• To the Chrysanthemum [Tang Poems]

    — Zheng Gu Do not compare your leaves with tumbleweed in hue! On Mountain-climbing Day our head’s adorned with you. When poolside shores are sweet with your blooms wet with dew, None envy pine-like plants high on the eaves in view.

  • Learning to Defeat Ten Thousand [Western Han]

    Much like Sun Wukong in Journey to the West, Xiang Yu was born arrogant, refused to be ordinary, submitted only to the strongest, and possessed a natural kingly aura. As a descendant of Chu nobility, he was endowed with innate grace. From an early age, he disdained trivial skills and insisted on learning the…

  • An Unexpected Teacher on the Bridge: Zhang Liang and the Yellow-Stone Elder [Western Han]

    After Qin Shi Huang unified China by conquering the six warring states, he frequently toured his vast empire.

  • To the Partridges [Tang Poems]

    — Zheng Gu Over warm misty grassland wing to wing you fly. As fair and good as pheasants in the mountain high. When Grass-green Lake is darkened in rain, you pass by; When flowers fall on the Imperial Tomb, you cry. A roamer would wet his sleeves with tears on heating your song; His…

  • To the Crabapple Flower [Tang Poems]

    — Zheng Gu The vernal breeze has brightened your color so fine; You stir my mind to write a verse before good wine. With rain impearled on you, more beautiful you grow; You’re all the more bewitching when about to blow. The fair forgets to powder her face before you; The painter hesitates to…

  • The Young Pine [Tang Poems]

    — Du Xunhe While young, the pine tree thrusts its head amid tall grass; Now by and by we find it outgrow weed in mass. People don’t realize it will grow to scrape the sky; Seeing it tower in cloud, then they know it’s high.