Lu zhai

Introducion:

At dusk there is not a soul to be seen along the winding path in the deep forest. But somewhere comes human voice. A few beams of sunlight are stealing through the branches and playing on the green mosses on the trunks.   

 

Text:

Lù Zhài

鹿 柴

王维(唐)

 

Kōng  shān  bú  jiàn  rén ，dàn  wén  rén  yǔ  xiǎng。

空        山    不   见    人 ， 但    闻    人   语   响 。

Fǎn   jǐng   rù   shēn  lín ，fù   zhào   qīng    tái   shàng。

返     景     入    深    林 ，复    照       青     苔     上    。

 

Lu zhai

Wang Wei(Tang)

 

No man in the mountains appears in sight,

Only voices come to my ears from somewhere.

Into the forest deep steal rays of sunlight,

And silently alight on the green mosses there.

 

Comment:

 

At dusk there is not a soul to be seen along the winding path in the deep forest. But somewhere comes human voice. A few beams of sunlight are stealing through the branches and playing on the green mosses on the trunks. The mountain air rising and circulating in the evening glow forms a sharp contrast with the darkening woods, showing great vitality and animation in the mountains. Artistically the poet highlights the quiet against the sound in an attempt to indicate that the seemingly empty maintains are actually not free from activity; he presents the dark against the light in order to indicate that the forest is not dark at all at night. All this goes to reveal the poet's wish to seek refuge in peace, ease and content in the mountains.