夜(yè)宿(sù)山(shān)寺(sì)

李(lǐ)白(bái)〔唐(tánɡ)代(dài)〕

危(wēi)楼(lóu)高(ɡāo)百(bǎi)尺(chǐ)，

手(shǒu)可(kě)摘(zhāi)星(xīnɡ)辰(chén)。

不(bù)敢(ɡǎn)高(ɡāo)声(shēnɡ)语(yǔ)，

恐(kǒnɡ)惊(jīnɡ)天(tiān)上(shànɡ)人(rén)。

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry

The temple on the mountain seems to reach a hundred feet high, and standing on top feels like one could pluck the stars. I dare not speak loudly, fearing that I might disturb the celestial deities above.

Annotations

  • 宿 (Sù): To stay overnight.
  •  危楼 (Wēilóu): High tower, here referring to a temple on the top of a mountain. 危 (Wēi): High.
  •  百尺 (Bǎichǐ): A figure of speech, not a literal number, used here to describe how high the tower is.
  •  星辰 (Xīngchén): Stars in general.
  •  语 (Yǔ): To speak.
  •  恐 (Kǒng): Fear.
  •  惊 (Jīng): To disturb.

Creation Backgrounds

“Night at the Monastery” is generally attributed to Li Bai and written in Huangmei County, Hubei Province, depicting Jiangxin Temple atop Caishan Peak.

However, there are multiple poems with similar titles and content circulating in the world, such as “Inscription on Peak Temple” (“Spending the night at Peak Temple, reaching out to touch the stars. Not daring to speak loudly, fearing to startle the celestial beings”) and “Spending the Night at Wuya Temple” (“Spending the night at Wuya Temple, reaching out to touch the stars. Not daring to speak loudly, fearing to startle the celestial beings”).

The authorship of these poems is quite complex, with various claims including Li Bai, Wang Yucheng, Yang Yi, Yan Shu, and Meng Guan.