At the Lin An Tavern 题临安邸 (tí lín ān dǐ) By: Lin Sheng – 林升 (lín shēng) Era: Song Dynasty –
Category: Chinese Literature
Ancient Chinese Poetry 中国古诗词鉴赏 – Spring River Night Scenery 惠崇《春江晚景》
Spring River Night Scenery 惠崇《春江晚景》 (huì chóng chūn jiāng wǎn jǐng) By: Su Shi – 苏轼 (sū shì) Era: Song Dynasty
Ancient Chinese Poetry 中国古诗词鉴赏 – Le You Garden 乐游原
Le You Garden 乐游原 (lè yóu yuán) By: Li Shang Yin – 李商隐 (lǐ shāng yǐn) Era: Tang Dynasty – 唐朝
Ancient Chinese Poetry 中国古诗词鉴赏 – Chi Le Song: Northern Dynasty Folk Song 敕勒歌
Chi Le Song: Northern Dynasty Folk Song 敕勒歌 (chì lè gē) 北朝民歌 (běi cháo mín gē), Northern Dynasty Folk Song
三十六计Thirty-Six Stratagems: 起源Origin
The name of the collection comes from the Book of Qi, in its seventh biographical volume,Biography of Wáng Jìngzé (王敬则传). Wáng was a general who had served Southern Qi since the first Emperor Gao of the dynasty. When Emperor Ming came to power and executed many members of the court and royal family for fear that they would threaten his reign, Wáng believed that he would be targeted next and rebelled. As Wáng received news that Xiāo Bǎojuàn (萧宝卷), son and crown prince of Emperor Ming, had escaped in haste after learning of the rebellion, he commented that "of the thirty-six stratagems of Lord Tán, retreat was his best, you father and son should run for sure"(檀公三十六策,走为上计,汝父子唯应走耳). Lord Tán here refers to general Tán Dàojì (檀道济) of the Liu Song Dynasty, who was forced to retreat after his failed attack on Northern Wei, and Wáng mentioned his name in contempt as an example of cowardice.
Ancient Chinese Poetry 中国古诗词鉴赏 – Mountain Travel 山行
Mountain Travel 山行 (shān xíng) By: Du Mu – 杜牧 (dù mù) Era: Tang Dynasty – 唐朝 (táng cháo)
Ancient Chinese Poetry 中国古诗词鉴赏 – Liang Province Poem 凉州词
Liang Province Poem 凉州词 (liáng zhōu cí) By: Wang Han – 王翰 (wáng hàn) Era: Tang Dynasty – 唐朝 (táng cháo)
三十六计 Thirty-Six Stratagems: 瞒天过海 Fool the Emperor to Cross the Sea
This stratagem references an episode in 643 AD, when Emperor Taizong of Tang (唐太宗 tánɡtàizōnɡ), balked from crossing the sea to a campaign against Koguryo. His general Xue Rengui (薛仁贵 Xuē Rénɡuì) thought of a stratagem to get the emperor across and allay his fear of seasickness: on a clear day, the emperor was invited to meet a wise man. They entered through a dark tunnel into a hall wher they feasted. After feasting several days, the Emperor heard the sound of waves and realised that he had been lured onto a ship! General Xue drew aside the curtains to reveal the ocean and confessed that they had already crossed the sea: Upon discovering this, the emperor decided to carry on and later completed the successful campaign.
Ancient Chinese Poetry 中国古诗词鉴赏 – Red Cliff 赤壁
Red Cliff 赤壁 (chì bì) By: Du Mu – 杜牧 (dù mù) Era: Tang Dynasty – 唐朝 (táng cháo)
三十六计 Thirty-Six Stratagems: 围魏救赵 Besiege Wèi to rescue Zhào
The origin of this proverb is from the Warring States Period (战国时期 zhànɡuóshíqī). The state of Wèi attacked Zhao and laid siege (围攻 wéiɡōnɡ) to its capital Handan (邯郸 Hándān). Zhào turned to Qí for help, but the Qí general Sun Bin determined it would be unwise to meet the army of Wèi head on, so he instead attacked their capital atDaliang (大梁 Dàliánɡ). The army of Wèi retreated (撤回 chèhuí) in haste, and the tired troops were ambushed (伏击 fújī) and defeated at the Battle of Guiling (桂陵之战 Guìlínɡzhīzhàn), with the Wèi general Pang Juan (庞涓 Pánɡ Juān) slain on the field. Note that this campaign is also described explicitly in the Art of War of Master Sun Bin the younger.