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Ascending the Pagoda at Ci'en Temple with Gao Shi and Xue Ju
English Poetic Translation
The great pagoda surges from the ground,
A solitary crest assaulting heaven's hall.
To climb is to abandon mortal bounds,
As spiraling steps wind through the empty void.
It looms immense across the realm of shores,
Its jagged height carved by demonic hands.
Four corners block the brilliance of the sun,
Seven tiers brush against the azure vault.
Looking below, one points at soaring birds;
Stooping to listen, startled gales rush past.
The rolling ranges heave like ocean waves,
Their turbulent currents sweeping to the east.
Green sophoras line out the imperial path,
Where palaces and pavilions gleam bright.
Autumnal hues advance from western realms,
A somber verdure filling Guanzhong plain.
Above the northern mounds of ancient tombs,
A misty haze endures for countless years.
Quiet principles lie clear and understood,
While holy truths have guided all my days.
I vow to cast my official cap aside,
And seek the boundless way of silent peace.
A solitary crest assaulting heaven's hall.
To climb is to abandon mortal bounds,
As spiraling steps wind through the empty void.
It looms immense across the realm of shores,
Its jagged height carved by demonic hands.
Four corners block the brilliance of the sun,
Seven tiers brush against the azure vault.
Looking below, one points at soaring birds;
Stooping to listen, startled gales rush past.
The rolling ranges heave like ocean waves,
Their turbulent currents sweeping to the east.
Green sophoras line out the imperial path,
Where palaces and pavilions gleam bright.
Autumnal hues advance from western realms,
A somber verdure filling Guanzhong plain.
Above the northern mounds of ancient tombs,
A misty haze endures for countless years.
Quiet principles lie clear and understood,
While holy truths have guided all my days.
I vow to cast my official cap aside,
And seek the boundless way of silent peace.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
塔勢如湧出，孤高聳天宮。
登臨出世界，磴道盤虛空。
突兀壓神州，崢嶸如鬼工。
四角礙白日，七層摩蒼穹。
下窺指高鳥，俯聽聞驚風。
連山若波濤，奔湊似朝東。
青槐夾馳道，宮館何玲瓏。
秋色從西來，蒼然滿關中。
五陵北原上，萬古青濛濛。
淨理了可悟，勝因夙所宗。
誓將掛冠去，覺道資無窮。
登臨出世界，磴道盤虛空。
突兀壓神州，崢嶸如鬼工。
四角礙白日，七層摩蒼穹。
下窺指高鳥，俯聽聞驚風。
連山若波濤，奔湊似朝東。
青槐夾馳道，宮館何玲瓏。
秋色從西來，蒼然滿關中。
五陵北原上，萬古青濛濛。
淨理了可悟，勝因夙所宗。
誓將掛冠去，覺道資無窮。
Philological Direct Translation
Pagoda form like surging out, solitary high rears into heaven palace.
Ascending and overlooking exits world, stone steps coil through empty void.
Towering presses divine land, rugged steep like ghost work.
Four corners hinder white sun, seven tiers rub azure vault.
Looking down points at high birds, looking below hears startled wind.
Continuous mountains like billows, rushing gathering seem facing east.
Green sophoras flank imperial way, palace buildings how exquisite.
Autumn colors from west come, dark green fills Guanzhong.
Five Tombs north plateau upon, myriad ages green hazy mist.
Pure principle clear can be understood, supreme cause long since honored.
Vowing shall hang up cap and leave, enlightenment Dao nourishes without bound.
Ascending and overlooking exits world, stone steps coil through empty void.
Towering presses divine land, rugged steep like ghost work.
Four corners hinder white sun, seven tiers rub azure vault.
Looking down points at high birds, looking below hears startled wind.
Continuous mountains like billows, rushing gathering seem facing east.
Green sophoras flank imperial way, palace buildings how exquisite.
Autumn colors from west come, dark green fills Guanzhong.
Five Tombs north plateau upon, myriad ages green hazy mist.
Pure principle clear can be understood, supreme cause long since honored.
Vowing shall hang up cap and leave, enlightenment Dao nourishes without bound.