A Summer Day at a Pavilion in the Mountains

Author: Gao Pian (821—887)

Summer day lengthens under shady green trees;

The pond reflects pavilions and terraces.

Crystal-bead curtains flicker with the rise of a breeze;

Full arches of climbing roses fill the garden with fragrances.

July is the hottest month in almost all the places of the Northern Hemisphere. When air-conditioners are on, does anyone wonder how people before the advent of electricity used to deal with summer heat? The poems in this chapter depict how ancient Chinese poets spent their summers. Poetry turns summer into a splendid season despite its stifling steam!

Gao Pian succeeded his father as a general, serving in the military during the last years of the Tang Dynasty. When an enormous group of rebels attacked the capital Chang-An, the emperor sent a message to Gao, ordering him to bring troops to Chang-An to fight the rebels. But in fear of the formidable rebels, Gao stayed where he was. Some historians therefore associate the demise of the Tang Dynasty with Gao. Although Gao’s integrity as a general was questionable, the quality of his writing is undeniable. The poem below especially remains timeless.

Copyright: A Poetic Portal To Chinese Culture, China Pictorial Press

Photo/IC