Lotus with their umbrellas folded

Slideshow  Google Map  Timeline  Timemap  Text Mode  Comments (0)

Presented To Liu Ching-wen

Su Shi 1036-1101 Lotuses have withered         they put no umbrellas to the rain; one branceh of chrysanthemeum          holds out against the frost. Good sights of all the year          I'd have you remember, but especially now         with citrons yellow                  and tangerines still green

Zèng Liu Jǐngwén

Sū Shì 1036-1101 Hé jìn yǐ wú qíng yǔ gài, Jú cán yóu yǒu ào shuāng zhī. Yi nián hǎo jǐng jūn xū jì, Zhèngshì chénghuángjúlǜ.

Translator:

Burton Watson 華茲生

Notes: Written in 1090 when Su was govenor of Hangzhou. Liu Jingwen 1033-1092 was an official friend of Su there. Surely it is an example of Su's optomistic approach to life; even as the lotus and chrysanthemum are dying the oranges and tangerines are glowing brightly! This poem became so popular that even to this day the expression 橙黃橘綠, is synonmous with autumn. See alternate translation by Dongbo.

Related Items:

Hángzhōu 杭州

Xīhú 西湖

Zhènjiāng 鎮江