Chan Zen Poems

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close-up photo of pink and white petaled flower

Chinese (中文) and Japanese (日本語) text to these poems will indeed bring them to life, as the characters themselves carry deep meaning and aesthetic beauty. Below is a selection of poems with their original languages included, along with English translations.


Zen Poems (Japanese Influence)


  1. English:
    The moon reflects
    on still water—
    where does the reflection end,
    and the moon begin?

Japanese (日本語):
月が映る
静かな水に—
影はどこで終わり、
月はどこで始まる?
(Tsuki ga utsuru shizuka na mizu ni— kage wa doko de owari, tsuki wa doko de hajimaru?)



  1. English:
    Sitting in silence,
    the mind empties—
    even the bell’s echo fades.

Japanese (日本語):
静寂に座す、
心は空になる—
鐘の響きも消える。
(Seijaku ni zasu, kokoro wa kara ni naru— kane no hibiki mo kieru.)


Chan Poems (Chinese Influence)


  1. English:
    The mountain is high,
    the river is long—
    why seek the path?
    It is beneath your feet.

Chinese (中文):
山高,
水长—
何必寻路?
路在脚下。
(Shān gāo, shuǐ cháng— hébì xún lù? Lù zài jiǎo xià.)



  1. English:
    The monk asks,
    “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”
    The student laughs—
    and understands.

Chinese (中文):
和尚问:
“单手拍掌是何声?”
学生笑—
顿悟。
(Héshang wèn: “Dān shǒu pāi zhǎng shì hé shēng?” Xuéshēng xiào— dùn wù.)


Shaolin Poems (Martial and Meditative)


  1. English:
    The warrior stands still—
    his shadow fights
    a thousand battles.

Chinese (中文):
武者静立—
其影战
千场。
(Wǔzhě jìng lì— qí yǐng zhàn qiān chǎng.)



  1. English:
    The sword is sharp,
    but the mind is sharper—
    cut through illusion.

Chinese (中文):
剑利,
心更利—
斩破幻象。
(Jiàn lì, xīn gèng lì— zhǎn pò huànxiàng.)


Nature and Emptiness


  1. English:
    The snow falls—
    each flake,
    a moment of clarity.

Japanese (日本語):
雪が降る—
一片一片、
悟りの瞬間。
(Yuki ga furu— hitohira hitohira, satori no shunkan.)



  1. English:
    The bamboo bends,
    but does not break—
    flexibility is strength.

Chinese (中文):
竹弯,
不折—
柔即刚。
(Zhú wān, bù zhé— róu jí gāng.)


Enlightenment and Illusion


  1. English:
    The mirror reflects,
    but holds nothing—
    the self is an illusion.

Chinese (中文):
镜映,
却无物—
自我即幻。
(Jìng yìng, què wú wù— zìwǒ jí huàn.)



  1. English:
    The monk walks—
    each step,
    a universe.

Japanese (日本語):
僧が歩く—
一歩一歩、
宇宙。
(Sō ga aruku— ippo ippo, uchū.)


Mixed Themes


  1. English:
    The lotus blooms in mud—
    beauty rises
    from suffering.

Chinese (中文):
莲花出淤泥—
美从
苦中生。
(Liánhuā chū yūní— měi cóng kǔ zhōng shēng.)



  1. English:
    The wind carries the leaf,
    but the tree does not grieve—
    letting go is freedom.

Japanese (日本語):
風が葉を運ぶ、
しかし木は悲しまない—
手放すことは自由。
(Kaze ga ha o hakobu, shikashi ki wa kanashimanai— tebanasu koto wa jiyū.)


This blend of Chinese, Japanese, and English captures the essence of Zen, Chan, and Shaolin philosophies. The characters themselves add a layer of depth and beauty to the poems. Let me know if you’d like more examples or a deeper dive into specific themes! 🌿

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