Wednesday, 27 April 2016
Tuesday, 26 April 2016
風雲雷電 夕陽流水淡煙華 寂寂春園遍落花 The stream flows through misting smoke
《閒居》風雲雷電
夕陽流水淡煙華
寂寂春園遍落花
柳岸暖風芳草綠
丁香夾道是吾家
"Leisurely Living"
-- by Wind Cloud Thunder Lightning
-- Translated by Frank C Yue
The stream flows through misting smoke in the Sun setting;
In the quiet Spring garden the petals a-drifting.
Warm breeze, fragrant green grass and willows on the sand --
The road leads to m'home with lilacs on either hand.
風雲雷電 --
In the quiet Spring garden the petals a-drifting.
Warm breeze, fragrant green grass and willows on the sand --
The road leads to m'home with lilacs on either hand.
風雲雷電 --
Sunday, 24 April 2016
趙師秀 黃梅時節家家雨 In Summer rain comes a-knocking
《約客》趙師秀
黃梅時節家家雨，
青草池塘處處蛙。
有約不來過夜半，
閑敲棋子落燈花。
黄梅时节家家雨，青草池塘处处蛙。
有约不来过夜半，闲敲棋子落灯花。
"Appointment with A Friend"
-- by Zhao Shixiu （1170～1219）
-- Translated by Frank C Yue
In Summer rain comes a-knocking at homes here and there;
In the green grass and ponds croaking frogs are everywhere.
Past mid-night, my friend who says he would come is not here;
I rap on the chess pieces in leisure,
And knock off the lamp's burnt wick with pleasure.
(following from baidu:)
赵师秀（1170～1219年），永嘉（今浙江温州）人，字紫芝，号灵秀，亦称灵芝，又号天乐。南宋诗人。赵师秀是“永嘉四灵”中较出色的诗人。诗学姚合、贾岛、尊姚、贾为“二妙”。所编《二妙集》选姚诗121首、贾诗81首。绝大部分是五言诗。在四灵中地位声望最高，被推为“四灵之冠”赵师秀（1170～1219年），永嘉（今浙江温州）人，字紫芝，号灵秀，亦称灵芝，又号天乐。南宋诗人。赵师秀是“永嘉四灵”中较出色的诗人。诗学姚合、贾岛、尊姚、贾为“二妙”。所编《二妙集》选姚诗121首、贾诗81首。绝大部分是五言诗。
赵师秀 ．古诗文网
(来源 : 学大教育 日期:2014年12月12日)
约客 原文|翻译|赏析- 赵师秀。
黄梅时节家家雨，青草池塘处处蛙。
有约不来过夜半，闲敲棋子落灯花。
注释
①约客：约请客人来相会。
②黄梅时节：农历四、五月间，江南梅子黄了，熟了，大都是阴雨连连的时候，成为“梅雨季节”，所以称江南雨季为“黄梅时节”。意思就是夏初江南梅子黄熟的时节。
③家家雨：家家户户都赶上下雨。形容处处都在下雨。
④处处蛙：到处是青蛙。
⑤有约：即邀约友人。
⑥落灯花：旧时以油灯照明，灯心烧残，落下来时好像一朵闪亮的小花。落：使……掉落。灯花：灯芯燃尽结成的花状物。
约客选自《清苑斋集》(《南宋群贤小集》本)。
译文
黄梅时节一个梅雨绵绵的夜晚，乡村的青草池塘中传来阵阵蛙鸣。这时已经是半夜了，朋友却没有如约到来，无聊地敲着棋子，灯灰震落在棋盘上。
赏析
首句“黄梅时节家家雨”，交待了当时的环境。黄梅时节乃是立夏后数日梅子由青转黄之时，江南多雨，俗称黄梅天。其时细雨绵绵，正所谓“自在飞花轻似梦，无边丝雨细如愁”。对于视觉，是一种低沉的安慰。至于雨敲在鳞鳞千瓣的瓦上，由远而近，轻轻重重轻轻，夹着一股股的细流沿瓦槽与屋檐潺潺泄下，各种敲击音与滑音密织成网”，仿佛“谁的千指百指在按摩耳轮”，心情异常恬静安祥。
“青草池塘处处蛙”这句，人的注意力从霏霏淫雨，自然而然地转到了远远近近，此起彼伏的片片蛙声，正是这处处蛙声，烘托出了当时周遭的清静，试想，如非心如止水，神游物外，而是焦灼烦躁，何以知微渺“虫声”今夜“新透绿窗纱”?
