KIN1300: Qualification topic (Spring, 2008)
Read the following poem which Du Fu wrote probably in the spring of 760. The questions that you might address while thinking over your interpretation could be what is the occasional nature of the poem? What feelings does the poet express in the poem? What is the relationship between natural scenery, human activities and the poet’s feelings? What are the formal features of the poem in comparison with classical Chinese poetry before the Tang period? etc.
客至
kè zhì
舍南舍北皆春水
shè-nán shè-běi jiē chūn shuǐ
House-south house-north both springtime water
North of my cottage, south of my cottage,
spring waters everywhere,
但见群鸥日日来
Dàn jiàn qún-ōu rì-rì lái
Only see flock-gulls every-day come
And all that I see are the flocks of gulls
coming here day after day,
花径不曾缘客扫
Huā-jìng bù-céng yuán kè sǎo
Flower-path not-have because-of guest swept
My path through the flowers has never yet
been swept for a visitor,
蓬门今始为君开
Péng-mén jīn shǐ wèi jūn kāi
Wicker-gate now first-time for you open
But today this wicker gate of mine
stands open just for you.
盘飨市远无兼味
Pán sūn shì yuǎn wú jiān-wèi
Dish-repast market far no double flavour
The market is far, so for dinner
there will be no wide range of tastes,
樽酒家贫只旧醅
Zūn jiǔ jiā pín zhǐ jiù pēi
Jar-wine household poor only old brewing
Our home is poor, and for wine
we have only an older vintage.
肯与邻翁相对饮
Kěn yǔ lín-wēng xiāng-duì yǐn
Willing with neighbour-gaffer opposite drink
Are you willing to sit here and drink
with the old man who lives next door
隔篱呼取尽余杯
Gé lí hū-qǔ jìn yú bēi
Interevening fence call-take finish remaining cups
I will call to him over the hedge,
and we will finish the last of the cups.