Year Fri, 2012-04-20 12:00 Translation Chang Jian (708-765) 常建 Behind Broken Mountain’s Buddhist Temple, a Meditation Room 題破山寺後禪院 Peaceful morning, early,entering the ancient temple 清晨入古寺 The sun beginsto shine through the forest’s lofty trees 初日照高林 A winding pathleads to a tranquil spot: 曲徑通幽處 The meditation room,with flowers and trees profound 禪房花木深 Shining mountain,delightful as the soul of birds 山光悅鳥性 Deep pool reflection:an empty person’s heart 潭影空人心 Thousands of bamboo flutes:and here, it’s utterly still 萬籟此俱寂 All that remainsis the chiming bell 惟餘鐘磬音 Literal Notes: 1. This is one representative piece from Chang Jian’s poetry. The first two verses form a perfectly matching couplet. 2. His poetry works were said to focus on the lofty themes, with rare angles. Original Chinese Traditional Simplified Pronunciation 常建 常建 cháng jiàn 題破山寺後禪院 题破山寺后禅院 tí pò shān sì hòu chán yuàn 清晨入古寺， 清晨入古寺， qīng chén rù gǔ sì, 初日照高林。 初日照高林。 chū rì zhào gāo lín. 曲徑通幽處， 曲径通幽处， Qū jìng tōng yōu chù, 禪房花木深。 禅房花木深。 chán fáng huā mù shēn. 山光悅鳥性， 山光悦鸟性， Shān guāng yuè niǎo xìng, 潭影空人心。 潭影空人心。 tán yǐng kōng rén xīn. 萬籟此俱寂， 万籁此俱寂， Wàn lài cǐ jù jì, 惟餘鐘磬音。 惟余钟磬音。 wéi yú zhōng qìng yīn. Literal Translation 常建 Always Established=Chang Jian(708-765) 題破山寺後禪院 Inscribe/theme/title/topic/subject Broken/damaged Mountain Temple/monastery back/behind/rear Buddhist/meditation/contemplation hall/courtyard[Broken/damaged Mountain Temple=a temple in Changshu, Jiangsu.] 清晨入古寺， Clear/pure/peaceful morning/early-morning enter/go-into ancient/old temple/monastery[Clear/pure morning= early morning] 初日照高林。 Initial/beginning sun shine/reflect/illuminate tall/high/lofty woods/forest/grove 曲徑通幽處， Winding/bent footpath/track/narrow-path go-through/lead-to/pass-through quiet/tranquil/peaceful/secluded/remote/hidden-away/serene place/spot/location 禪房花木深。 Buddhist/meditation/contemplation (monastery’s)room flower/blossoms woods/trees deep/profound 山光悅鳥性， Hill/mountain/peak light/beam/bright/brilliant/shine delight/pleased bird nature 潭影空人心。 Deep-pond/deep-pool/lake/deep/profound reflection/shadow/image vacant/empty/unoccupied/hollow/bare/deserted people’s heart/mind/soul 萬籟此俱寂， Ten-thousand/innumerable music/bamboo-flute/pipe this/here/these all/together/accompany/entirely/without-exception silent/solitary/quiet/still 惟餘鐘磬音。 Only/just/but/nevertheless/however to-leave/remain/remainder bell chime-stone/musical-stone/musical-instrument sound/tone/pitch Note: Liane Rui of Shanghai, China assisted with the notes and character tables. Rating Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet Rate