云梦泽 (Yún Mèng Zé)

「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.

「庄生晓梦迷蝴蝶，望帝春心托杜鹃」

Zhuangzi dreamed at dawn he was a butterfly; Emperor Wang entrusted his spring longing to the cuckoo

— Li Shangyin, 'The Ornate Zither'

Zhuangzi dreamt he was a butterfly, and upon waking knew not if he was a man who dreamt he was a butterfly — the philosophical contemplation of life as a dream.

「夜阑卧听风吹雨，铁马冰河入梦来」

Late at night I lie listening to the wind and rain; in my dreams, iron cavalry charge across frozen rivers

— Lu You, 'Stormy Night, November 4th'

Lying awake at night listening to the storm, I dream of mounted warriors charging across frozen rivers — a patriot's unfulfilled ambition.