Departmental Recommended Ancient Chinese Poems and Prose for Junior High School: Ancient Chinese poems and prose recommended by the Ministry of Education in the "Chinese Language Curriculum Standards" and "Chinese Language Teaching Syllabus"

Author: / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-12-01
Features:
"Yanmen Pass Guarding Journey"① by Li He
Black clouds press the city, the city seems about to collapse②,
Armor glints like golden scales in the sunlight③.
Horn sounds fill the sky in autumn④,
On the frontier, the blood of the soldiers congeals into night purple⑤.
Half-retracted red flags face the Yi River⑥,
Frost is heavy, the drums are cold, the sound does not rise⑦.
Reporting the golden platform's intent⑧,
Holding the jade dragon to die for you⑧.
[Notes]
① "Yanmen Pass Guarding Journey": An ancient Yuefu poem title, often about frontier battles. "Xing" refers to a type of ancient poetry.
② Collapse: To fall down.
③ Armor: Refers to ancient battle robes with metal pieces.
④ Horn: Trumpet.
⑤ Frontier: Borderland. Yanlizhi: Metaphor for blood.
⑥ Yi River: A river name in present-day Yi County, Hebei Province.
⑦ Reporting the lord: Repaying the king. The Golden Platform was built by King Zhao of Yan in the Warring States period in the southeast of Yi County. King Zhao once placed a thousand gold pieces on the platform to recruit talented scholars from all over the world.
⑧ Jade dragon: Metaphor for a treasure sword.
[Explanation]
Li He (790–816), styled Changji, was from Changgu in Fuchang (now Yiyang County, Henan Province), a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty. Li He was unable to take the imperial examination due to his father's name taboo and only held minor positions such as Fengli Deng. He was talented in his youth and was said to have written poems at the age of seven. His poems are rich in imagination and have a strong romantic color. Unfortunately, he lived to be only 27 years old. "Yanmen Pass Guarding Journey" is a poem that uses an ancient Yuefu title to describe frontier warfare. The poem begins with the enemy's fierce advance, like black clouds pressing the city, and the reader first feels the cruelty of war in the glint of swords and armor. The middle couplets describe the brave defense of the frontier soldiers, fighting bravely, shedding blood on the border, and pursuing the enemy in a cold night. Every line is heroic, every word is desolate, highlighting the poem's heroic and tragic tone. The last two lines express the determination of the frontier soldiers to die for their country. The entire poem is full of passion, has a strong sense of hierarchy, and has a strong artistic. It is said that Zhang Gu of the Tang Dynasty showed Li He's poem to Han Yu, and the first was this "Yanmen Pass Guarding Journey." Han Yu was deeply impressed after reading it.
Boating on the Qinhuai River① by Du Mu
The misty river is wrapped in cold water and moonlight,②
I moor my boat near the taverns by the Qinhuai River at night.
The singing girls do not know the sorrow of a lost country③,
Singing the "Flowers of the Jade Tree"④ across the river.
[Notes]
① The Qinhuai River is the Qinhuai River flowing through Nanjing City into the Yangtze River.
② Wrapped: Obscured.
③ Singing girls: Singing girls.
④ Flowers of the Jade Tree: Refers to the music "Flowers of the Jade Tree." Emperor Chen of Chen (Chen Shubao) was extravagant and indulged in pleasure, addicted to sensual pleasure, and politically corrupt, eventually leading to the fall of his country. Later, people regarded this song as the music of a lost country.
[Explanation]
Du Mu (803–852), styled Muzhi, was from Jingzhao Wannian (now Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province). A famous poet of the late Tang Dynasty, he was as famous as Li Shangyin and had a clear, spirited, and hearty style. His landscape and emotional poems are beautiful and moving; his historical poems are unique and profound. This poem has had a great influence on the literary world, so many people only know his poems but not him. On a misty and hazy night, the poet arrived at the Qinhuai River in Nanjing City. At this moment, the mist was dense, and the lights and oars were indistinct, but the sound of the "Flowers of the Jade Tree" sung by the singing girls on the other side of the river was clearly heard. The poet was deeply moved: the Tang Dynasty was declining, internal and external troubles were increasing, but the nobles were living in luxury and oblivion, unaware that their country was about to fall. On the surface, Du Mu is mocking the singing girls "who do not know the sorrow of a lost country," but the songs they sing are ordered by the nobles, so the real target of the poem is the nobles who are lost in luxury. Because this poem expresses the patriotic feelings of a righteous intellectual, it has been deeply remembered by people in every dynasty whenever the country was in danger.
