Translation
| Wang Wei (701-761) | 王維 |
| Zhongnan Mountain Retreat | 終南別業 |
| | |
| In the middle of my life I was fond of the Buddhist Way; | 中歲 頗好道 |
| now my life is late and I’m at home, along the Southern Mountain. | 晚家 南山陲 |
| Desiring this lovely, solitary life, | 興來 美獨往 |
| superb of scenery—life’s affairs now gone from awareness. | 勝事 空自知 |
| Walking until the water’s edge, | 行到 水窮處 |
| I sit and watch as clouds rise up and appear. | 坐看 雲起時 |
| By chance, I happen upon an aged forest man; | 偶然 值林叟 |
| we talk and laugh, not returning—for we have time. | 談笑 無還期 |
Notes:
In this poem, Wang Wei talks about his life retired from worldly affairs, living in the mountains, and the peace he finds. The Southern Mountain is another name for the Zhongnan Mountain, which literally means Final Southern Mountain. The fifth and sixth verses are frequently quoted in China.
Original Chinese
| Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
| | | |
| 王維 | 王维 | Wáng Wéi |
| 終南別業 | 终南别业 | Zhōng nán bié yè |
| | | |
| 中歲頗好道， | 中岁颇好道， | Zhōng suì pō hào dào, |
| 晚家南山陲。 | 晚家南山陲。 | Wǎn jiā nán shān chuí. |
| 興來美獨往， | 兴来美独往， | Xìng lái měi dú wǎng, |
| 勝事空自知。 | 胜事空自知。 | Shèng shì kōng zì zhī. |
| 行到水窮處， | 行到水穷处， | Xíng dào shuǐ qióng chù, |
| 坐看雲起時。 | 坐看云起时。 | Zuò kàn yún qǐ shí. |
| 偶然值林叟， | 偶然值林叟， | Ŏu rán zhí lín sǒu, |
| 談笑無還期。 | 谈笑无还期。 | Tán xiào wú huán qī. |
Literal Notes
| 王維 | King Only=Wang Wei(701-761) |
| 終南別業 | Zhong/end/finally Nan/south other/another/separate property/line-of-business/profession/trade |
| | [Zhong Nan = Mt. Zhongnan, near Xi’an, Shaanxi.] [other/another property/line-of-business=refers to the poet’s house near Mt. Zhongnan.] |
| 中歲頗好道， | Middle/within/among/in/center/during/midst years(of age) rather/quite/considerably fond-of/prone-to/have-a-tendency-to/good/excellent/fine Dao(of Daoism)/direction/way/road/path/principle /truth/morality/reason [fond-of Dao = “do not tell me...,” “could it be that?”] |
| 晚家南山陲。 | Late/evening/night home/family South Mountain frontier/border [South Mountain = another name for Mt. Zhongnan] |
| 興來美獨往， | Feeling-to-do/desire-to-do/excitement/interest-in come/arrive/ever-since/next satisfactory/beautiful/pleasing alone/single/solitary/independent go/to/towards [satisfactory/beautiful/pleased-with-oneself = each time] |
| 勝事空自知。 | Superb(of vista)/beautiful(scenery)/ wonderful(view) matter/thing/item/work/affairs empty/unoccupied/leisure/free-time self/from/since know/be-aware-of/perceive/comprehend |
| 行到水窮處， | Walk/go/travel/do to-go/arrive/up-to/until water/river exhausted/poor/destitute/impoverished place/location/spot/reside/dwell |
| 坐看雲起時。 | Sit/take-a-seat/ride see/look-at/watch/consider clouds rise/appear time/period/when |
| 偶然值林叟， | Accidental/coincidental right/thus/like-this happen-to forest/woods/grove old-man/old-gentleman/elder [Accidental right/thus/like-this = occasional, by chance, incidentally, randomly] |
| 談笑無還期。 | Talk/converse/chat/discuss/speak/conversation laugh/smile no/not-to-have return/still/yet time/period |
Year:
2012
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