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A spring scene
On the occasion of receiving two friends in spring.
Rachelle
Apr 10, 20232 min read
韓維《謝到水仙二本》“In Gratitude for a Gift of Two Narcissus Bulbs” by Han Wei (1017-1098)
For narcissus whose season is coming to an end.
Rachelle
Apr 3, 20233 min read
Two excerpts on the process of creation
A common struggle of creators across time and space.
Rachelle
Mar 27, 20233 min read
How to identify a true lion in the 13th-century China
A tip from Zhou Mi's 周密 (1232-1298) jottings.
Rachelle
Mar 20, 20233 min read
Rachelle
Mar 13, 20232 min read
An anecdote about a missing cat, recorded by Lu You 陸游 (1125-1209)
How (not to?) find your beloved cat.
Rachelle
Mar 6, 20233 min read
When tigers are swimming across the river...
A recurring motif in Chinese art and literature.
Rachelle
Feb 20, 20233 min read
A tale about the yingbei gou 鷹背狗 (eagle-back dog)
Album leaf from “Shi quan tuce” 十犬圖冊 by anonymous 18th-century court artist(s) Picture credit: The Palace Museum, Beijing...
Rachelle
Feb 13, 20233 min read
杜甫《惡樹》 “Hateful Trees” by Du Fu (712-770)
Du Fu the gardener...
Rachelle
Feb 6, 20233 min read
"A Red, Red Rose" by Robert Burns rendered into classical Chinese by Su Manshu 蘇曼殊 (1884-1918)
From Scots to classical Chinese...
Rachelle
Jan 30, 20233 min read
楊士奇《大雪志喜（玉樓春）》“Joy of Heavy Snow (to the Tune Jade Tower Spring)” by Yang Shiqi (1365-1444)
On a delightful snowfall greeting the year of the rabbit.
Rachelle
Jan 23, 20232 min read
"A Song" by Percy Shelley rendered into classical Chinese by Su Manshu 蘇曼殊 (1884-1918)
A back translation exercise.
Rachelle
Jan 16, 20232 min read
張憲《天狼謠》“The Heavenly Wolf: A Ballad” by Zhang Xian (fl. 14th century)
A political comment written in the stars.
Rachelle
Jan 9, 20233 min read
黃佐《湛子宅夜宴和呂子仲木邊爐詩》A hot pot poem by Huang Zuo (1490-1566)
黃佐《湛子宅夜宴和呂子仲木邊爐詩》 “At a night banquet in Master Zhan’s mansion, in response to the hot pot poem by Master Lü, [courtesy name] Zhongmu” by...
Rachelle
Jan 2, 20232 min read
趙戣《錦鶒夜逸》“A Brocade Mandarin Duck Missing Overnight” by Zhao Kui (fl. 12th – 13th century)
On a sad loss in countryside life...To commemorate the two guineafowls that we lost overnight.
Rachelle
Dec 26, 20222 min read
Album leaf “Juchang congxi” 踘場叢戲 (Group game on the kicking field) by Su Hanchen 蘇漢臣 (1094-1172)
Depiction of a Chinese fooball game.
Rachelle
Dec 19, 20223 min read
蘇軾《書蜀僧詩》“Note on the poem by a monk of Shu” by Su Shi (1037-1101)
An eleventh-century anecdote about cooking with the head.
Rachelle
Dec 12, 20223 min read
陸游《犬雞》“The dog and the chicken” by Lu You (1125-1210)
More on animals in the countryside...
Rachelle
Dec 5, 20222 min read
陸游《遷雞柵歌》“Song of moving the chicken fence” by Lu You (1125-1210)
For my new silkie neighbour.
Rachelle
Nov 28, 20223 min read
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