Poet Gallery (VI): Han Yu

2008/7/20 7:41:00

Writing poetry wears on the spirit, so I'll skip writing two.

Han Yu

Chán Zhōng Shuō Chán

Honing in the void a titanic blade, parting veils of clouds,

Writings of heaven and earth, poems of sun and moon.

Rather borrow the Six Classics to diagnose the age's ailments,

Than steal a single phrase to mimic stale old words.

Born with abundant proud bones—he challenged the Buddha's bones,

Ending with little worldly guile—he opened the Way's true path.

In the South Sea, ambergris steams through miasmic mists,

In the Central Plains, mulberry fruits overflow the withered pool.