Han-shan Quotes

• “I spur my horse past the ruined city;
  the ruined city, that wakes the traveler's thoughts:
  ancient battlements, high and low;
  old grave mounds, great and small.
  
  Where the shadow of a single tumbleweed trembles
  and the voice of the great trees clings forever,
  I sigh over all these common bones --
  No roll of the immortals bears their names.”

  Han-shan

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• “Children I implore you
  get out of the burning house now
  three carts wait outside
  to save you from a homeless life
  relax in the village square
  before the sky everything's empty
  no direction is better or worse
  east is just as good as west
  those who know the meaning of this
  are free to go where they want”

  Han-shan

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• “the ten thousand things are all reflections
  the moon originally has no light”

  Han-shan

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• “I divined and chose a distant place to dwell
  T'ien-t'ai; what more is there to say?
  
  Monkeys cry where valley mists are cold,
  My grass gate blends with the color of the crags,
  I pick leaves to thatch a hut among the pines,
  Scoop out a pond and lead a runnel from the spring.
  
  By now I am used to doing without the world,
  Picking ferns, I pass the years that are left.
  The trail to Cold Mountain is faint
  the banks of Cold Stream are a jungle
  
  birds constantly chatter away
  I hear no sound of people
  gusts of wind lash my face
  
  flurries of snow bury my body
  day after day, no sun
  year after year no spring.”

  Han-shan

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• “Spring water is pure in an emerald stream
  moonlight is white on Cold Mountain
  silence thoughts and the spirit becomes clear
  focus on emptiness and the world grows still”

  Han-shan

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• “Some seek pleasure in love
  blind to the trials of a mortal body
  others see a bubble or mirage
  and realize impermanence undoes us all
  a real man's will is straight like iron
  in an uncrooked heart the Way is true
  dense and tall bamboos in the snow
  show you the mind not used in vain”

  Han-shan

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• “Where’s the trail to Cold Mountain?
  
  Cold Mountain? There’s no clear way.
  
  Ice, in summer, is still frozen.
  
  Bright sun shines through thick fog.
  
  You won’t get there following me.
  
  Your heart and mine are not the same.
  
  If your heart was like mine,
  
  You’d have made it, and be there!”

  Han-shan

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• “I sit beneath the cliff, quiet and alone.
  Round moon in the middle of the sky’s a bird
  ablaze:
  all things seen are mere shadows in its brilliance,
  that single wheel of perfect light…
  Alone, its spirit naturally comes clear.
  Swallowed in emptiness in this cave of darkest
  mystery,
  because of the finger pointing, I saw the moon.
  That moon became the pivot of my heart.”

  Han-shan

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• “Above Cold Mountain the moon shines alone
  in a clear sky it illuminates nothing at all
  precious heavenly priceless jewel
  buried in the skandhas submerged in the body”

  Han-shan

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• “I labored in vain reciting the Three Histories
  I wasted my time reading the Five Classics
  I've grown old checking yellow scrolls
  recording the usual everyday names
  Continued Hardship was my fortune
  Emptiness and Danger govern my life
  I can't match riverside trees
  every year with a season of green”

  Han-shan

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• “So many kinds of people exist
  hundreds of plans for profit and fame
  hearts intent on glory
  always trying to get rich
  minds that never rest
  rushing about like smoke
  dependents gather around
  one yell and a hundred heads nod
  but less than seventy years from now
  ice becomes water and roof tiles break
  dead at last all cares cease
  who will be their heir
  drop a ball of mud in water
  and behold the thoughtless mind”

  Han-shan

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• “No need to attack the faults of others
  no need to flaunt your own virtues
  act when you're acknowledged
  retire when you're ignored
  rich rewards mean great trials
  deep words meet superficial minds
  think about what you hear
  children must see for themselves..”

  Han-shan

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• “For an image of life and death
  consider ice and water
  water freezes into ice
  ice melts back into water
  what dies must live again
  what lives is bound to die
  ice and water don't harm each other
  both life and death are fine..”

  Han-shan

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• “As long as we are bound by the Six Extremes
  discussing the Nine Knots is futile
  talented men remain in the wilds
  the unskilled close rough doors
  the cliffs are still dark at noon
  the valleys stay dim on cloudless days
  here you'll find the sons of elders
  and none of them have any pants”

  Han-shan

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• “I live in a village in the countryside, without a father or a mother. With no name, no rank in my clan. Some people will call me any old name. Some people call me another. No one is my teacher: I’m just a poor low creature like many another. But I know myself. I’m real, and my heart is the Diamond.”

  Han-shan

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• “I once saw a huge pack of dogs, scruffy, mangy, maybe so, but they slept where they pleased, and waking, ran romping. But throw them a bone? It was war in the street . . . Maybe it’s a good thing bones are rare: but until there’s enough, no creature will share.”

  Han-shan

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• “De weg naar de witte wolken is in leegte.”

  Han-shan

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• “The mountains are so cold
  not just now but every year
  crowded ridges breathe in snow
  sunless forests breathe out mist
  nothing grows until Grain Ears
  leaves fall before Autumn Begins
  a lost traveler here
  looks in vain for the sky”

  Han-shan

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• “Give me a hidden eddy
  a residence free from dust and noise
  paths of newly trampled grass
  clouds above for neighbors
  birds to help me sing
  no one asking for sermons
  springtime for this Saha tree
  nowadays lasts how many years”

  Han-shan

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• “The Yellow River is boundless
  flowing east without cease
  on and on never clearing
  while everyone's lifespan ends
  and ifyou would ride the clouds
  how will you grow wings
  unless while your hair is black
  you make an effort moving or still”

  Han-shan

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