One Of The Most Well-known Chinese Poem

[joynone]

The poem was wrote by Li Bai and is one of the most well-known poem in China,most of Chinese people are able to recite it by heart.

Night Thoughts
by Li Bai

I wake, and moonbeams play around my bed,

Glittering like hoar-frost to my wandering eyes;

Up towards the glorious moon I raise my head,

Then lay me down---and thoughts of home arise.

If you want to learn Chinese poem,you can't avoid the poet.I think I should introduce him.The following introduction comes from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Bai



Li Bai or Li Po (李白)(701-762) was a Chinese poet who lived during the Tang Dynasty.



His name was traditionally pronounced Li Bo or Li Po (depending on the romanisation), hence the familiar name Li Po by which he has long been known in the West. However, the use of the pronunciation 'bó' (pinyin romanisation), originally associated with the reading of Classical Chinese, has largely disappeared in modern China, partly as a result of language planning and standardisation.



Called the Poet Immortal, Li Bai is often regarded, along with Du Fu, as one of the two greatest poets in China's literary history. Approximately 1,100 of his poems remain today. The Western world was introduced to Li Bai's works through the very liberal translations of Japanese versions of his poems made by Ezra Pound.



Li Bai is best known for the extravagant imagination and striking Taoist imagery in his poetry, as well as for his great love for liquor. Like Du Fu, he spent much of his life travelling, although in his case it was because his wealth allowed him to, rather than because his poverty forced him. He is said to have drowned in the Yangtze River, having fallen from his boat while drunkenly trying to embrace the reflection of the moon.

[RobinHood3000]

Aye, I remember studying that poem...'tis truly beautiful. A singular, fulsome sentiment expressed in a lovely rhyme. Of course, in Chinese, the scheme is aaba, which is perhaps even more testament to Li Bai's skill.

[joynone]

Wow,it is amazing that you know the poem so well.I don't like translated version of any text.but you know,no one can master every language.

[Silv]

Hm..I have to say though, his poem loses a lot of its original beauty once translated to English. The words become awkward and the rhyme scheme is destroyed. I guess it's the same for a lot of other translations from foreign languages to English. As far as I know, the only way to truly appreciate the beauty of a piece is to look at it in the form its author wished for it to be in. Not only that, culturally it is sometimes difficult for people to relate. Knowing both the language and the culture adds a great deal of depth o.o

Still, I love that poem. <3

Here it is, in all its original entirety:

夜思

床前 明月光
疑是地上霜
举头望明月
低头思故乡

[Poetess]

Li Bai is best known for the extravagant imagination and striking Taoist imagery in his poetry, as well as for his great love for liquor. Like Du Fu, he spent much of his life travelling, although in his case it was because his wealth allowed him to, rather than because his poverty forced him. He is said to have drowned in the Yangtze River, having fallen from his boat while drunkenly trying to embrace the reflection of the moon.

What is Taoist Imagery?