments were above her cloud-like hair and flower-like face.
She spent her rendezvous spring night inside the warm hibiscus canopy.
春宵苦短日高起，從此君王不早朝。
The rising sun cut short the night of rendezvous in spring.
Thereafter the emperor was late for the audience in the morning.
承歡侍宴無閑暇，春從春遊夜專夜。
She accompanied him for feasts and joyful activities all the time.
After spring outing, they still enjoyed being together for the night.
後宮佳麗三千人，三千寵愛在一身。
He could have chosen from any of the three thousand harems.
But his true love was exclusively devoted to only one person.
Note: Go to Page "Bai Ju Yi" for the complete poem.
未來歲月
張暢繁
垂暮流光去更匆。
未來歲月要從容。
盈虛儘可隨君意﹐
得失猶如起陣風。
複雜常愁深當淺﹐
單純無慮富和窮。
人生苦痛誰能免﹐
歡樂情懷一笑中。
From This Point On
---Reflections on a cruise ship --
At old age, time really seems to fly.
From this point on, just take it easy and have a good time.
It is up to you to decide what “fullness and emptiness” mean.
Any gain or loss can be likened to an occasional wind.
Some make simple things complicated to avoid the “unsophisticated” labeling.
Others, rich or poor, just enjoy the simple way of living.
Who on earth can avoid pains or sufferings in life?
Happy feelings can indeed begin with just a smile.
大風歌 (漢) 劉邦
大風起兮雲飛揚，
威加海內兮歸故鄉。
安得猛士兮守四方？
Song of the Great Wind
Liu Bang (Han Dynasty)
As the great wind rises, the clouds soar upward and fly.
I return in triumph to my native land with my head held high.
Where can I find brave men to guard my frontiers on all sides?
梅花 (宋) 王安石
牆角數枝梅，
凌寒獨自開。
遙知不是雪，
為有暗香來。
Plum Flowers
by Wang An Shi
tr. E. C. Chang
Several plum trees around the wall put on a show.
They are the only ones blooming in the bitter cold.
I know from the distance they are not snow.
For their faint fragrance finds its way to my nose.
梅花(宋)王安石
視野
張暢繁
南來雙雁越千山。見盡江河喜往還。
入壑臨淵迎朗月。凌雲展翼落林間。
井蛙難見流星墮，洞鼠焉明雪水潺。
視野一開心亦闊，尋真為樂向高攀。
Field of Vision
Two wild geese from the south fly over
numerous mountains and hills.
Be the journey northbound or southbound,
they always enjoy the sight of lakes and rivers.
They may greet the bright moon near the cliff or
in the valley for the night.
Before taking a perch in the woods, they may
spread their wings and soar to the sky.
Frogs confined to a well rarely see
a meteor shower.
Mice in the cavern can hardly grasp
the sound of snow-melting water.
You can broaden your mind by
expanding your visual field.
Whether you are searching for truth or for pleasures,
you can always reach a new height.
Photographer Jeff Berkes caught this Perseid meteor over Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah, on July 30, 2011. (Jeff Berkes/Space.com)
老子 道德經
第二章
天下皆知美之為美，斯惡已；皆知善之為善，斯不善已。
故有無相生，難易相成，長短相形，高下相傾，音聲相和，前後相隨。
是以聖人處無為之事，行不言之教，萬物作焉而不辭，生而不有，為而不恃，功成而弗居。夫唯弗 居，是以不去。
Dao De Jing
by Laozi
tr. E. C. Chang
Chapter Two
Beauty is known to all as beauty because the concept of ugliness exists.
Goodness is known to all as goodness because the concept of badness exists.
The following concepts are contrary but complementary to each other. Without one, the other cannot exist. For example, the following antonyms are used to indicate the degree of continuity, difficulty, lengthiness, tallness, harmony, and sequence.
Being and non-being;
Hard and easy;
Long and short;
High and low;
Voice and sound;
After and before.
Therefore, the sage practice “wuwei” () by letting things take their own course. He does not teach by verbal instruction.
He let myriad things follow their own course, but does not give up on them.
He lets all things initiate their own action, but does not take possession of them.
He provides guidance, but does not try to influence them.
He does not take credit for his success.
By not taking credit for his success, his accomplishments will prevail.
(1) Wuwei literally means non-action, refers to philosophy of lettings things follow a natural course with minimum guidance and interference.
For other chapters, please go to the page: Dao De Jing.
紅豆詞 曹雪芹
滴不盡相思血淚拋紅豆﹐
開不完春柳春花滿畫樓 ﹔
睡不穩紗窗風雨黃昏後﹔
忘不了新愁與舊愁。
咽不下玉粒金波噎滿喉﹐
瞧不盡鏡里花容瘦﹔
展不開眉頭﹔
挨不明更漏 ﹔
呀﹗
恰似遮不住的青山隱隱﹐
流不斷的綠水悠悠。
呀﹗
Red Bean Song
by Cao Xue Qin
tr. E. C. Chang
I cast the red beans away one by one
to keep my lovesick tears from falling.
So much to see around the pavilion
with blooming flowers and willows in the spring!
So difficult to fall asleep at night when wind
and rain knock at the window screen!
So hard to forget new sorrows and old pains!
So nauseous to swallow fine food and wine!
So scary to see the image in the mirror
becoming blue and thin!
How can I stop knitting eyebrows!
How can I stand such slow pace of night!
Oh! Oh!
It is just like the blue mountains in a misty scene.
It is just like the green water never ceases flowing
in the stream!
Oh! Oh!
