Wandering Daoists

Saigyo Hoshi (1118-1190)

How wonderful How wonderful, that Her heart Should show me kindness; And of all the numberless folk, Grief should not touch me. Saigyo

Saigyo Hoshi (1118-1190)

Yang Wanli (1127-1206)

Early Summer, Dwelling in the Idleness, I Wake from a Noon Nap Sour plums at lunch left my teeth feeling all feathery. Banana trees cast green across gauze window-screens. A long day. I Wake from a noon nap empty of thought, all idleness, watch kids catch falling willow blossoms. Yang Wanli

Yang Wanli (1127-1206)

Wei Ying-wu

Alone at Night at My Monastic Residence: To Secretary Ts’u The recluse is in bed but not asleep leaves are falling in flurries a cold rain makes the late night darker fireflies are gone from the tower the blue flames of dawn are no help I still suffer from a thin summer robe I didn’t realize the year was so late or living apart was so lonely

Wei Ying-wu

Chuang Tzu (4th cent BC)

"The Tao exists in the crickets ... in the grasses ... in tiles and bricks ... and in shit and piss." - Chuang-tzu,

Chuang Tzu (4th cent BC)

Du Fu (712-770)

ON A MOONLIGHT NIGHT Far off in Fuzhou she is watching the moonlight, Watching it alone from the window of her chamber- For our boy and girl, poor little babes, Are too young to know where the Capital is. Her cloudy hair is sweet with mist, Her jade-white shoulder is cold in the moon. ...When shall we lie again, with no more tears, Watching this bright light on our screen?

Du Fu (712-770)

Li Shangyin (813-858)

A CICADA Pure of heart and therefore hungry, All night long you have sung in vain -- Oh, this final broken indrawn breath Among the green indifferent trees! Yes, I have gone like a piece of driftwood, I have let my garden fill with weeds.... I bless you for your true advice To live as pure a life as yours.

Li Shangyin (813-858)

from- The Vegetable Root Discourses

Stretching the bow when the goose is not yet here; Drawing the arrow when the rabbit is already dead. Such is called inopportune timing. Don't make wave when the wind has subsided; Disembark as soon as the boat is ashore. This is the proper way to act.

from- The Vegetable Root Discourses

Chuang tzu (born 369 BC)

Creation and Destruction When you break something up, you create things. When you create something, you destroy things. Material things have no creation or destruction. Ultimately these concepts connect as one. Only the enlightened know that they connect as one, So instead of debating this with your preconceptions, Approach it in an ordinary way. Those with this ordinary approach, simply apply the idea. Those who apply it, connect with it. Those who connect with it, attain it. This easily attained understanding is not far off. Chuang Tzu, – From: The True Tao

Chuang tzu (born 369 BC)

Ho Xuan Huong (1772-1822)

Day and Night Peekaboo we used to play; my hands covered my face, your hands covered your face, incredible, there we were gone. That is what we play now, your hands on my face and my hands on your eyes. Incredible how we disappear into each other. Ho Xuan Huong

Ho Xuan Huong (1772-1822)

Po Chu-i (772-846)

Written While on Night Duty at the Palace, to Send to Yuan Ninth Ten thousand threads of thought, two sheets written: before sealing them, I read them over, wonder if they’ll do. The palace water clock has just sounded the fifth watch, the lamp in the window, my one light, about to go out.

Po Chu-i (772-846)

Ono no Komachi (825-900)

As I dozed As I dozed The man I love Appeared, so It is dreams that Have begun to comfort me Ono no Komachi

Ono no Komachi (825-900)

Liu Zongyuan (773-819)

River Snow Liu Zongyuan A thousand hills, but no birds in flight, Ten thousand paths, with no person's tracks. A lonely boat, a straw-hatted old man, Fishing alone in the cold river snow.

Liu Zongyuan (773-819)

Wang Wei (699-759)

Peach Blossom Spring A fisherman floated on, enjoying Spring. The shores, he found, were covered in Peach Blossom. Watched reddening trees, uncertain where he was. Seeing no one reached green water springs. There a way led through the hill. Twisting, turning to a vast plain. Distant trees rose to the clouds. Houses stretched among bamboo and flowers. Woodmen had names from times of Chou, Clothes they wore were those of Ch’in, Once had lived near Wu-ling River, Now they lived outside the world. Bright moon in pines. By their doors peace. Sunrise. From clouds the wild birds call. Amazed, they want to see this stranger, Invite him; ask questions of his country. At first light they sweep flowers from the gate. At dusk fishermen, woodmen ride the stream. They had sought refuge there from the world, Became Immortals, never returned. Who in those hills can know the world of men, Who, gazing out, sees only clouds and hills? He forgot Paradise is hard to find. His spirit turned again to his own home. Leaving those hidden streams and mountains, Thought he could return when he wished, Knew the way. How could he go wrong? Who can know how hills and valleys alter? He only knew the deep ways he wandered. How many green streams in those cloudy woods? When Spring comes a myriad Peach-filled rivers, Who knows which one might lead to Paradise?

Wang Wei (699-759)

Ikkyu Sojun (1394-1481)

A REST ON THE WAY BACK FROM THE LEAKY ROAD TO THE NEVER-LEAKING ROAD; IF IT RAINS, LET IT RAIN; IF IT BLOWS, LET IT BLOW. MY SELF OF LONG AGO, IN NATURE NON-EXISTENT; NOWHERE TO GO WHEN DEAD, NOTHING AT ALL. WHEN ASKED, HE ANSWERED; NO QUESTION, NO ANSWER; THEN MASTER DARUMA MUST HAVE HAD NOTHING IN HIS MIND. OUR MIND -- WITHOUT END, WITHOUT BEGINNING, THOUGH IT IS BORN, THOUGH IT DIES -- THE ESSENCE OF EMPTINESS! ALL THE SINS COMMITTED IN THE THREE WORLDS WILL FADE AND DISAPPEAR TOGETHER WITH MYSELF.

Ikkyu Sojun (1394-1481)

Xie Lingyun (385-433)

Dwelling in the Mountains #18 Slipping from gardens to fields and from fields on toward lakes, I float and drift on and on along rivers to realms of distant water, sage pools in mountain streams deepening into recluse dark and hazy confusions of wild rice clearing away along islands. Fragrant springwater swells into springtime cascades here, and chilled waves quicken amid autumn’s passing clarity. Wind churning up lakewater around islands full of orchids, sunlight pours through pepper trees and on across the road, and soaring lazily over the mid-stream island, the pavillion there soaked in its luster, the moon in water is a perfect joy. Lingering out shadows, mornings infuse things with clarity, and suffusing the air, fragrant scents settle into evenings here, where thinking of loved ones lost to me forever now, I can look forward to the evanescent visits of cloud guests. .

Xie Lingyun (385-433)