1/22/13

Han Shan, The Cold Mountain Poems

HANSHAN,THECOLDMOUNTAINPOEMS,tr.GarySnyder PrefacetothePoemsofHanshan byLuCh'iuyin,GovernorofT'aiPrefecture NooneknowswhatsortofmanHanshanwas.Thereareoldpeoplewhoknewhim:theysayhewasa poorman,acrazycharacter.HelivedaloneseventyLi(23miles)westoftheT'anghsingdistrictofT'ien t'aiataplacecalledColdMountain.HeoftenwentdowntotheKuoch'ingTemple.Atthetemplelived Shih'te,whoranthedininghall.HesometimessavedleftoversforHanshan,hidingtheminabamboo tube.Hanshanwouldcomeandcarryitawaywalkingthelongveranda,callingandshoutinghappily, talkingandlaughingtohimself.Oncethemonksfollowedhim,caughthim,andmadefunofhim.He stopped,clappedhishands,andlaughedgreatlyHaHa!foraspell,thenleft. Helookedlikeatramp.Hisbodyandfacewereoldandbeat.Yetineverywordhebreathedwasa meaninginlinewiththesubtleprinciplesofthings,ifonlyyouthoughtofitdeeply.Everythinghesaidhad afeelingofTaoinit,profoundandarcanesecrets.Hishatwasmadeofbirchbark,hisclotheswereragged andwornout,andhisshoeswerewood.Thusmenwhohavemadeithidetheirtracks:unifyingcategories andinterpenetratingthings.Onthatlongverandacallingandsinging,inhiswordsofreplyHaHa!the threeworldsrevolve.Sometimesatthevillagesandfarmshelaughedandsangwithcowherds.Sometimes intractable,sometimesagreeable,hisnaturewashappyofitself.Buthowcouldapersonwithoutwisdom recognizehim? IoncereceivedapositionasapettyofficialatTanch'iu.ThedayIwastodepart,Ihadabadheadache.I calledadoctor,buthecouldn'tcuremeanditturnedworse.ThenImetaBuddhistMasternamedFeng kan,whosaidhecamefromtheKuoch'ingTempleofT'ient'aiespeciallytovisitme.Iaskedhimto rescuemefrommyillness.Hesmiledandsaid,"Thefourrealmsarewithinthebodysicknesscomesfrom illusion.Ifyouwanttodoawaywithit,youneedpurewater."SomeonebroughtwatertotheMaster,who spatitonme.Inamomentthediseasewasrootedout.Hethensaid,"TherearemiasmasinT'aiprefecture, whenyougettheretakecareofyourself."Iaskedhim,"ArethereanywisemeninyourareaIcouldlook onasMaster?"Hereplied,"Whenyouseehimyoudon'trecognizehim,whenyourecognizehimyou don'tseehim.Ifyouwanttoseehim,youcan'trelyonappearances.Thenyoucanseehim.Hanshanisa Manjusri(onewhohasattainedenlightenmentand,inafutureincarnation,willbecomeBuddha)hidingat Kuosh'ing.ShihteisaSamantabbhadra(Bodhisattvaoflove).Theylooklikepoorfellowsandactlike madmen.Sometimestheygoandsometimestheycome.TheyworkinthekitchenoftheKuoch'ingdining hall,tendingthefire."Whenhewasdonetalkingheleft. IproceededonmyjourneytomyjobatT'aichou,notforgettingthisaffair.Iarrivedthreedayslater, immediatelywenttoatemple,andquestionedanoldmonk.ItseemedtheMasterhadbeentruthful,soI gaveorderstoseeifT'anghsingreallycontainedaHanshanandShihte.TheDistrictMagistratereported tome:"Inthisdistrict,seventyliwest,isamountain.Peopleusedtoseeapoormanheadingfromthecliffs tostayawhileatKuoch'ing.AtthetempledininghallisasimilarmannamedShihte."Imadeabow,and

