Nineteen Old Poems translations (古詩十九首)

古詩十九首

A complete set of translations of the Han dynasty collection 古詩十九首 (Gǔshī shí jiǔ shǒu – ‘Nineteen Old Poems’). → Read more

明月何皎皎 translation: Why is the Bright Moon So Clear?

'bright moon' by Flickr user wan fauzan

A translation and annotation of the Chinese poem 明月何皎皎 (Míngyuè hé jiǎojiǎo), the final poem in the Han dynasty collection 古詩十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems). → Read more

客從遠方來 translation – A Guest Comes from Afar

'PURE SILK CUSHION COVER' by Flickr user RubyGoes

A translation of the Chinese poem 客從遠方來 (Kè cóng yuǎn fāng lái), the eighteenth poem in the Han dynasty collection 古詩十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems). → Read more

孟冬寒氣至 translation – In the First Month of Winter, Cold Air Arrives

'Snow!' by Daniel Ashton

A translation of the Chinese poem 孟冬寒氣至 (Mèng dōng hán qì zhì), the seventeenth poem in the Han dynasty collection 古詩十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems). → Read more

凜凜歲云暮 translation – Bitterly Cold, the Year Ends

'Cold' by ~Duncan~

A translation of the classical Chinese poem 凜凜歲云暮 (Lǐn lǐn suì yún mù), the sixteenth poem in the Han dynasty collection 古詩十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems). → Read more

生年不滿百 translation – The Years of Life Reach Not One Hundred

A flaming torch

A translation of the Chinese poem 生年不滿百 (Shēng nián bù mǎn bǎi), from the Han dynasty collection 古試十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems). → Read more

去者日以疏 translation – The Departed Are More Distant Daily

An avenue of trees in the sunset

A translation of the Chinese poem 丟者日以疏 (Diū zhě rì yǐ shū), the fourteenth poem in the Han dynasty collection 古試十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems). → Read more

驅車上東門 translation – I Ride My Chariot from the Upper East Gate

Original image by Flickr user rickbond79

A translation of the Chinese poem 驅車上東門 (Qū chē shàng dōng mén), from the Han dynasty collection 古試十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems). → Read more

東城高且長 translation – The Eastern Wall is High and Long

Original image by Flickr user Steve E.

A translation of the Chinese poem 東城高且長 (Dōng chéng gāo qiě cháng), the eleventh poem in the Han dynasty collection 古詩十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems). → Read more

迴車駕言邁 translation – I turn the carriage, pull the reins and set off

Original image by Flickr user Saguaro Pictures

A translation of the Chinese poem 迴車駕言邁 (Huí chē jià yán mài), the eleventh poem in the Han dynasty collection 古詩十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems). → Read more