Su Shi

thumb|Life passes like a spring dream without a trace. Su Shi (苏轼; 8 January 1037 – 24 August 1101), also known as Su Dongpo, was a Chinese writer, poet, painter, calligrapher, pharmacologist, gastronome, and a statesman of the Song dynasty. Quotes thumb|The brimming waves delight the eye on sunny days;The dimming hills give a rare view in rainy haze.The West Lake looks like the fair lady at her bestWhether she is richly adorned or plainly dressed. 水光潋滟晴方好，山色空蒙雨亦奇。欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜。 The brimming waves delight the eye on sunny days;The dimming hills give a rare view in rainy haze.The West Lake looks like the fair lady at her bestWhether she is richly adorned or plainly dressed. "The West Lake, the Beauty" (《饮湖上初晴后雨》) (1073), in Song of the Immortals: An Anthology of Classical Chinese Poetry, trans. Yuanchong Xu (Beijing: New World Press, 1994), p. 200 横看成岭侧成峰，远近高低各不同。不识庐山真面目，只缘身在此山中。 From the side, a whole range; from the end, a single peak;far, near, high, low, no two parts alike.Why can't I tell the true shape of Lu-shan?Because I myself am in the mountain. "Written on the Wall at West Forest Temple" (《题西林壁》) (1084), in Selected Poems of Su Tung-p'o, trans. Burton Watson (Port Townsend, Wash.: Copper Canyon Press, 1994), p. 108 thumb|For ten long years the living of the dead knows nought.Though to my mind not brought,Could the dead be forgot? 十年生死两茫茫。不思量，自难忘。 For ten long years the living of the dead knows nought.Though to my mind not brought,Could the dead be forgot? "Dreaming of My Deceased Wife on the Night of the Twentieth Day of the First Month" (《江城子·乙卯正月二十日夜记梦》), in Song of the Immortals: An Anthology of Classical Chinese Poetry, trans. Yuanchong Xu (Beijing: New World Press, 1994), p. 202 清夜无尘，月色如银 。 酒斟时须满十分。 浮名浮利，虚苦劳神。 叹隙中驹， 石中火， 梦中身。 虽抱文章，开口谁亲？ 且陶陶乐尽天真。 几时归去，作个闲人， 对一张琴， 一壶酒， 一溪云。 O the clear moon's speckless, silvery night!When filling thy cup, be sure to fill it quite!Strive not for frothy fame or bubble wealth!A passing dream—A flashing flint—A shadow's flight!O what is knowledge, fine and superfine?To innocent and simple joys resign!To be myself and in contentment faceA valley of clouds—a sweet-toned ch'in—A jug of wine! "Random Thoughts, to the Tune of Shinghsiangtse" (《行香子·述怀》), in Lin Yutang Chinese-English Bilingual Edition: Selected Poems and Prose of Su Tungpo, trans. Lin Yutang (Taipei: Cheng Chung Book, 2008), p. 145 事如春梦了无痕。 Life is like a spring dream which vanishes without a trace. As quoted in Six Records of a Floating Life by Shen Fu, Chapter 1: 'Wedded Bliss'; translated by Lin Yutang in The Wisdom of China and India (1942), p. 968 Variant translation: Life passes like a spring dream without a trace. Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living (1937), p. 156 Families when a child is bornHope it will turn out intelligent.I, through intelligenceHaving wrecked my whole life,Only hope that the baby will proveIgnorant and stupid.Then he'll be happy all his daysAnd grow into a cabinet minister. "On the Birth of a Son", translated by Arthur Waley in Poetry (January 1918) and revised, as "On the Birth of his Son", in 170 Chinese Poems (1918) p. 98: Families, when a child is bornWant it to be intelligent.I, through intelligence,Having wrecked my whole life,Only hope the baby will proveIgnorant and stupid.Then he will crown a tranquil lifeBy becoming a Cabinet Minister. What a ruler has to rely upon is only the human heart. Human hearts are to the ruler what roots are to a tree, what oil is to a lamp, water to fish, fields to a farmer, or money to a merchant. As quoted in Sources of Chinese Tradition: From Earliest Times to 1600 (1999), Wm. Theodore De Bary & Irene Bloom Quotes about Su Shi thumb|The mention of Su Tungpo always elicits an affectionate and warm admiring smile in China. ~ Lin Yutang There had to be one Su Tungpo, but there could not be two. Lin Yutang, The Gay Genius (1947), p. vii The mention of Su Tungpo always elicits an affectionate and warm admiring smile in China. Lin Yutang, The Gay Genius (1947), p. vii External links Su Shi Poems by Su Shi at blackcatpoems.com Su Shi Index at chinese-poems.com Category:11th century births Category:12th century deaths Category:Poets from China Category:Painters from China Category:Academics from China Category:Politicians from China