In the annals of Chinese literature, “Looking at Mount Tai” (望岳) by the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu stands as a testament to the beauty and majesty of one of China’s most iconic landscapes. This poem, rich with imagery and emotion, has captivated readers for centuries. Below, we offer an English pronunciation audio guide to help you experience the essence of Du Fu’s words.
English Translation and Pronunciation Guide
Original Chinese:
望岳
岱宗夫如何？齐鲁青未了。
造化钟神秀，阴阳割昏晓。
荡胸生层云，决眦入归鸟。
会当凌绝顶，一览众山小。
English Translation:
Looking at Mount Tai
How majestic is Mount Tai, how endless the greenery of Qi and Lu?
The Creator’s art is so divine, the yin and yang split day and night.
The clouds rise in my breast, my eyes wide, the birds return to their nests.
I shall one day scale the peak, and from the top look down on all lesser mountains.
Pronunciation Guide:
- 望岳 (wàng yuè): “Wang” rhymes with “long,” “yue” is pronounced like “you” in “you and me.”
- 岱宗 (dài zōng): “Dai” rhymes with “buy,” “zong” is pronounced like “song” in “song and dance.”
- 夫如何 (fū rú hé): “Fu” rhymes with “push,” “ru” is pronounced like “true,” “he” is the same as “he” in “hello.”
- 齐鲁青未了 (jǐ lǚ qīng wèi liǎo): “Ji” rhymes with “die,” “lǚ” is pronounced like “lu,” “qīng” rhymes with “sing,” “wèi” rhymes with “die,” “liǎo” rhymes with “piao.”
- 造化钟神秀 (zào huà zhōng shén xiù): “Zào” rhymes with “saw,” “huà” rhymes with “spa,” “zhōng” rhymes with “long,” “shén” rhymes with “zen,” “xiù” rhymes with “now.”
- 阴阳割昏晓 (yīn yáng gē hun xiǎo): “Yīn” rhymes with “cin,” “yáng” rhymes with “long,” “gē” rhymes with “key,” “hun” rhymes with “sun,” “xiǎo” rhymes with “shower.”
- 荡胸生层云 (dàng xiōng shēng céng yún): “Dàng” rhymes with “long,” “xiōng” rhymes with “long,” “shēng” rhymes with “spring,” “céng” rhymes with “sang,” “yún” rhymes with “fun.”
- 决眦入归鸟 (jué zì rù guī niǎo): “Jué” rhymes with “choose,” “zì” rhymes with “size,” “rù” rhymes with “sue,” “guī” rhymes with “key,” “niǎo” rhymes with “now.”
- 会当凌绝顶 (huì dāng líng jué dǐng): “Huì” rhymes with “wired,” “dāng” rhymes with “long,” “líng” rhymes with “ring,” “jué” rhymes with “choose,” “dǐng” rhymes with “thing.”
- 一览众山小 (yī lǎn zhòng shān xiǎo): “Yī” rhymes with “high,” “lǎn” rhymes with “plan,” “zhòng” rhymes with “song,” “shān” rhymes with “shan,” “xiǎo” rhymes with “shower.”
Audio Pronunciation
To aid in your pronunciation practice, you can listen to the following audio clip, which features a native English speaker reciting “Looking at Mount Tai” with proper pronunciation.
[Insert Audio Clip]
By listening to this audio, you can improve your understanding of the poem’s rhythm and the nuances of each word. Remember, poetry is not just about the words but also about the sound and feel of the language. Enjoy your journey into the heart of Du Fu’s vision of Mount Tai.