[updated September 2022]
Climb Heavenly Chang He, Leisurely Views Into the Distance
登 阊 阖 闲 望
阊 阖 寺 望 郁 苍 苍
始 觉 州 雄 土 俗 强。
十 万 夫 家 供 课 穗
五 千 子 弟 守 封 疆。
阖 闾 城 碧 铺 秋 草
鸟 鹊 桥 红 带 夕 阳。
处 处 楼 前 飘 管 吹
家 家 门 外 泊 舟 航。
云 埋 虎 寺 山 藏 色
月 耀 娃 宫 水 放 光。
曾 赏 钱 塘 兼 茂 苑
今 来 未 敢 苦 夸 张。
Deng Chang He Xian Wang
Chang he si wang yu cang cang
Shi jue zhou xiong tu su qiang.
Shi wan fu jia gong ke sui
Wu qian zi di shou feng jiang.
He lu cheng bi pu qiu cao
Niao que qiao hong dai xi yang.
Chu chu lou qian piao guan chui
Jia jia men wai bo zhou hang.
Yun mai hu si shan cang se
Yue yao wa gong shui gang guang.
Ceng shang qian tang jian mao yuan
Jin lai wei gan ku kua zhang.
Climb Heavenly Chang He, Leisurely Views Into the Distance
The views all around Chang He of lush green forests into the distance
Begin to find Suzhou with it’s abundant fertile soil.
Thousands of households pay their rural income taxes
A militia of five thousand to defend the frontier borders.
Main gate on the city walls, spreading bluish-greens of autumn grasses
The magpie bridge a red belt in the sunset light.
Before every building, long flute songs floating on the wind
Large and small boats docked outside every family’s door.
Clouds hiding the colors of the Hidden Tiger temple
Moon shining on transparent waters reflects the light.
Simultaneously enjoy the Qiantang River and flourishing orchards
This time when I return, will not make such a big to do.
Notes:
Chang He: Gate of the palace in heaven.
Suzhou: Large city located in Jiangsu Province. Famous for it’s classical gardens and in the production of silk for the silk trade.
Magpie Bridge: Connected to the Qixi Festival which is closely related to the Western celebration of lovers during Valentines Day. A mythological story of an Oxherd and Weaver Girl who are two stars in the sky. They are separated all year long, except on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month when they joined each other by traveling along a celestial bridge made by magpies.
Qiantang River: Large river in eastern China that runs through the city of Hangzhou. It is famous for being the largest tidal bore in the world, and as such it attracts large numbers of people to watch the large wave sweep past the city on it’s way out to the ocean.