云飞扬

「行到水穷处，坐看云起时」

Walking to where the stream runs dry, I sit and watch the clouds rise

— Wang Wei, 'My Retreat at Mount Zhongnan'

When the path ends where the stream dries up, I sit and watch the clouds gather — a serene acceptance of life's natural course.

「曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云」

Having seen the vast ocean, no other water can compare; having beheld the clouds of Mount Wu, no other clouds are worthy

— Yuan Zhen, 'Thoughts of Parting'

Having witnessed the boundless ocean, no other water suffices; having seen the clouds above Mount Wu, no others are worthy — a love so deep it eclipses all else.

「浮云游子意，落日故人情」

Floating clouds mirror the wanderer's thoughts; the setting sun reflects an old friend's feelings

— Li Bai, 'Farewell to a Friend'

Drifting clouds resemble the wanderer's restless path; the setting sun mirrors an old friend's lingering sorrow — a classic farewell poem.

「飞流直下三千尺，疑是银河落九天」

The waterfall plunges three thousand feet; it seems the Milky Way has tumbled from the ninth heaven

— Li Bai, 'Viewing the Lushan Waterfall'

The waterfall cascades three thousand feet down — one might think the Milky Way has poured from the highest heavens — a scene of overwhelming grandeur.

「两个黄鹂鸣翠柳，一行白鹭上青天」

Two golden orioles sing among the emerald willows; a row of white egrets soars into the blue sky

— Du Fu, 'Quatrain'

Two golden orioles sing in the green willows, a line of white egrets rises into the blue sky — a vividly colored painting in poetry.