• Hua Tuo

    Hua Tuo (c. 145–208 CE) was a renowned physician of the late Eastern Han dynasty. His courtesy name was Yuanhua, and he was a native of Qiao County, Pei Commandery (present-day Bozhou, Anhui Province).

  • Butterfly Loves Flower – In Reply to Li Shuyi [Mao’s Poems]

    –Mao Zedong, May 11, 1957 I lost proud Yang; you lost brave Liu,Their souls like willow-catkins soar to heaven’s height anew.We ask Wu Gang: “What have you?”He brings sweet osmanthus wine, pure and true.

  • Prelude to Water Melody – Swimming [Mao’s Poems]

    -Mao Zedong – June 1956 Just drunk of Changsha’s spring,Now taste Wuchang’s fish bring.Across Long River’s wide stretch I swing,Sky o’er Chu lands so vast and clear to sing.Let wind blow hard, waves wildly fling –Better than calm stroll in garden’s ring!Today my heart finds ease, light wing.Once by the stream, the Sage did…

  • Seven-Syllable Octave – In Reply to Comrade Zhou Shizhao [Mao’s Poems]

    –Mao Zedong, October 1955 The spring river vast and wide awhile doth stray;We climb tiered peaks, our vision cleared, far away.Wind from green isles bears surging waves astray;Rain from wild fields ascends the hills to stay.By wine cups, we laugh and talk – old friends still gay;Abroad, trivial strife like chicken–worm fray.Mourn not how…

  • Sand-Sifting Waves – Beidaihe [Mao’s Poems]

    –Mao Zedong, Summer 1954 Great rain pours on Youyan’s ancient land;White waves surge high to touch the sky’s broad span.Beyond Qinhuangdao, fishing boats once planned –Now lost in one vast wild and watery band.Where can they be, in this unending stand?

  • Sand of Silk – In Reply to Mr. Liu Yazi (Two Versions) [Mao’s Poems]

    Version 1 (Oct 1950 – National Day) Long night shrouded China’s dark, unbroken sky;A century of fiends ran wild, passed by.Five hundred million people torn, denied.One cock’s crow bursts – day breaks, all darkness flies;From every land, sweet songs from Khotan rise.Poets’ joy soars high, unmatched, unties.