Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
Children's Stories from Ancient Chinese Poetry
墨書 Inktalez
Stork Tower
Author: Wang Zhihuan
Poem Title: Stork Tower (Dēng Guànquè Lóu)
Content of the Poem:
The white sun sets behind the mountains,
The Yellow River flows into the sea.
To gaze as far as a thousand miles,
One must ascend another floor.
Explanation of the Poem's Meaning:
The line "The white sun sets behind the mountains" depicts the scene at sunset, where the sun slowly descends along the mountain's edge, signaling the end of the day.
In "To gaze as far as a thousand miles," the term "gaze" means to look intently, and "a thousand miles" refers to looking far into the distance. The poet expresses a desire to see as far as possible, to behold more distant places.
The phrase "One must ascend another floor" indicates that in order to see further, the poet decides to climb another level. Here, "floor" refers to Stork Tower, one of the famous ancient tall buildings.
The entire poem conveys the poet's longing for distant places and curiosity about the vast world through the act of climbing high to look far. It also encourages people to have a spirit of exploration and pursue higher goals. This poem has profound meaning and concise language, making it a classic work in ancient Chinese poetry.
Story: The Soul of Poetry at Stork Tower
That evening, as the sun set in the west, my grandfather and I arrived at Stork Tower by the Yellow River. I curiously gazed at this tall structure and asked my grandfather, "Why are we here?"
Grandpa smiled at me and said, "Because this place used to be one where people bravely faced challenges."
"Bravely faced challenges?" I asked, puzzled.
Grandpa chuckled and began to tell a story about courage and exploration.
The story took place during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, on a dusk by the Yellow River.
On the Stork Tower, a young scholar named Wang Zhihuan was gathered with his friends.
As they admired the magnificent scenery of the Yellow River, they discussed their poetry.
Suddenly, one of Wang Zhihuan's friends said to him, "Brother Zhihuan, you are known for your poetic talent, but do you have the courage to climb to the top of this Stork Tower and showcase your skills?"
Wang Zhihuan was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "How hard can that be!" With that, he stood up and walked toward the stairs.
The Stork Tower had three levels, each higher and more perilous than the last.
Without fear, Wang Zhihuan climbed straight to the second level.
He looked up and saw the Yellow River flowing vigorously, surrounded by majestic mountains in the distance. The scene inspired him greatly, and he spontaneously recited: "The white sun sets behind the mountains; the Yellow River flows into the sea."
After pausing briefly, he continued to climb higher.
The stairs to the third level were steep and narrow, making it extremely difficult to navigate.
Wang Zhihuan was cautious, using both hands and feet, and finally reached the third floor.
Here, the view was even broader; it seemed as if the Yellow River flowed right beneath his feet.
Wang Zhihuan's heart surged with excitement as he exclaimed another line of poetry: "To enjoy a view of a thousand miles, one must ascend another floor."
Standing on the third floor, he let the river breeze brush against his face, feeling an overwhelming sense of exhilaration.
He experienced an unprecedented sense of courage and bravery.
He understood that only by bravely reaching for higher places could one see more beautiful scenery.
From then on, Wang Zhihuan worked even harder at writing poetry and eventually became a renowned poet.
His poem "Stork Tower" has also become a timeless masterpiece, forever etched in people's memories.
Grandpa finished his story, and I listened with rapt attention.
I realized that bravery and courage are such important qualities.
Under the afterglow of the setting sun, Grandpa and I climbed to the third floor of Stork Tower together.
I immersed myself in the feelings that Wang Zhihuan once experienced, as if I could see him standing there reciting his poem.
I knew that this story not only made me feel the power of bravery and courage, but it would also forever inspire me to strive for greater heights in life.
Comment 0 Comment Count