村(cūn)居(jū)

高(ɡāo)鼎(dǐnɡ)〔清(qīnɡ)代(dài)〕

草(cǎo)长(zhǎnɡ)莺(yīnɡ)飞(fēi)二(èr)月(yuè)天(tiān)，

拂(fú)堤(dī)杨(yánɡ)柳(liǔ)醉(zuì)春(chūn)烟(yān)。

儿(ér)童(tónɡ)散(sàn)学(xué)归(ɡuī)来(lái)早(zǎo)，

忙(mánɡ)趁(chèn)东(dōnɡ)风(fēnɡ)放(fànɡ)纸(zhǐ)鸢(yuān)。

Explanation of Ancient Chinese Poetry

 In the second month of the lunar calendar, the grass gradually sprouts and grows, and the yellow orioles fly back and forth, gently brushing against the willow trees on the riverbank, which are immersed in the spring mist. The children in the village return home from school early and quickly fly their kites into the blue sky with the help of the east wind.

Annotations

  • 村居 (Cūnjū): Scenes seen while living in the countryside.
  •  拂堤杨柳 (Fúdī yángliǔ): The branches of the willow trees are long, hanging down and gently swaying, as if touching the banks.
  •  醉 (Zuì): To be fascinated or enchanted.
  •  春烟 (Chūnyān): Mist evaporated from water, vegetation, etc., in spring.
  •  散学 (Sànxué): To finish school.
  •  纸鸢 (Zhǐyuān): Generally refers to a kite, specifically a kite shaped like an eagle. Yuān means eagle.

Creation Backgrounds

The poems in “Zhuowu Poetry and Essays” are arranged in chronological order. Based on the position of “Village Life” in the collection, this series of poems was written in the spring of the second year of Emperor Qing’s Tongzhi reign (1863).

At that time, Gao Ding, who was 36 years old, was teaching in the countryside of Ningbo to escape the chaos of war. The poem depicts the vibrant spring and childlike fun in Ningbo’s countryside, which was untouched by war.