Chinese Classical Poem--0045 & Shirley Created Music-0035: Plum Blossom In the Early Spring

LISTEN TO THE TEXTLISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM


Hi friends, today I would like to introduce a new Chinese classical poem Zao Mei-- the Plum Blossom In The Early Spring by Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Wei.

I have introduced the Plum Blossom as one of the favorite flowers of Chinese culture. We admire it for its beauty and for the fact that it blossoms earlier than other flowers, even before all the winter’s snow has melted away. It is just like someone with a number of wonderful personality traits, beautiful, independent and brave, with a strong will and backbone it does not follow custom and has the ability to live and work in the most difficult conditions and in the coldest of seasons...

There are thousands and thousands of works of art and literature in Chinese culture admiring the plum blossom. I have already introduced a poem by a great Song Dynasty poet Wang Anshi ? Chinese Classical Poem-- 0034: Plum Blossom ? Meihua a little while ago, I hope you still remember it.   

This is a wonderful Jue Ju. It is special because it writes about the word - early.    The first line describes how charming the plum blossom is with its white flowers blooming in the cold season. The second line tells where the plum tree is --    by a bridge far away from the village. The third line describes the feelings of the poet -- I did not know the flowers by the water could be blossom, at first I thought that it was snow that has not yet melted in early spring...   

I like this poem because it has really describes both the plum blossom and excellent characters of some people, so I have written a short piece of music to set it to.

I do hope that my commentary, music and singing will give you a little help in knowing more about Chinese culture and language ... :-)

MAIN MEANING OF THE POEMLISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM :

You are a charming plum tree,
with beautiful white flowers in the cold season,
You are blossoming by a bridge
and are far away from the village.
I did not know
you were blossoming at first
for you are near the water,
I had thought that it was snow
that had not melted in the early spring...

NEW WORDS:

Please click on any Chinese character that you need help with to see its Chinese pinyin, pronunciation and meaning, and then you can read it after me.

CHINESE CHARACTER AND PRONUNCIATION LISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM :

早梅

张渭 （唐）

一树寒梅白玉条，
迥临村落傍溪桥。
不知近水花先发，
疑是经冬雪未消。


If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn, or shirleyz004@yahoo.com, You are also welcome to publish your opinions in Forum For Friends.
--Shirley
Written, Sung, Translated and Recorded on Sun, June 25, 2006