松下問童子 言師採藥去
只在此山中 雲深不知處
Visiting a Hermit 江紹倫譯
I asked your whereabouts from your house boy in pine wood
He said you were out collecting herbs in good mood
You are surely somewhere in these hills
Where clouds roam who knows where you seek as you will
殘陽西入崦 茅屋訪孤僧
落葉人何在 寒雲路幾層
獨敲初夜磬 閑倚一枝藤
世界微塵裡 吾寧愛與憎
Hermitage Amid Green Vines 江紹倫譯
The setting sun disappears behind tall mountains west
I arrived at this empty hut looking for my Buddhist friend in earnest
Where would he be in a world of fallen leaves
Up clouds yonder how many layers of footpaths I must weave
Alone he tolls vespers at dusk
On a cane he leisurely strolls not fast
In this hustle bustle world nothing could be too important
Away from love and hate my mind is at peace self-sufficient
曾經滄海難為水 除却巫山不是雲
取次花叢懶回顧 半缘修道半缘君
To My Lover 江紹倫譯
I’ve crossed many seas to devote myself to water
In my heart no cloud can compare with the cloud of Mt. Mu
Among flowers in profusion I’ve been tardy to pursue
Partly for my devotion to Dao partly because I love you
To My Departed Wife translated by Paul Lee (1962) 2009/12/22
Having crossed the Cang Sea makes it hard to call anything else water
Nothing qualifies as cloud once I have seen those at Wu Mountain
I walked passed a bevy of beauties and did not care to look back
Partly because I am cultivating discipline and partly because of you.
秋叢繞舍似陶家 遍繞籬邊日漸斜
不是花中偏愛菊 此花開盡更無花
Chrysanthemum 江紹倫譯
Autumn mums adorn my cottage as they did Tao’s house in days old
Along the hedge their brilliance so vivid I linger until the sun hangs low
I can’t be blamed for loving this flower my appreciation partial
Whence they wither away there will be no flower to follow
青山隱隱水迢迢 秋盡江南草未凋
二十四橋明月夜 玉人何處教吹簫
To Magistrate Han of Yang Zhou 江紹倫譯
Behind the green hills water flows far
With autumn leaving the south grass is yet to wither
Whence the twenty four bridges in town aflame by moonshine
Where is your favourite lass whose flute music rendition so fine
花秋月何時了 往事知多少
小樓昨夜又東風 故國不堪回首月明中
雕欄玉砌應猶在 只是朱顏改
問君能有幾多愁 恰似一江春水向東流
《Tune: Yu the Beautiful: Happily Together 》 江紹倫譯
Whence in cycles of spring flowers and autumn moon will time stand still
Of past events how many should remain on my memory wheel
Vernal breeze showed pity again warming my humble chamber last night
Down memory lane I dare not trot reviewing my lost kingdom by moonlight
Jade palaces their carvings and mouldings delight must still be around
So many fair lasses there before now no longer around
Did you ask how many sad memories I keep my consciousness on
They flow like river torrents in spring on and on
Submitted on 2009/12/14 at 1:29am
I am Andrew Wong, Wah Yan Hong Kong matriculation 1963. Last week, I came across your blog by accident and discovered you are translating Tang and Song poetry in earnest. I happen to share this interest. Fr. John Turner was after all my teacher. And I think F.Y. Yu and I read poetry under Edmund Blunden in 1963-64 at the University of Hong Kong. Here is my rendition of a version of the same poem by the older Li Bai:-
李白: 題峰顶寺 (夜宿山寺)
Li Bai (701-762): Written at the Summit Temple
(Lodged for the Night at a Mountain Temple)
1 夜宿峰頂寺(危樓高百尺)
2 舉手捫(手可摘)星辰
3 不敢高聲語
4 恐驚天上人
1 I lodge for the night at Summit Temple,
2 Can touch, at arm’s reach, the stars so nigh;
3 Yet I dare not raise my voice in speech,
4 For fear might disturb the beings up high.
Translated by Andrew Wong W.F. Wong (Huang Hongfa) 譯者: 黄宏發
8th December 2009 (revised 10.12.09: 11.12.09; 12.12.09)
千山鳥飛絕 萬徑人蹤滅
孤舟蓑笠翁 獨釣寒江雪
River in Snow 江紹倫譯
A thousand hills where no birds fly
Ten thousand paths no man in sight
A straw-cloaked old man in a lone boat behold
He attempts to fish in a river covered with snow
汲井漱寒齒 清心拂塵服 閑持貝葉書 步出東齋讀
真源了無取 妄跡世所逐 遺言冀可冥 繕性何由熟
道人庭宇靜 苔色連深竹 日出霧露餘 青松如膏沐
澹然離言說 悟悅心自足
Reading Zen With Master Chao One Early Morning 江紹倫譯
With cold water from the well I rinsed my mouth
Mind unperturbed I cleaned my gown any dust brushed out
Carefully I spread open the Sutra inscribed on durable leaves
To read it outside my study facing east
Buddhism truths their sources are difficult to identify
Many wisdowm seekers tried hard but failed to find
Words of Zen promise the enlightened bliss in Nirvana
O How I’d love to embark on the way to be near the parameter
‘Tis still and serene here in my master’s terrain
Moss verdant adjoin deep bamboo paths their spirit pertain
At dawn traces of mist and dew Nature keeps
Demure pines after overnight baths their fresh looks attract zealous peeps
Master Chao wears a smile saying not a word
He has me enlightened although untaught
月落烏啼霜滿天 江楓漁火對愁眠
姑蘇城外寒山寺 夜半鐘聲到客船
Mooring by Maple Bridge Overnight 江紹倫譯
The moon resigns amid crow cries in a snowy sky
Under lofty maple trees dimly lit river boats lie side by side
Cold Hill Temple stands outside the Gu Su city wall
Bells toll at midnight to break the stillness for boatmen at moor