Are you afraid of your shadow? (Lesson 2)

The following passage comes from LESSON TWO in the text "Introduction to Literary Chinese," by J. Brandt. If you click on the link, the lesson will explain the vocabulary and grammar of the passage.

 

人(인)影(영)

新(신)月(월)初(초)上(상). 兒(아)行(행)廊(낭)下(하). 似(사)有(유)一(일)人(인)隨(수)其(기)後(후). 不(불)敢(감)回(회)顧(고). 急(급)入(입)告(고)姊(자). 姊(자)曰(왈)此(차)汝(여)身(신)之(지)影(영)也(야). 汝(여)立(립)燈(등)前(전). 行(행)日(일)下(하). 皆(개)有(유)影(영). 何(하)忘(망)之(지)耶(야). 兒(아)乃(내)悟(오).

Man's Shadow  

The new moon had just risen. A boy was passing down a hallway when it seemed there was someone following behind him. The boy did not dare to look back. Hurriedly he entered (his house) (and) told (his) elder sister. His sister said, "It is the shadow of your body. When you stand before a lamp or go under the sun, there is always a shadow. How is it that you forgot it? The boy then understood.

Can birds foresee good and bad luck? (Lesson 1)

The following passage comes from LESSON ONE in the text "Introduction to Literary Chinese," by J. Brandt. If you click on the link, the lesson will explain the vocabulary and grammar of the passage. Why would anyone turn down a free lesson?

吉(길)凶(흉)

有(유)鴉(아)集(집)庭(정)樹(수). 引(인)頸(경)而(이)鳴(명). 兒(아)叱(질)之(지). 父(부)曰.(왈) 是(시)何(하)害(해). 兒(아)曰(왈) 常(상)聞(문)人(인)言(언). 鵲(작)鳴(명)吉(길). 鴉(아)鳴(명)凶(흉). 今(금)鳴(명)者(자)鴉(아)也(야). 故(고)叱(질)之(지). 父(부)曰.(왈) 人(인)之(지)智(지)識(식)遠(원)勝(승)於(어)鳥(조). 尙(상)不(불)能(능)預(예)知(지)吉(길)凶(흉). 而(이)況(황)鳥(조)乎(호).
 

There are crows gathered in a garden tree. They stretch out their necks and caw. When a child hoots at them, his father asks, "How are they harmful?"  

The child says, "I have always heard people say that if a magpie cries, it is a good omen, but if a crow cries, it is a bad omen. Now those that are crying are crows. Therefore, I hoot at them."  

The father says, "Man's knowledge and experience are much higher than that of birds. Still, he cannot foresee good and bad luck, much less can birds."

Can I study Literary Chinese online for free?

Yes. You can learn Literary Chinese from an online book entitled, "Introduction to Literary Chinese," by J. Brandt. You can choose to read it online or to download it in a variety of file formats, including Kindle.

What are the Korean lyrics for this Japanese song?

Who was Sama Gwang (司馬光)?

Sama Gwang (司馬光) was a historian, scholar, and high chancellor during  the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279). The Chinese pronunciation of his name is Sima Guang. Sama (司馬) was his 2-character family name, and Gwang (光) was his given name. You can read more about Sama Gwang HERE.

The following passage describes something Sama Gwang did as a child that made people realize he was no ordinary child.

司(사)馬(마)光(광)幼(유) 與(여)群(군)兒(아)戲(희) 一(일)兒(아)墜(추)大(대)水(수)甕(옹)中(중)

已(이)沒(몰) 群(군)兒(아)驚(경)走(주) 不(불)能(능)救(구)光(광)取(취)石(석)破(파)甕(옹)

兒(아)得(득)出(출) 人(인)知(지)其(기)智(지)不(불)凡(범).

 

When Sama Gwang (司馬光) was a child (幼), he, with (與) a group of (群) children (兒), was playing (戲) when one (一) child (兒) fell (墜) into (中) a big (大) water (水) jar (甕) and had already (已) sunk below the surface (沒). The group (群) of children (兒) were afraid (驚) and ran away (走), so they could not (不能) save (救) him. Gwang (光) picked up (取) a rock (石) and broke (破) the jar (甕) so the child (兒) could (得) get out (出). People (人) realized (知) his (其) wisdom (智) was not (不) ordinary (凡).