Title: Looking Out on the Han River
▪ 汉江临眺
Author: Wang Wei ▪ 王维
Poetic Form: lǜshī ▪ 律诗Apologies, individual character links no longer available for this poem...1. (楚 + 塞) + (三 + 湘) + 接
(the state of Chu + stronghold) + (three + Xiang
river) + to connect
gloss: The Chu fortress [lies where] the three
Xiang rivers flow together
2. (荆 + 门) + ((九 + 派) + 通)
(Jing + gate) + ((nine + tributary) + to pass
through)
gloss: Nine tributaries pass through JingMen
3. 江 + 流 + (天 + 地) + 处
river + to flow + (sky + earth) + outside
gloss: The rivers flow beyond the world
4. (山 + 色) + (有 + 无 + 中)
(mountain + face) + (to have + no + center)
gloss: The mountains appear and disappear
5. (郡 + 邑) + 浮 + 前 + 浦
(village + town) + to float + ahead + banks
gloss: Villages and towns float by on the river
banks
6. (波 + 澜) + 动 + (远 + 空)
(wave + billow) + to move + (distant + sky)
gloss: The waves make the far-off sky move
7. (襄 + 阳) + 好 + (风 + 日)
(Xiang + Yang) + good + (wind + sun)
gloss: The scenery in XiangYang is beautiful
8. (留 + 醉) + 与 + (山 + 翁)
(to remain + drunk) + with + (mountain + old
man)
gloss: [I] shall remain [merrily] drunk with the
mountain's old man (Shan Jian, a historical
personage)
Looking Out on the Han River
translation by Jessica Alexander ©
At the Chu border, three waters merge,and through the Jing gate nine tributaries flow free,the river rushes off the edge of the world,mountains rise verdant then melt away,towns and villages bob along the shores,while waves rattle the far-off skies.Xiangyang is so beautiful
we shall drink on with the mountain's merry lord.