再看第三句“有约不来过夜半”。我猜想，书中之所以得出“焦灼”结论，多半便依了这句。朋友过了夜半还不来，倘是你我，当然不免焦灼。但这是赵师秀，是“永嘉四灵”之一，人称“鬼才”的赵师秀。赵师秀，字紫芝，又字灵秀，光宗绍熙元年进士，曾任上元县主薄，筠州推官。他虽寄身仕宦，但失意消沉，常与僧道同游山水之间，向往恬静淡泊的生活，甚至还想与陶渊明一样“归寻故园”(《九客一羽衣泛舟，分韵得尊字，就送朱几仲》)。他死后，江湖派巨子戴复古作《哭赵紫芝》，说他是“东晋时人物”。当不致于“有约不来过夜半”便焦灼不安吧?
最后一句“闲敲棋子落灯花”。我不知道前人是怎么理解“闲”字的。我是这样想，“闲敲”之“闲”，应当仿佛我们偶凭小几，百无聊赖，适见案头笔墨，于是顺手拿过，随随便便，漫不经心，信笔涂去，一如陆游“矮纸斜行闲作草”之意趣。赵师秀也便这样坐于灯前，遥等客人不至，百无聊赖，适见局中棋子，于是顺手拈起，随随便便，漫不经心，信手敲去，何来焦灼之感?
Thursday, 21 April 2016
袁枚 飯粥單 What is Congee?
《隨園食單》《飯粥單》 清. 袁枚
見水不見米 , 非粥也；
見米不見水，非粥也。
必使水米融洽，柔膩如一，而後謂之粥。
From "The Sui Yuan Menu" Sub-Menu "Rice and Congee"
-- by Yuan Mu (1716-1797)
-- Translated by Frank C Yue
Where you see water but no rice,
It is not congee.
Where you see rice but no water,
It is not congee.
Water, rice should be homogenized;
Where one they are all,
And it's smooth and fine --
Only then, congee can this be call'd.
飯
王莽雲：“鹽者，百肴之將。” 余則曰：“飯者，百味之本。”《詩》稱：“釋之溲溲，蒸之浮浮。” 是古人亦吃蒸飯。然終嫌米汁不在飯中。善煮飯者，雖煮如蒸，依舊顆粒分明，入口軟糯。其訣有四：一要米好，或“香稻”，或“冬霜”，或“晚米”，或“觀音秈”，或“桃花秈”，春之極熟，霉天風攤播之，不使惹霉發疹。一要善淘，淘米時不惜工夫，用手揉擦，使水從籮中淋出，竟成清水，無復米色。一要用火先武後文，悶起得宜。一要相米放水，不多不少，燥濕得宜。往往見富貴人家，講菜不講飯，逐末忘本，真為可笑。余不喜湯澆飯，惡失飯之本味故也。湯果佳，寧一口吃湯，一口吃飯，分前後食之，方兩全其美。不得已，則用茶、用開水淘之，猶不奪飯之正味。飯之甘，在百味之上，知味者，遇好飯不必用菜。
１）釋：指用水淘米。 溲溲：淘米聲。
２）浮浮：熱氣上騰的樣子。
粥
見水不見米，非粥也；見米不見水，非粥也。必使水米融洽，柔膩如一，而後謂之粥。尹文端公曰：“寧人等粥，毋粥等人。” 此真名言，防停頓而味變湯幹故也。近有為鴨粥者，入以葷腥；為八寶粥者，入以果品，俱失粥之正味。不得已，則夏用綠豆，冬用黍米，以五谷入五谷，尚屬不妨。余常食于某觀察家，諸菜尚可，而飯粥粗糲，勉強咽下，歸而大病。嘗戲語人曰：“此是五臟神暴落難。” 是故自禁受不得。
見水不見米 , 非粥也；
見米不見水，非粥也。
必使水米融洽，柔膩如一，而後謂之粥。
From "The Sui Yuan Menu" Sub-Menu "Rice and Congee"
-- by Yuan Mu (1716-1797)
-- Translated by Frank C Yue
Where you see water but no rice,
It is not congee.
Where you see rice but no water,
It is not congee.
Water, rice should be homogenized;
Where one they are all,
And it's smooth and fine --
Only then, congee can this be call'd.
(photo from the net.)
