3月18日

愛蓮說
宋 周敦頤 ( 1017~1073 )

愛蓮之出淤泥而不染，濯清漣而不妖，
中通外直，不蔓不枝，香遠益清，
亭亭靜植，可遠觀而不可褻翫焉。

──選自《周元公集》

March 18th

Love of Lotuses
Zhou Dunyi (1017 - 1073, Song Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

I love how lotuses grow out of the mud untainted;
how they dance among clear ripples without any
sense of temptation. Their stems hollow yet erect,
blooming in an untrespassing, but converged
manner. Their ever refreshing and omnipresent
scent; standing erect and serene. Such is something
that is not to be frivolously played with but only
appreciated from distance.

── from Zhou Yuangong Ji (Collection of Zhou Duke of Yuan's Works)