What shall I say of the Great Peak? --
The ancient dukedoms are everywhere green,
Inspired and stirred by the breath of creation,
With the Twin Forces balancing day and night.
...I bare my breast toward opening clouds,
I strain my sight after birds flying home.
When shall I reach the top and hold
All mountains in a single glance?
Original Poem:
「望岳」
杜甫
岱宗夫如何？齐鲁青未了。
造化钟神秀，阴阳割昏晓。
荡胸生层云，决眦入归鸟。
会当凌绝顶，一览众山小。
Interpretation:
This poem reproduces the high and majestic Mount Tai, with an open mood, and also shows the vigorous vigor and extraordinary mind of the poet in his youth.
First and second lines: How about Mount Tai, the first of the Five Mountains? In the land of Qilu, there is no end to the beautiful verdant mountain color.
Write the kind of joy, marvel and admiration when you first saw Mount Tai.
The third and fourth sentences: Nature brings together all the magical and beautiful scenery, the south and north of the mountain is divided into yin and yang, and the morning and evening are very different.
You see, as if nature are specialized in love with Mount Tai, make it dynamic and beautiful, lofty and grand. Mount Tai itself is so tall that it can distinguish between yin and yang and dawn and dusk.
The fifth and sixth sentences: the rising layers of clouds, so that the heart shaking; extremely wide-open eyes to look away from the return of the birds hidden in the mountains and forests.
Looking at Mount Tai, the clouds are overlapping and circling; the tired birds are returning to the forest, and the twilight mist is heavy. Such a fine look from morning to night, the magnificent mountain landscape triggered the poet's main feeling, by the eyes wide open and focused on viewing the clouds, the return of the bird, the chest can not help but stir up a vast gas, suddenly feel the eyes wide open, the field of vision is wide open.
Seventh, eight lines: I must climb the highest peak, overlooking the mountains in front of Mount Tai seems small.
Write the poet is not satisfied to see the mountain but want to climb to the top of the mountain to take in the mood of the scenery. This line for the final sound, once again highlights the high and steep Mount Tai, written out of the majestic look at all the majestic posture and momentum, but also shows the poet's heart and spirit. The contrast between the smallness of the mountains and the tallness of Mount Tai shows that the poet is not afraid of difficulties, and dares to climb to the top and look down on the ambition and vigor of everything.
Although this poem is far-reaching, but the whole poem only see visit the mountains of the Xinghui, do not see the traces of deliberate comparison. In terms of the lofty bones and majestic body, it is even more difficult for the later works to reach.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet:
Du Fu (杜甫), 712 - 770 AD, was a great poet of the Tang Dynasty, known as the "Sage of Poetry". Born into a declining bureaucratic family, Du Fu had a rough life, and his turbulent and dislocated life made him keenly aware of the plight of the masses. Therefore, his poems were always closely related to the current affairs, reflecting the social life of that era in a more comprehensive way, with profound thoughts and a broad realm. In his poetic art, he was able to combine many styles, forming a unique style of "profound and thick", and becoming a great realist poet in the history of China.
