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There are thousands upon thousands poems admiring the Yangtze River and the beautiful view on the two banks of it. Today, I would like to introduce one of them Wang Tianmen Shan -- Looking at the Tianmen Mountains by Tang Dynasty (A. D. 618 ? A.D. 907 ) poet Li Bai ( A.D. 701 ? A. D. 762).

This poem describes the beautiful view of Yangtze River and the banks in the ancient Chu State's domain in today's Tianmen Mountains in Anhui province:

The onrushing Chu River (the part in ancient Chu State in today's Anhui province of Yangzte River) has cleaved the past Tianmen Mountain to be two parts from its middle, the green water that was flowing to the East has to return to the North. The blue mountains on the two banks face to face, just like they are going together, an alone white sail is coming from the place that sunshine is rising up...

With just 28 characters, this little poem has written the great power of the water and mountains. The water had cleaved the mountain to be two parts at the first, the two mountains have made the water to change its direction. Both of them affect each other with their own styles. They have not only created a beautiful landscape together, but also they are welcoming an white sail that is coming from the place by the sunshine together with a harmonious way... :-)

The more understand it, the more enjoy this poem, so, I have written a Chinese Calligraphy For This Poem and also I have created a piece of music to match it. I do hope that my effort will be a little bit help to you to know more about Chinese culture and to your Chinese learning...

About Li Bai and his poems, I have introduced you some and you can review them via the links below:

No.9: Classical Poem 0074 & Shirley Created Music-0064: Shan Zhong Wen Da -- A Reply in the Mountain
No.8:Classical Poem 0069 & Shirley Created Music-0059: Song Meng Haoran Zhi Guangling -- A Farewell Song to Meng Haoran at Yellow Crane Tower
No.7:Classical Poem 0062 & Shirley Created Music-0052: Stay Overnight in a Temple in the Mountain
No.6: Classical Poem 0061 & Shirley Created Music-0051：Sitting Alone Below Jingting Mountain
No.5:Classical Poem 0060 & Shirley Created Music-0050：Drinking in the Moonlight Alone
No.4: Classical Poem 0057   & Shirley Created Music-0047:To Present A Poem to Wang Lun
No.3: Classical Poem--0039 & Shirley Created Music-0029: Looking at the Lushan Mountains' Waterfall
No.2: Classical Poem 0054   & Shirley Created Music-0044：A Song of Mount Emei.
No.1: Classical Poem 0055 & Shirley Created Music-0045: Sailing from Baidi City at Dawn


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

Looking at the Tianmen Mountains

By Li Bai      ( Tang Dynasty )

The Tianmen Mountain had been cleaved to be two parts
by the ancient Chu River in the middle part,
The green water that was flowing   
to the East has to return to the North,
The blue mountains on the two banks face to face
just like they are going together,
A piece of white sail is coming
from the place that sunshine is rising up...

Translation By The Other People

Mount Heaven's Gate Viewed From Afar

Li Bai

Breaking Mount Heaven's Gate, the River Long rolls through,

Its eastward flowing billows hurled back here turn north.

From the two riversides thrust out the mountains blue;

Leaving the sun behind, a lonely sail comes forth.


NEW WORDS AND PRONUNCIATION :

Please hit any Chinese character that you need help with, to see its Chinese pinyin, pronunciation, and meaning and follow me to read it.

CHINESE CHARACTERS:


望天门山

李白 （ 唐 ）

天门中断楚江开，
碧水东流至此回。
两岸青山相对出，
孤帆一片日边来。


LISTEN TO SHIRLEY PLAY & SING THE POEM

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 and Recorded on Sun, March 18, 2007