《初識茶花》陳與義(1090-1138) 《First Encounter with Tea Flower》Chen Yu Yi
伊軋籃輿不受催 Bamboo sedan carriers sing as they slowly go
湖南秋色更佳哉 Autumn scenes south of the lake are beautiful to behold
青裙玉面初相識 Tea leaves and flowers are my first encounters
九月茶花滿路開 In the ninth moon they are wherever I saunter
《和梅公儀嘗建茶》歐陽修(1007-1072) 《Tasting Tea from Fujian》Ouyang Xiu
溪山擊鼓助雷驚 They roll drums at Qi Hill to wake up the tea trees
逗曉靈芽發翠莖 Before daybreak they pick tender stems and leaves
摘處兩旗香可愛 Where buds open to two leaves their fragrance protrude
貢來雙鳳品尤精 Tea for the Emperor are marked with phoenix images true Continue reading
《採茶詞》高啟(1336-1374) 《Tea Picking Song》Gao Qi
雷過溪山碧雲暖 Thunders gone white clouds return to warm Qi Hill
幽叢半吐槍旗短 On top of tea shrubs new shoots are short still
銀釵女兒相應歌 Wearing silver hair pins maidens sing songs in duets
筐中摘得誰最多 To compare whose basket has gatherings fully filled Continue reading
《夔州竹枝茶》范成大(1126-1193) 《A Sichuan Folk Song》Fan Cheng Da
白頭老媼簪紅花 An old woman puts a red brooch on her hair white
黑頭女娘三髻丫 A black hair female dons a three-pronged bun high
背上兒眠上山去 Piggybacking her sleeping babe she climbs up the hill
采桑已閑當采茶 After mulberry leaves she has tea leaves to pick still
《寄獻新茶》曾鞏(1019-1083) 《Sending a Gift of New Tea》Zheng Gu
種處地靈偏得日 They grow in terrains where sunrays visit first
摘時春早未聞雷 Leaves are picked in early spring before thunder bursts
京師萬里爭先到 Ten thousand miles to the Capital they hurry to deliver
應得慈親手自開 Only mother can do the brewing right with loving care
《歲晏村居》介石(1005-1045) 《Village Life towards Year End》Jie Shi
歲晏有餘糧 Foods are plenty even towards year end
杯盤氣味長 Platters of wines and meats are prepared on hand
天寒酒腳落 Folks drink full cups of wine in cold day meals
春近臛頭香 Anticipating spring fragrant meaty broths are procured Continue reading
《詠茶》丁謂(966-1033) 《In Praise of Tea》Ding Wei
建水正寒清 Water from Jian Stream is cool and clean
茶民已夙興 Tea farmers rise early feeling keen
萌芽生社雨 Tender leaves appear before Festival Grain and Rain
採掇帶春水 Picking them one avoids not the frost of spring Continue reading
《書友人屋壁》魏野(960-1019) 《Written on the Wall of a Friend’s House》Wei Ye
達人輕祿位 A wise man views powerful positions not inviting
居處傍林泉 Settling house near woods and springs
洗硯魚吞墨 Washing his inkwell he feeds fishes with ink
烹茶鶴避煙 Brewing tea birds fly away to avoid smoking Continue reading
《穎公遺碧霄峰茶》梅堯臣(1002-1060) 《Green Cliff Zenith Tea》Mei Yau Zhen
到山春已晚 I arrive at the mountain in late spring
何更行新茶 Why new tea still available to reign
峰頂應多雨 High up in the peak rains are plentiful
天寒始發芽 Tender leaves await cold weather to show Continue reading
《建茶》晏殊(991-1055) 《Jian On Tea》Yan Shu
北苑中春岫幌開 Hills in Fujian are showing signs of mid-spring
裡民清曉駕肩來 Farmers carry baskets to train up the slope for tea picking
豐隆已助新芽出 Thunders and rains are hurrying tender leaves to thrive
更作歡聲動地摧 Chorus of joy shattering the earth here and there rise