Adam 仔本學期選修一科中國歴史。從1911 年開始到現代。
昨晚與他FaceTime.
“Dad, the class is very interesting. Professor is very good”
“White man?” I asked.
“Yes, he said we should not use simplified Chinese, 繁體字 has beauty.”
“I learnt Sun Zhongshan, Yuan Shikai, Lushun”
“Wow! You should learn to write these names in Chinese.”
《Pining for a Friend in summer》 Meng Hao Ran (689-740) 江紹倫譯
山光忽西落 Daylight fades abruptly beyond the west hill
池月漸東上 Up from the eastern waters the moon climbing still
散發乘夕涼 I loosen my hair to enjoy the cool night
開軒臥閒敞 Leaving window open I lie in bed so nigh
荷風送香氣 From the lotus pond the breeze brings a wonderful fragrance
竹露滴清響 From bamboo tops dews drip their sound so softly clear
欲取鳴琴彈 How I like to play my lute merry here
恨無知音賞 But I know no music lover is around to share
感此懷故人 So I pine for you my friend dear
中宵勞夢想 In my dream tonight you will appear
古文粵譯：鄭伯克段於鄢
鄭伯克段於鄢(左傳) 初，鄭武公娶于申，曰武姜，生莊公及共叔段。莊公寤生，驚姜氏，故名曰寤生，遂惡之。愛共叔段，欲立之。亟請於武公，公弗許。
呢件事由頭開始講：鄭武公娶申國的女子武姜，生左莊公及共叔段。莊公出生時係腳出先，姜氏生得好辛苦，所以改佢個名做「寤生」，亦因為咁好憎佢；反而錫佢細佬共叔段，想立佢為太子，向武公請求過幾次，武公都唔答應。
及莊公即位，為之請制。公曰：「制，巖邑也。虢叔死焉，它邑唯命。」請京，使居之，謂之京城大(註：音「太」)叔。
莊公即位，武姜幫共叔段出頭，請求將制地劃俾佢做封邑。莊公話：「制地形勢險要，以前虢叔就是死在個度，唔封得俾佢。其他的邑城，我就一定從命。」武姜就請求要京地，於是莊公將京地封左俾共叔段，D人就叫共叔段做「京城大叔」咯。 Continue reading
宴梅道士山房 孟浩然 (689-740)
林臥愁春盡 搴帷覽物華 忽逢青鳥使 邀入赤松家
金灶初開火 仙桃正發花 童顏若可駐 何惜醉流霞
A Feast with Monk Mei up the Mountain Meng Hao Ran(689-740)
Awake in the forest I loath that spring will cease to be an entity
From the open curtain I marvel on nature’s splendid beauty
A legend bluebird arrives suddenly bringing a message
Invitation for me to visit the Immortal Red Pine Village
The burning furnace is set to freely flame
The Legendary Peach is showing its bursting bloom
If you wish childhood looks to last forever
Let’s be drunk with the immortal nectar
眾裡一築夢
…………
餘言
….
如今，星移月轉，那四十年前的叮囑言猶在耳。我想起劉大白的幾句詩，〝歸巢的鳥兒，盡管是倦了，還馱着斜陽回去。〞請容我借用他的意韻，試寫自己的心曲：
黃昏一歸鳥/ 儘管筋疲力倦/ 仍然馱着斜陽回家/ 他雙翅翻騰/ 把陽光散滿山河/ 染色大地花草
趙太后新用事，秦急攻之。趙氏求救於齊。齊曰：「必以長安君為質，兵乃出。」太后不肯，大臣強諫。太后明謂
左右：「有復言令長安君為質者，老婦必唾其面！」
趙國太后剛剛臨朝執政，秦國即刻攻打趙國。趙國向齊國求救。齊國話：「一定要太后個仔長安君來齊國做人質，我地先至會出兵。」趙太后唔肯，大臣強行勸諫。趙太后發嬲，同身邊隨從講到明：「邊個敢再勸我俾長安君去做人質，老娘一定兜口兜面吐佢口水！」 Continue reading
“Your mother is hilarious”, my daughter’s colleague told her over the phone about me.
Yes indeed, I had to be funny especially when travelling around with a person of a different generation, race, culture, upbringing and with a different value system and life experience.
For the past two weeks, I had to entertain, educate and train a person twenty-seven years of my junior on a tour of HK, Taiwan and Shenzhen.
…and….I wrapped the trip up successfully at the end of the 13th day.
“Mrs. Ho, Please bring me to Japan next time. I will go travelling with you.” !!
Thoughts on Early Cold Weather Meng Hao Ran
木落雁南度 Geese fly southbound as trees shed their leaves
北风江上寒 The north wind arrives rivers turn chilly
我家襄水曲 Where the Xian River turns is my native land
遥隔楚云端 Far into Chu country where clouds end
乡泪客中尽 Long I rove tears from homesickness cease to roll
归帆天际看 A lone sail seen in the horizon it aimlessly floats
迷津欲有问 If I should ask for my way home
平海夕漫漫 Night covers the sea on a pace of its own