红豆词 (Red Bean Poem) - 吴碧霞
Go to page "lyrics and songs" for more
送别
李叔同
長亭外，
古道邊，
芳草碧連天。
晚風拂柳笛聲殘，
夕陽山外山。
天之涯，
地之角，
知交半零落。
一瓢濁酒盡余歡，
今宵別夢寒。
Parting Song
by Li Shu Tong
tr. E. C. Chang
Outside the pavilion,
by the side of the ancient road.
Green grass stretches to the edge of sky.
Willows are brushed by the evening wind.
The sound of flute can be heard lingering.
Sunset glow beyond hills and mountains is on the wane.
From the edge of the sky to the four corners of the earth,
half of my boson friends will never be seen again.
With a jug of unstrained wine,
let’s drink to our heart’s content for the last time.
For our parting dream will be chilly tonight. 送别 - The Parting Classical version - 歌手：青燕子
老子 道德經
第一章
道可道，非常道。名可名，非常名。
無名天地之始；有名萬物之母。
故常無欲以觀其妙；常有欲以觀其徼。
此兩者，同出而異名，同謂之玄。玄之又玄，眾妙之門。 Dao De Jing
by Laozi
tr. E. C. Chang
Chapter One
The Dao that can be expressed in words is not the original Dao (1)
The name that can be assigned as a label is not the original name.
Through wu, (2) the universe begins.
Through you (3) identification of all things begins.
Thus, with wu, one can sense Dao’s subtleties.
With you, one can only observe its external attributes.
These two are from the same source with two different names.
Wu and you are the profoundest of all profundities. They are the gateway to all subtleties. Both are referred to as profundity.
1 The fact that Dao (道) has been translated into so many different terms (such as Way, Directions, Providence, Reason, Absolute Tao, Tao-Path, God, Road, etc.) with different meanings seems to have validated the first sentence that Dao (whatever it is) is indescribable.
2 Wu (无) refers to those intrinsic qualities that may be expressed as: nothingness, emptiness, non-being, nameless, hollowness, non-existence, invisibility, and imperceptibility.
3 you (有) refers to those extrinsic attributes that can be observed or measured. It includes such concepts as: being, existing, presence, manifestation, existence, fullness, and visibility. For the other chapters, go to Laozi: Dao De Jing.
臨江仙
楊慎
滾滾長江東逝水，
浪花淘盡英雄。
是非成敗轉頭空。
青山依舊在，
幾度夕陽紅。
白髮漁樵江渚上，
慣看秋月春風。
一壺濁酒喜相逢。
古今多少事，
都付笑談中。
Billows surge eastward in the Yangtze River
Tune: Lin Jiang Xian
by Yang Shen (Ming dynasty)
tr. E. C. Chang
Billows surge eastward in the Yangtze River.
Spindrifts washed away all heroes in the water.
Right or wrong, in victory or in defeat,
all battles, looking back, were superfluous indeed.
The green mountains are still there.
Time after time the setting sun glows in red.
Some hoary-headed fishermen and woodcutters
gather on the islet.
They are so used to the autumn moon and spring breeze.
With a bottle of unstrained wine,
they greet each other with great delight.
So many events, past and present, have become the topics
of conversation as they laugh and chat. 杨洪基《滚滚长江东逝水》(三国演义)主题曲
題都城南庄
崔護
去年今日此門中，
人面桃花相映紅。
人面不知何處去，
桃花依舊笑春風。
Inscription of a Poem on the Wall
by Cui Hu
tr. E. C. Chang
At this door last year on this day.
Shining upon each other were
the peach blossoms and a flushed face.
Today, the face can nowhere be seen.
Only the peach blossoms are still there,
smilingly greeting the spring wind. Youtube Video
長生 張暢繁
君問長生我不知。非賢非聖只猜疑。
微塵幼草涵深理，地府天堂啟邃思。
讚美修行神易倦，誦經祈福意難持。
全心奉獻無求報，充實今朝樂此時。
Eternal Life
You asked about eternal life,
but I don’t have an answer.
I can only guess as I am neither
a sage nor a wise thinker.
The universal truth is revealed
in the fine dust or tiny grass.
The idea of paradise and hell
is too profound for me to ponder.
Glorifying the almighty or practicing
Buddhist rules can overwhelm me.
To recite the sutra or pray for favors
consistently is not an easy task for me.
I can only devote myself to a course
without expecting external rewards.
Learn as much as I can today
and enjoy life now without delay.
個別差異 張暢繁
幽蘭清雅牡丹妍。鸚鵡仿言反舌喧。
丙喜山峰丁逐水，甲輕名利乙貪錢。
多元體系催豪傑，專制思潮抑俊賢。
格調不同人各異，百花齊放亮江邊。
Individual differences Orchid is known for elegance
as peony is for beauty.
Parrots can imitate spoken words
while mockingbirds sing noisily.
Bing enjoys mountain climbing,
but Ding seeks fun in surfboarding.
Jia cares little about fame and wealth
while Yi has insatiable greed for money.
Talents and gifted are encouraged
in systems of diversity.
The capable and virtuous are suppressed
in a dictatorial and ideological society.
People do differ from each other
in artistic or literary style.
Let a hundred flowers bloom and shine
along the riverside. 
海灘閒思 張暢繁
閒來喜到望灣樓。四面無山有海鷗。
清茗一杯明睡眼，浪花萬點遣輕愁。
少年逐浪歡長夏，長者行灘愛晚秋。
尋樂不同人各異，我求平靜月當頭。
Random Thoughts at the Beach
When I am free I like to visit the bay-watching tower.
No mountains are in view, but seagulls can be seen flying over the water.
A cup of green tea helps to refresh my sleepy eyes.
Myriad of spindrifts keep my spirit from low to high.
Youngsters who enjoy surfing often prefer the long summer.
Walking on the beach in late autumn are mainly retired seniors.
People do differ widely in their pleasure-seeking path.
I enjoy the tranquility when the bright moon shines above my head.
| 
