2018 學語集 36 - 40

Original Script

::: 學語集 :::

36. 杏花

三月江南處處花發水村山郭風掣酒旗遊人行客多尋杏花村

• NN reduplication

37. 梅花

臘雪初消寒葩始綻閒庭黃昏暗香浮動

38. 柳

渭城朝雨章臺春風枝枝垂絲葉葉嫩金征婦結恨遊者蕩情

• Metaphors

39. 蘭草

生於幽谷淸香遠播君子愛之故曰人之同心其臭如蘭如入芝蘭之室

• Allusions

40. 四季花

凡百卉之發一歲不再發惟此花獨春之季月夏之季月秋之季月冬之季月每發故謂之四季花

• 每 V: V every time　　　　　　　　cf) 每 N: every N

Translation

Sentence 36 : (Write your name)

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• Discussion Questions:

Sentence 37 : (Write your name)

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• Discussion Questions:

Sentence 38 : Julian Butterfield

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Morning rain in Weicheng, spring wind in Zhangtai, Many branches of hanging thread, many leaves of tender gold. Soldiers' wives tense with resentment, and drifters sway their passions.

• Discussion Questions:

1. I find the tone of this poem really interesting, and tried my best to maintain a degree of ambivalence in the translation (especially in the final two clauses). That said, I'm really curious to know how others interpret tone, both here and elsewhere in our materials. Any comments??

Sentence 39 : Julian Butterfield

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Born in deep valleys, their fragrance is cast far. Men of virtue love them. For this reason it is said, people of like mind smell [to one another] like orchids—like entering a room of irises and orchids.

• Discussion Questions:

1. Is it that people of like mind smell to each other like orchids, or have I misconstrued this?

Sentence 40 : Julian Butterfield

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In general, the blooming of flowers is once a year and not more. Just this flower alone, with the ends of spring, summer, fall, and winter, blooms each time. For this reason, it is called the four-season flower.

• Discussion Questions:

1. I dropped the second 發 here in my translation for the sake of elegance. Have I missed anything/corrupted the text at all by doing so?
2. The poem by Han Hong 韓翃 reads: 章臺柳！章臺柳！顏色青青今在否？縱使長條似舊垂，也應攀折他人手. Liu Zhangtai 柳章臺 and her relationship with Han Hong are the inspiration for many works, including poems, longer narratives, and dramas. See Lily Xiao Hong Lee & Sue Willes, eds., Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women: Tang Through Ming, 618-1644, (Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe, 2014), 262-3.
3. The reference is from 孔子家語 book 6, part 15.
4. As discussed, this name probably refers to the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.