hangzhou

  • Spring View in Hangzhou [Tang Poems]

    — Bai Juyi Viewed from the Seaside Tower morning clouds look bright; Along the riverbank I tread on fine sand white. The General’s Temple hears roaring nocturnal tide; Spring dwells in the Beauty’s Bower green willow hide. The red sleeves weave brocade broidered with flowers fine; Blue streamers show amid pear blossoms a shop…

  • A Spring Walk by Qiantang Lake [Tang Poems]

    — Bai Juyi West of Jia Pavilion and north of Lonely Hill, Water brims level with the bank and clouds hang low. Disputing for sunny trees, early orioles trill; Pecking vernal mud in, young swallows come and go. A riot of blooms begins to dazzle the eye; Amid short grass the horse hoofs can…

  • The Chan Master who pocketed his fame

    Chan Master Chongxian (980–1052), also known as Xuedou Chongxian, was a prominent Chinese Chan (Zen) master of the Song Dynasty. He is best known for his “Collection of Gathas on the Blue Cliff Record” (Biyan Lu), a classic Chan text that became one of the most influential works in Zen literature.