Shirley Created Music-110 for Chinese Classical Poem 0122: Zao Mei -- Early Plum Blossom (By Zhang Wei) - August 1, 2010

Listen to Shirley to Sing the Poem in English   August, 2010
Listen to Shirley to Sing the Poem in Chinese June 25, 2006

Listen Shirley to Explain the Poem August 1,2010 & Follow Me to Read It
Follow Shirley to Read the New Words & the Poem

<>Read Shirley's Comments about This Poem August 1, 2010

See Shirley Created Paintings & Calligraphy for the Poem July 30,2010


This is a small Chinese classical poem names Zao Mei-- the Early Plum Blossom by Tang Dynasty poet Zhang Wei.

I have introduced that Plum Blossom is one of the favorite flowers of Chinese. We admire it for it is beauty and blossoms earlier than other flowers, before snow has melted away. It is just like someone with the beautiful, brave and strong personality and has the ability to live and work in the most difficult conditions and in the coldest season...

There are thousands and thousands of art, music and literature works in the Chinese culture admiring the plum blossom. But why this little poem can be passed down from Tang Dynasty to now?

It is special because it has written about the word - early.      The first line describes how a plum tree is covered by her beautiful flowers, just like a white jade in the cold season. The second line tells us where the plum tree is -- it is   by a bridge and far away from the village. The third line describes the feelings of the poet -- I did not know the flowers by the water could blossom early,   so that I thought that was the snow of the winter has not melted yet in the early spring...   

In the little poem, we have touched the flowers, tree, snow, bridge, village and may be the water and its sounds under the bridge, the breath of the spring and the poet itself...

With much imagination, I created a painting of golden pheasant, instead of creating the poet in my painting, I would really like to express the surprised feelings by the golden pheasants instead of a person itself... :-)

You can hit the links over and to see the painting that I have created. I do want to know how you think of my idea and express styles. :-)

Also, I had created a piece of music to match this poem in 2006 and I really hope that my effort for so many years will be some help with you to learn Chinese culture and language. :-)


MAIN MEANING OF THE PEOM :

A plum tree is covered by her flowers
just like a white jade in the cold,
It is by a bridge far away from the village.
Don’t know the flowers're blossoming early by the water,
thought it's the snow in the winter has not melted yet.

NEW WORDS & CHINESE CHARACTERS:

You are welcome to hit any Chinese character that you need help, to see its Chinese pinyin, meaning, pronunciation and follow me to read it

早梅 - Zǎo Méi

张渭 （唐）- Zhāng Wèi (Táng)

一树寒梅白玉条 - Yīshù hánméi báiyù tiáo,，
迥临村落傍溪桥 - jiǒnglín zūnluò bàng xīqiáo。
不知近水花先发 - Bùzhī jìn shuǐ huā xiān fā，
疑是经冬雪未消 - yí shì jīng dōng xuě wèi xiāo。

If you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn or shirleyz004@yahoo.com. You are welcome to publish your opinions in Message Board as well.

Shirley Zhang
Written, Sung, Translated & Recorded Sun, August 1, 2010/Jun 25, 2006