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Three treasures at home
A joke from the 19th-century collection Xiaolin guangji 笑林廣記.
Rachelle
May 22, 20233 min read
Album leaf “Yu’er mudan” 魚兒牡丹 by Zou Yigui 鄒一桂; inscription by Qianlong Emperor 乾隆
On a happy encounter with the bleeding heart in Gmunden.
Rachelle
May 15, 20232 min read
Deer among pine trees
To commemorate a delightful encounter near Zwettl.
Rachelle
May 8, 20232 min read
朱彝尊《鵲橋仙》To the tune “Queqiaoxian” by Zhu Yizun (1629-1709)
The flowering season of the magnolia and the crab apple.
Rachelle
May 1, 20233 min read
The hardest thing in the world
A joke from the nineteenth century.
Rachelle
Apr 24, 20232 min read
楊承鯤《鷹》“The Hawk” by Yang Chengkun (1550-1589)
A gentle reminder for our newly arrived chicks.
Rachelle
Apr 17, 20232 min read
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
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