Red Cliff① by Du Mu
The broken spear sinks in the sand, the iron has not rusted②,
I pick it up and polish it to recognize the former dynasty③.
If the east wind had not favored Zhou Lang④,
The Copper Crow would be locked in deep spring⑤.
[Notes]
① Red Cliff: Located northwest of present-day Chibi City, Hubei Province, on the south bank of the Yangtze River. Legend has it that in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, the alliance of Sun Quan and Liu Bei defeated Cao Cao's army here, forming the Three Kingdoms.
② Broken spear: A broken spear, referring to the remains of the Red Cliff battle.
③ Pick up: Take up. Former dynasty: Refers to the Red Cliff battle era.
④ Favored: Equivalent to "if not favored," meaning "if not given." Zhou Lang: Zhou Yu. Convenient: Favorable.
⑤ Copper Crow: Refers to the Copper Crow Tower, built in 210 AD in Ye City (now west of Linzhang County, Hebei Province) during the Jian'an period of Cao Cao. The two Qiao sisters: Refers to the sisters of Daqiao and Xiaqiao, who were married to Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. Qiao, the "Records of the Three Kingdoms" records as "qiao."
[Explanation]
The Red Cliff battle is a famous battle in Chinese history, and many literary works have been left behind to praise it. Du Mu's seven-character on this historical theme is different from other works and is unique. It does not directly praise Zhou Yu's achievements but argues the opposite: if there had not been a strong east wind, Zhou Yu would not have been able to use the wind to set fire to Red Cliff and defeat Cao Cao's million army. In that case, he might not even be able to protect his own wife and be captured by Cao's army to the Copper Crow Tower. Zhou Yu had the advantage of time and place, creating a great achievement for all ages, while the poet, full of talent, was unappreciated and mediocre. The poem mentions Zhou Yu but implies the poet himself, who could also have achieved great success if he had had the favor of the wind like Zhou Yu.
Night Rain to the North① by Li Shangyin
You ask about the return date, but there is no date,②
The night rain in Bashan swells the autumn pool.③
When will we trim the candles together at the western window④,
And then talk about the night rain in Bashan?⑤
[Notes]
① The title of the poem is also written as "Night Rain to the Wife."
② Bashan: Refers to the mountains in eastern Sichuan (now Chongqing City). In ancient times, this area was divided into three prefectures: Bashi, Ba, and Baidong, collectively known as Sanba.
③ When: When.
[Explanation]
Li Shangyin (about 813–858), styled Yishan, styled Yuxisheng, was from Huaizhou Henan (now Qinyang City, Henan Province), a famous poet of the late Tang Dynasty, known as "Little Li Du" with Du Mu and "Wen Li" with Wen Tingyun. Li Shangyin's poems have a wide origin, deeply influenced by the sorrow of Song Yu, the melancholy of Du You, and the symbolism of Li He. This poem has two interpretations, one as a letter to a friend and the other as a letter to a wife. Based on the content, it is more accurate to understand it as a letter to a wife. The autumn rain in Bashan has a special taste of heartbreak and sorrow in the Tang Dynasty. The poet, wandering and unsettled, has no fixed return date. The gentle night rain adds to the long-term sorrow of separation. The poet longs for the day when he can sit together with his wife in front of the candlelight, telling each other about the life of exile and the longing for return. The four lines are simple and straightforward but skillfully crafted. The repetition of "night rain in Bashan" deepens and extends the emotion, thus the poem also moves readers in its twists, subtlety, and profound meaning.