飯粥單
粥飯本也，余菜末也。本立而道生。作《飯粥單》。飯
王莽雲：“鹽者，百肴之將。” 余則曰：“飯者，百味之本。”《詩》稱：“釋之溲溲，蒸之浮浮。” 是古人亦吃蒸飯。然終嫌米汁不在飯中。善煮飯者，雖煮如蒸，依舊顆粒分明，入口軟糯。其訣有四：一要米好，或“香稻”，或“冬霜”，或“晚米”，或“觀音秈”，或“桃花秈”，春之極熟，霉天風攤播之，不使惹霉發疹。一要善淘，淘米時不惜工夫，用手揉擦，使水從籮中淋出，竟成清水，無復米色。一要用火先武後文，悶起得宜。一要相米放水，不多不少，燥濕得宜。往往見富貴人家，講菜不講飯，逐末忘本，真為可笑。余不喜湯澆飯，惡失飯之本味故也。湯果佳，寧一口吃湯，一口吃飯，分前後食之，方兩全其美。不得已，則用茶、用開水淘之，猶不奪飯之正味。飯之甘，在百味之上，知味者，遇好飯不必用菜。
１）釋：指用水淘米。 溲溲：淘米聲。
２）浮浮：熱氣上騰的樣子。
粥
見水不見米，非粥也；見米不見水，非粥也。必使水米融洽，柔膩如一，而後謂之粥。尹文端公曰：“寧人等粥，毋粥等人。” 此真名言，防停頓而味變湯幹故也。近有為鴨粥者，入以葷腥；為八寶粥者，入以果品，俱失粥之正味。不得已，則夏用綠豆，冬用黍米，以五谷入五谷，尚屬不妨。余常食于某觀察家，諸菜尚可，而飯粥粗糲，勉強咽下，歸而大病。嘗戲語人曰：“此是五臟神暴落難。” 是故自禁受不得。
Tuesday, 19 April 2016
The ANSWER TO LIFE, THE UNIVERSE & EVERYTHING
What is the ANSWER TO LIFE, THE UNIVERSE & EVERYTHING**?
Of course, it depends on whom you ask. Every person may give you a different answer.
No, I am not referring to the serious stuff like "super-string theories" etc. the likes of Stephen Hawkings are talking about. I am talking about THE OTHER ANSWERS common people, like you and I, may be pondering. All this comes about after I read two recent comic strips in the newspaper by "Mutts", in which --
(a) Mutts (the dog, the main character) said (to his friend, the cat), "Moosh, I MUST humbly disagree. I firmly believe that 'So what' is not the ANSWER TO EVERYTHING!" Moosh: "So what."
(b) "Moosh, I'm so glad that you've decided to stop saying 'So what' as your ANSWER TO EVERYTHING... Now we can be open to new ideas and engage in healthy debate and discussion!" Moosh: "Whatever."
As regards "What is the ANSWER TO EVERYTHING?" some possible responses that come to mind are given below.
From the "Religious Person":
1. God the Creator, of course.
From "Doubting Thomas":
2. Is that so?
3. Are you sure?
4. Maybe, maybe not.
From "Smart Alex":
5. I knew it!
From "You and I":
6. Ureka!
7. The moment of truth.
8. O.K.
9. Come again?
10. Can you say that in plain English?
11. I dunno.
12. So, what's next?
From the "Frequent Time-Traveller":
13. Hey, that was yesterday's answer! Haven't you heard the latest?
Well, you may like to add on to the list. Have fun!
Of course, it depends on whom you ask. Every person may give you a different answer.
No, I am not referring to the serious stuff like "super-string theories" etc. the likes of Stephen Hawkings are talking about. I am talking about THE OTHER ANSWERS common people, like you and I, may be pondering. All this comes about after I read two recent comic strips in the newspaper by "Mutts", in which --
(a) Mutts (the dog, the main character) said (to his friend, the cat), "Moosh, I MUST humbly disagree. I firmly believe that 'So what' is not the ANSWER TO EVERYTHING!" Moosh: "So what."
(b) "Moosh, I'm so glad that you've decided to stop saying 'So what' as your ANSWER TO EVERYTHING... Now we can be open to new ideas and engage in healthy debate and discussion!" Moosh: "Whatever."
** From Wikipedia:
"A theory of everything (ToE) or final theory, ultimate theory, or master theory is a hypothetical single, all-encompassing, coherent theoretical framework of physics that fully explains and links together all physical aspects of the universe. Finding a ToE is one of the major unsolved problems in physics. Over the past few centuries, two theoretical frameworks have been developed that, as a whole, most closely resemble a ToE. These two theories upon which all modern physics rests are general relativity (GR) and quantum field theory (QFT)..."
Quotes from Stephen Hawking:
-- The whole history of science has been the gradual realization that events do not happen in an arbitrary manner, but that they reflect a certain underlying order, which may or may not be divinely inspired.
-- I still believe there are grounds for cautious optimism that we may now be near the end of the search for the ultimate laws of nature.
