Hi, dear readers, it is time to share the ancient Chinese poem again. Today I want to introduce you a famous poem titled "Viewing the Tianmen Mountains/望天门山” from the Immortal Poet Libai/李白.
It is said that the author wrote it when he was a 25-year-old young man who left his family and hometown in Si Chuan province at the first time. During his journey, he was inspired by the magnificent and splendid nature of Tianmen Mountain and Chu River different from his hometown. He couldn't help singing high praise of the beautiful landscape and expressing his joyful emotions. The whole poem exudes a youthful and optimistic atmosphere. At the same time, legend has it that Libai died by drowning in the same Chu River while he was drunken on a boat, trying to chase after the moon in the water. Although there are a few different versions of his death, I would rather to believe he died of grasping the moon, which just matches up with his romantic spirit.
Without any further ado, let's enjoy the poem together.
望天门山
(李白)
天门中断楚江开，(kai)
碧水东流至此回。
两岸青山相对出，
孤帆一片日边来。(lai)
In this poem, the first sentence and the last one rhyme with 'ai'. And there is the perfect antithesis, too, such as 两岸/both banks matches 孤帆/lonely boat; 出/go matches 来/come, etc.
As before, here I just offer 2 versions of its English translation, so you can compare them by yourself and judge which one you like more.
Viewing the Tianmen Mountains
(Its translator is unknown. )
The split in the Tianmen Mountains allows the Chu River to flow.
The blue waters running east turns to eddies here.
Green cliffs on both sides gradually unfold themselves.
Afar a solitary sail is coming from where the sun sheds its light.
Below is some geographic information about this poem for reference:
The Tianmen Mountains is the overall name for both East Liangshan(东梁山) and West Liangshan(西梁山). They are situated to the southwest of the county seat of Dangtu(当涂) in Anhui Province, one on each side of the Yangtze River. What's more, historical records clearly show that Libai died and was buried in Dangtu county.
Chu River is that part of the Yangtze River which runs through what was formerly called the land of Chu(楚) of the Warring States Period. Yangtze River is the longest river of China originated from Tibet Plateau, pouring into the East China sea by Shanghai.
The second version is the same from the famous translator Xu Yuanchong whose English version is well-known for the rhyming.
Mount Heaven's Gate Viewed from Afar
Breaking Mount Heaven's Gate, the great River rolls through,
Its east-flowing green billows, hurled back here, turn north.
From the two river banks thrust out the mountains blue,
Leaving the sun behind, a lonely sail comes forth.
Oh, the green water, the blue mountains, the red sun and the white sail... What a gorgeous picture!
I hope you relish this classical ancient Chinese poem which is one of my favorites and learn something new about China.