A Spring Day

Introducion:

On a spring outing along the river, the poet discovers to his delight that everything in sight has taken on an entirely new look.   

 

Text:

Chūn Rì

春     日

朱熹(宋)

 

Shèng rì xún fāng  sì   shuǐ  bīn，wú biān guāng jǐng yì shí  xīn。

 胜    日 寻  芳      泗  水   滨 ， 无   边    光    景  一  时  新。

Děng xián shí dé dōng fēng miàn，wàn zǐ qiān hóng zǒng shì chūn。

 等   闲     识  得 东     风     面 ，  万  紫  千    红    总    是   春。

 

A Spring Day

Zhu Xi (Song)

 

When along the River Si I seek blooms of the brilliant day,

Before my eyes stretches away a boundless scene of beauty.

A glance at the visage of vernal breeze, and I know,

A thousand flowers of purple and red set spring aglow.

 

Comment:

On a spring outing along the river, the poet discovers to his delight that everything in sight has taken on an entirely new look. How come? The vernal wind is blowing across the land. It has opened a thousand of spring flowers which, in turn, has presented a riot of color to man, thereby the poet eulogizes the luminous beauty of spring with the vernal wind as the mother of all charms in spring. Hence, "I glance at the visage of vernal breeze, and I know a thousand flowers of purple and red set spring aglow" has all along been popular as a line of lasting beauty.