From the "Religious Person":
1. God the Creator, of course.
From "Doubting Thomas":
2. Is that so?
3. Are you sure?
4. Maybe, maybe not.
From "Smart Alex":
5. I knew it!
From "You and I":
6. Ureka!
7. The moment of truth.
8. O.K.
9. Come again?
10. Can you say that in plain English?
11. I dunno.
12. So, what's next?
From the "Frequent Time-Traveller":
13. Hey, that was yesterday's answer! Haven't you heard the latest?
Well, you may like to add on to the list. Have fun!
Sunday, 17 April 2016
Roland: 余修健足強吾體 熾求和樂赤子心 I just have my leg repaired
余修健足強吾體
熾求和樂赤子心
橫批：祝君健康
熾求和樂赤子心
橫批：祝君健康
Wish you a very speedy recovery!
Best regards,
Roland
I just have my leg repaired to keep a healthy body,
Fervently seeking peace, joy and the heart of a baby.
thank you, roland, for the fine couplet. i'm already on the mend.
The following photo (with 31 staples) may be too graphic; viewer's discretion is advised.
Fervently seeking peace, joy and the heart of a baby.
thank you, roland, for the fine couplet. i'm already on the mend.
The following photo (with 31 staples) may be too graphic; viewer's discretion is advised.
My Brand New Right Knee
"Hey, Frank, an old friend's here visiting;
We'll have a little gathering.
Will you be coming?"
( To call to give you a lift for dinner,
you know which neighbour?)
O My dear neighbour sweet,
Who lives across the street,
Thank you for your offer with kindness abound!
But I'd join you guys the next time around.
You may wonder why?
Here are the reasons, O mine.
1. Yeah! My right knee is just "reborn",
And the swelling's long gone,
But it's only three weeks on.
2. It needs to be broken in,
But it's not a perfect scene
My returning home since...
5. I don't have a nightly good sleep,
I'm still not quite the same me!
So, I won't be there this time,
Just enjoy your gathering, guys!
"Hey, Frank, an old friend's here visiting;
We'll have a little gathering.
Will you be coming?"
( To call to give you a lift for dinner,
you know which neighbour?)
O My dear neighbour sweet,
Who lives across the street,
Thank you for your offer with kindness abound!
But I'd join you guys the next time around.
You may wonder why?
Here are the reasons, O mine.
1. Yeah! My right knee is just "reborn",
And the swelling's long gone,
But it's only three weeks on.
2. It needs to be broken in,
But it's not a perfect scene
My returning home since...
3. They gave me 'Endocet' after operation
For pain mitigation.
But I had most of the side effects listed!
I threw up, was nauseated, constipated,
I lost my appetite, my stomach was bloated...
4. They then changed the medication for me:
Tylenol with Codiene #3,
But the side effects persisted, though to a lesser degree.
