TUNE: CROWS CRYING AT NIGHT

Li Yu (937-978, Southern Tang Dynasty)

Silent, I go up to the west tower alone

And see the hooklike moon.

The plane trees lonesome and drear

Lock in the courtyard autumn clear.

Cut, it won't break;

Ruled, it will make

A mess to wake

An unspeakable taste in the heart.

Such is the grief to part.

乌夜啼 

南唐 李煜

无言独上西楼,月如钩。

寂寞梧桐深院锁清秋。

剪不断,理还乱,

是离愁,

别是一般滋味在心头。

About the translator 

Xu Yuanchong, one of China's most renowned translators, specialized in translating British and French classics into Chinese. He  translated world famous literature classics such as Proust's masterpiece Remembrance of Things Past (1990) and Flaubert's Madame Bovary (1992) over the course of his career.

About the poet 

Li Yu, was the last emperor of the Southern Tang state during the Five Dynasties (907-960) period. He was known as the king of artists due to his calligraphy and painting talent and has been called the first true master of the classic Chinese lyric poetry known as ci.

About the book 

300 Tang Poems / Translated by Xu Yuanchong (1921-2021) 

Published by China Intercontinental Press

Chinese translator Xu Yuanchong Photo: VCG