Mandarin and Culture

Chinese cultural stories

#25 Poem Inscribed on a Painting

Someone painted a picture and asked the renowned poet-monk Master Cangxue (1588–1656AD) to inscribe it. Upon seeing the painting, Master Cangxue immediately picked up his brush and wrote this poem:

“There is no one under the pine tree; only a game of Go, left unfinished, lies there.

Mountain pine cones fall, scattering across the board.

Even among immortals there are more brilliant ones who play with greater mastery.

Throughout the ages, the game of victory and defeat knows no end.”

#25 题画诗一首

有人画了一幅画,请有名的诗僧苍雪大师(1588—1656年)题字。苍雪大师看到画,马上提笔写了这首诗:

松下无人一局残,山中松子落棋盘。

神仙更有神仙着,千古输赢下不完。

(松树下空无一人,只留着一盘残局;

山里的松子掉下来,落在棋盘上;

神仙之外还有更高明的神仙;

自古以来的输赢,永远也下不完。