lips 258 Report post Posted March 10, 2016 Famous essay from the Sung dynasty. Easy to read and not ambiguous. English translation is here: http://crispapples.blogspot.hk/2009/10/on-love-of-lotus.html 《爱莲说》 周敦颐 水陆草木之花，可爱者甚蕃。 晋陶渊明独爱菊； 自李唐来，世人盛爱牡丹； 予独爱莲之出淤泥而不染， 濯清涟而不妖， 中通外直，不蔓不枝， 香远益清，亭亭静植， 可远观而不可亵玩焉。 予谓： 菊，花之隐逸者也； 牡丹，花之富贵者也； 莲，花之君子者也。 噫！菊之爱，陶後鲜有闻； 莲之爱，同予者何人； 牡丹之爱，宜乎众矣。 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skylee 1,912 Report post Posted March 10, 2016 A similar thread that I started almost 10 years ago - http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/10282-fundamental-classical-chinese/ (with 愛蓮說 and some more). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
