Anthology · Chinese Culture · Chinese Literature · Classic · Collection · Compilation · Excerpt · Fragment · Passage · Poetry · Reference

Li Ch’ing-Chao

Deep in the silent inner roomEvery fiber of my soft heartTurns to a thousand strands of sorrow.I loved the Spring,But the Spring is goneAs rain hastens the falling petals.I lean on the balustrade,Moving from one end to the other.My emotions are still disordered.Where is he?Withered grass stretches to the horizonAnd hides from sightAny road by… Continue reading Li Ch’ing-Chao

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6th Dalai Lama · Buddhism · Chinese Culture · Chinese Literature · Classic · Collection · Dalai Lama · Excerpt · Fragment · Inspirational · Motivational · Passage · Poetry · Religion · Spiritual · Spiritual Leader · Spiritual Master · Spiritual Speaker · Spiritual Teacher · Spiritual Writer · Tantric · Wisdom · Yogi

Tsangyang Gyatso

Drawing diagrams I measuredMovements of the stars;Though her tender flesh is nearHer mind I cannot measure. —Tsangyang Gyatso, The Turquoise Bee: The Tantric Lovesongs of the Sixth Dalai Lama. (Harpercollins; 1st edition March 1994)

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American Culture · American Literature · Anthology · Asian Culture · Asian Literature · Chinese Culture · Chinese Literature · Classic · Collection · Compilation · Excerpt · Fragment · New Translation · Passage · Poetry · Translation

Kenneth Rexroth

O heart, heart, so singularlyIntransigent and corruptible,Here we lie entranced by the starlit water,And moments that should each last forever Slide unconsciously by us like water. — Kenneth Rexroth, from “Another Spring,” One Hundred Poems from the Chinese. (New Directions January 17, 1971) Originally published 1956.

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Anthology · Chinese Culture · Chinese Literature · Classic · Collection · Compilation · Excerpt · Lyric Poet · Passage · Poetry · Reference · Ruler · T'ang Poetry

Li Yu (c. 937 – 15 August 978)

One range of mountains, Two ranges of mountains, The mountains are far, the sky high, the mists and waters cold. My lingering thoughts have reddened the maple leaves. The chrysanthemums bloom, The chrysanthemums wither. The wild geese from the border fly high, but my love has not come home. The wind and the moon play… Continue reading Li Yu (c. 937 – 15 August 978)

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Ancient · Ancient Culture · Ancient Literature · Ancient Philosophy · Chinese Culture · Chinese philosophy · Classical · Emperor · Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period · Poetry · Traditional · Zen

Liu Ch’ang

The moon, emerging, Floats where clouds are not; Wind rises, Strikes the purity of night, Stars compete In trembling flickers, The Milky Way is empty, Clear, and bright. Old trees’ sparse shadows Intersperse. Scared birds cut off their Noises lingering. This autumn I am rapt In what’s already awry, While crickets campaign Again at night.… Continue reading Liu Ch’ang

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Anthology · Asian Culture · Chán master · Chinese Culture · Classic · Compilation · Excerpt · Fragment · Inspirational · Motivational · Passage · Poetry · Reference · Traditionalism · Zen

Wu Men

Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life. —Wu Men, from The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry. Translated by Stephen Mitchell (Harper and Row, 1989)

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American Culture · American Literature · Asian Culture · Chinese Culture · Contemporary · Excerpt · Online Anthology · Online Magazine · Passage · Periodical · Poetry

Wendy Xu

Maybe don’t for another minute be afraid of anything. Because swimming is really useful against drowning which you didn’t know until you tried it. And then your life was just massive regret. And then you thought about three purple blossoms in the hair of a beautiful girl. —  Wendy Xu, “Please Stand A While Longer… Continue reading Wendy Xu

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