The Poetry of Wang Dongting in Ancient Poems

The lake and the moon blend together,

There is no wind on the pool surface, and the mirror is not polished.

Looking at Dongting,

Green snail in a silver plate.

[Notes]

1. Dongting: the name of the lake, in Hunan Province.

2. Harmony: Harmony refers to the fusion of water color and moonlight.

3. Pool surface: refers to the lake surface. Mirrors are not polished: ancient mirrors were made of copper. What is said here is that there is no wind on the water surface and the waves are as smooth as a mirror; It is said that the scenery in the lake is blurred from a distance, just as the mirror is not clear without polishing. You can say both.

4. Silver plate: Describe Dongting Lake. Green snail: a blue-black spiral ink used by ancient women to thrush. This is used to describe Junshan Mountain in Dongting Lake.

[Modern Translation]

The water and light in Dongting Lake are in harmony with the autumn moon.

The water is as calm as a bronze mirror.

Seen from a distance, the Dongting Lake landscape is green.

Like a silver plate with green snails.

[Appreciation]

This is a landscape poem written by the poet overlooking Dongting Lake, which is clear and meaningful. The first sentence is about the blending of water, light and moonlight, which shows the breadth and distance of the lake. This should be the scene at dusk. It is not dark yet, but the moon has come out. If it is dark, you can't see the fusion of the two colors. The second sentence uses the metaphor of a mirror to show the calm of the lake at night, because the sun has set and the lake is not reflective, just like a mirror is dull without polishing. The third sentence is about the green of Junshan Mountain in Wangyuan Lake. The "landscape" here actually refers to the mountain, that is, Junshan in the lake. The usage of "scenery" belongs to the usage of "compound words with partial meanings" in ancient Chinese. The fourth sentence uses another metaphor, comparing Junshan floating in the water to a green snail on a silver plate. The whole poem is full of pure scenery, with detailed descriptions and vivid metaphors, which is very interesting to read.