For pain mitigation.
But I had most of the side effects listed!
I threw up, was nauseated, constipated,
I lost my appetite, my stomach was bloated...
4. They then changed the medication for me:
Tylenol with Codiene #3,
But the side effects persisted, though to a lesser degree.
5. I don't have a nightly good sleep,
I'm still not quite the same me!
So, I won't be there this time,
Just enjoy your gathering, guys!
Friday, 15 April 2016
廣東白話(廣府話)萬歲! Long live Cantonese!
前陣子在廣州一個飯局認識了一個川音畢業的湖北妹。閒聊間，我問她：妳來廣州都5年了，怎麼一句廣東話都不會說？
她：身邊沒朋友說粵語，而且粵語也沒什麼好學的。
我問：此話怎說？
她說：大家都講普通話就好了，像粵語這種比較沒文化的方言，都快被邊緣化了，學它幹啥呀？學來有啥用呀！……
作為一個講了幾十年粵語又叫讀過下書的香港人，我對他說的當然是不以為然。我問：言下之意，你是覺得說普通話比粵語有文化有內涵？
她說：可以這麼說！
我笑著說：很好很好，作為湖北人，又是中原地區的中國人，你熱愛中國的文化麼？
她：當然熱愛了！
我：那你認為琴棋書畫、四書五經、唐詩宋詞…這些能代表中國的優秀文化麼？她：可以。
我：你剛說你熱愛中國文化，那你瞭解唐詩宋詞麼？
她：一點點。
我：那你能隨便諗幾首唐詩宋詞出來聽聽麼？
她：其實我也不太瞭解，但我是有聽說過唐詩宋詞，我大概知道是什麼回事。
我笑說：好吧，我知你應該是跟絕大多數人一樣不瞭解的，不然你又怎會不知道距今已有1300年歷史的唐詩宋詞；其實大多數是用現今的所謂粵語寫成，用粵語才能讀得通順的呢？
她：嚇？不是吧！唐詩宋詞那些不是用普通話來諗的麼？
我笑說：1300年的唐代根本就還未出現現在所謂普通話，普通話是大概500年前北方蒙滿胡語雜交變種流傳至今的語言，不管詞彙、用詞、都比歷史久遠的廣東話單薄粗疏多了。如果你說熱愛中國的文化不是對人吹水唬弄的話，你就應該學好廣東話，不然你看很多古籍和諗唐詩宋詞就會看不懂讀不通。明白了麼？
蘇軾：「寧可食無肉，不可居無竹，無肉令人瘦，無竹令人俗，人瘦尚可肥，士俗不可醫」的【食】字和【肥】字，正是廣東話。日常例子如～食餸、食嘢、好好食、肥仔、肥佬、肥騰騰。普通話唔係用「食」，係用「吃」，唔係用「肥」，係用「胖」。
李白：「人生得意需盡歡，莫使金樽空對月」的【樽】字，正是廣東話。日常例子如～買一樽豉油返屋企、飮番樽啤酒先、呢個玻璃樽入面係乜嘢來咖？普通話唔係用「樽」，係用「瓶」，一瓶、瓶子。
古詩十九首其中：「行行重行行，與君生別離」的【行】字，正是廣東話。行行重行行的意思是；行下，停下，再行下，又再停下，非常之依依不舍……廣東話日常例子如～行路、行街睇戲、行出去、行花市、行咗幾遠呀？普通話係用「走」或「逛」，走路、逛街。
杜甫：「朱門酒肉臭，路有凍死骨」的【凍死】，正是廣東話。廣東話日常例子如～好凍、凍冰冰。普通話唔係用「凍」係用「冷」。
李白：「舉頭望明月，低頭思故鄉」的【望】字，正是廣東話。廣東話日常例子如～望住前面、唔好四圍望、望乜嘢？普通話唔係用「望」係用「看」。
杜甫：「肯與鄰翁相對飲，隔籬呼取盡餘杯」的【隔籬】，正是廣東話。廣東話日常例子如～我就住喺你隔籬、隔籬鄰舍、搬過隔籬屋。普通話唔係用「隔籬」係用「隔壁」或「鄰居」。
李煜的「問君能有幾多愁？恰似一江春水向東流」的【幾多】，正是廣東話。廣東話日常例子如～幾多錢？幾多個？普通話唔係用「幾多」係用「多少」。
還有太多太例子，不多說了，有興趣自己去查找答案吧！
粵語，有著千幾年深厚歷史文化基礎，係傳承中華古代文明的載體，推普冇問題，但倡議廢粵、貶粵、打壓粵語；絕對是破壞中華文化傳承的文盲行為。
還有，敬告各位，唐詩真係要用粵語來讀先至啱，如果自己不懂粵語；冇文化就算了，千萬別隨便亂說別人講粵語是冇文化，真係會失禮死人。
(筆者按：其它還有廣東話‘睇’字，如 王勃的滕王閣序“窮睇眄於中天”，白居易的長恨歌“
含情凝睇謝君王”。)
含情凝睇謝君王”。)
http://lo-enote.blogspot.hk/2016/04/blog-post_7.html
Please click:
RESTORE A ROTTEN BANANA
Please click:
RESTORE A ROTTEN BANANA
" 粵語（口語）和現代的白話文須要有那一種關係？"
粵語（口語）和現代的白話文應無關係。
記得多年前在香港念中學時, 國文老師鄭重吩咐不能用粤語口語來寫文章,每句粤語口語會被扣五分。由於中學多年習慣, 作文時不用粤語口語, 現今在下寫文章或留言也不雜以粤語。
但我等是操粤語之廣東人, 必一定要支持保留粤語, 否則遲早便會喪失我等之母語。
其實廣東話絕大多數都可以我手寫我口，今人疏懶，習北方白話文太久，邯鄲學步，反忘彳亍之道而己。
北方「白話文」也不過百年不到的歷史，足見北人馴化之功。
普通話是一種退化的語言。.../// [1300年的唐代根本就還未出現現在所謂普通話，普通話是大概500年前北方蒙滿胡語雜交變種流傳至今的語言，不管詞彙、用詞、都比歷史久遠的廣東話單薄粗疏多了。]
廣東話?
又恁低逼,
並不存在廣東話呢樣東西,
若如是, 潮州人好唔滿意你!
只有廣東白話或舊稱廣府話!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
《孤翁鈎寒》一老年人
Surrounded by the green water still;
Layers upon layers of mist pale
Appear like a cold veil.
Lone fisher in a boat with line long,
The river breeze just moves him along.