Visiting Xiangji Temple, Wang Wei (300 Tang Shi #120)

[lnhammer]

I didn’t know where Xiangji Temple is:
After many li, I entered cloud-peaks.
Past an old tree, a path that has no people.
Deep within the hills, a bell—from where?
Sounds of a spring, a pass between high cliffs,
The face of the sun was cold upon green pines.
Twilight, sky, the margin of a lake—
Peaceful meditation tames desires.

过香积寺
不知香积寺，
数里入云峰。
古木无人径，
深山何处钟。
泉声咽危石，
日色冷青松。
薄暮空潭曲，
安禅制毒龙。



Xiangji (“fragrance-gather”) Temple was a little south of Chang’an, and still exists on the outskirts of Xi’an. Buddhist jargon: desire is literally a “poison dragon” —which is a totes vivid phrase but entirely opaque to English-speaking laity.

---L.

Comments

[sartorias]

lovely, especially the echoes of the bell.

[lnhammer]

This one has grown on me, though I still feel like the last line comes out of left field tonally.