次北固山下
唐 · 王湾
客路青山外，
行舟绿水前。
潮平两岸阔，
风正一帆悬。
海日生残夜，
江春入旧年。
乡书何处达？
归雁洛阳边。
Passing by the Northern Mountains
My boat goes by green mountains high,
And passes through the river blue.
The banks seem wide at the full tide;
A sail with ease hangs in soft breeze.
The sun brings light born of last night;
New spring invades old year which fades.
How can I send word to my friend?
Homing wild geese, fly westward please!
(Translated by Xu Yuanchong)
Spring is believed to be the season of vitality and hope, and many Chinese poets have been inspired by it. Passing by the Northern Mountains written by Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wan (693-751) is one of them.
The poem begins with the descriptions of the scenery during his travels: The mountains are green, and the river is blue. In the soft breeze, the poet travels comfortably on the open water. Then, he sees the sunlight break the darkness of the previous night and learns that the spring is coming. On the surface, these lines only describe the scenery, but they actually describe the writer’s hope and positivity.
Wang lived during the most glorious period of the Tang Dynasty. In that era, young people could easily achieve their dreams, if they were aspirational and talented. As a young writer, Wang was full of hope and energy. Even so, when he sees the wild geese flying back home, his mind turns to his family and friends.
As well as its expression of the poet’s feelings through nature, the poem is also known for its beautiful rhythm. Xu Yuanchong’s translation helps to keep this feature. He uses the similar structure “Passing by ..., and pass through ...” in his translation to showcase the beauty of the rhythm in the poem.
《诗歌天地》栏目选自《21世纪学生英文报》（初中、高中），精选中国古诗词，结合著名翻译家许渊冲先生的英译文，与你一同品读中国文学的魅力，感受中国智慧的力量。
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