www.hermetica.info/hanshan.htm

1/8

1/22/13

Han Shan, The Cold Mountain Poems

wenttoKuoch'ing.Iaskedsomepeoplearoundthetemple,"ThereusedtobeaMasternamedFengkan here,Whereishisplace?AndwherecanHanshanandShihtebeseen?"AmonknamedT'aoch'iao spokeup:"FengkantheMasterlivedinbackofthelibrary.Nowadaysnobodylivesthereatigeroften comesandroars.HanshanandShihteareinthekitchen."ThemonkledmetoFengkan'syard.Thenhe openedthegate:allwesawwastigertracks.IaskedthemonksTaoch'iaoandPaote,"WhenFengkan washere,whatwashisjob?"Themonkssaid,:Hepoundedandhulledrice.Atnighthesangsongsto amusehimself."Thenwewenttothekitchen,beforethestoves.Twomenwerefacingthefire,laughing loudly.Imadeabow.ThetwoshoutedHo!atme.TheystrucktheirhandstogetherHaHa!great laughter.Theyshouted.Thentheysaid,"Fengkanloosetounged,loosetounged.Youdon'trecognize Amitabha,(theBodhisattvaofmercy)whybecourteoustous?"Themonksgatheredround,surprisegoing throughthem.""Whyhasabigofficialbowedtoapairofclowns?"Thetwomengrabbedhandsandran outofthetemple.Icried,"Catchthem"buttheyquicklyranaway.HanshanreturnedtoColdMountain. Iaskedthemonks,"Wouldthosetwomenbewillingtosettledownatthistemple?"Iorderedthemtofind ahouse,andtoaskHanshanandShihtetoreturnandliveatthetemple. Ireturnedtomydistrictandhadtwosetsofcleanclothesmade,gotsomeincenseandsuch,andsentitto thetemplebutthetwomendidn'treturn.SoIhaditcarrieduptoColdMountain.ThepackersawHan shan,whocalledinaloudvoice,"Thief!Thief!"andretreatedintoamountaincave.Heshouted,"Itell youman,strivehard"enteredthecaveandwasgone.Thecaveclosedofitselfandtheyweren'tableto follow.Shihte'stracksdisappearedcompletely.. IorderedTaoch'iaoandtheothermonkstofindouthowtheyhadlived,tohuntupthepoemswrittenon bamboo,wood,stones,andcliffsandalsotocollectthosewrittenonthewallsofpeople'shouses.There weremorethanthreehundred.OnthewalloftheEarthshrineShihtehadwrittensomegatha(Buddhist verseorsong).Itwasallbroughttogetherandmadeintoabook. IholdtotheprincipleoftheBuddhamind.ItisfortunatetomeetwithmenofTao,soIhavemadethis eulogy. THECOLDMOUNTAINPOEMS,tr.GarySnyder 1 ThepathtoHanshan'splaceislaughable, Apath,butnosignofcartorhorse. Converginggorgeshardtotracetheirtwists Jumbledcliffsunbelievablyrugged. Athousandgrassesbendwithdew, Ahillofpineshumsinthewind. AndnowI'velosttheshortcuthome, Bodyaskingshadow,howdoyoukeepup?

www.hermetica.info/hanshan.htm

2/8

1/22/13

Han Shan, The Cold Mountain Poems

2 Inatangleofcliffs,Ichoseaplace Birdpaths,butnotrailsforme. What'sbeyondtheyard? Whitecloudsclingingtovaguerocks. NowI'velivedherehowmanyyears Againandagain,springandwinterpass. Gotellfamilieswithsilverwareandcars "What'stheuseofallthatnoiseandmoney?" 3 Inthemountainsit'scold. Alwaysbeencold,notjustthisyear. Jaggedscarpsforeversnowedin Woodsinthedarkravinesspittingmist. GrassisstillsproutingattheendofJune, LeavesbegintofallinearlyAugust. AndhereIam,highonmountains, Peeringandpeering,butIcan'tevenseethesky. 4 Ispurmyhorsethroughthewreckedtown, Thewreckedtownsinksmyspirit. High,low,oldparapetwalls Big,small,theagingtombs. Iwagglemyshadow,allalone Noteventhecrackofashrinkingcoffinisheard. Ipityallthoseordinarybones, InthebooksoftheImmortalstheyarenameless. 5 Iwantedagoodplacetosettle: ColdMountainwouldbesafe. Lightwindinahiddenpine Listenclosethesoundgetsbetter. Underitagrayhairedman MumblesalongreadingHuangandLao. FortenyearsIhavn'tgonebackhome

www.hermetica.info/hanshan.htm

3/8

1/22/13

Han Shan, The Cold Mountain Poems

I'veevenforgottenthewaybywhichIcame. 6 MenaskthewaytoColdMountain ColdMountain:there'snothroughtrail. Insummer,icedoesn'tmelt Therisingsunblursinswirlingfog. HowdidImakeit? Myheart'snotthesameasyours. Ifyourheartwaslikemine You'dgetitandberighthere. 7 IsettledatColdMountainlongago, Alreadyitseemslikeyearsandyears. Freelydrifting,Iprowlthewoodsandstreams Andlingerwatchingthingsthemselves. Mendon'tgetthisfarintothemountains, Whitecloudsgatherandbillow. Thingrassdoesforamattress, Theblueskymakesagoodquilt. Happywithastoneunderhead Letheavenandearthgoabouttheirchanges. 8 ClamberinguptheColdMountainpath, TheColdMountaintrailgoesonandon: Thelonggorgechokedwithscreeandboulders, Thewidecreek,themistblurredgrass. Themossisslippery,thoughthere'sbeennorain Thepinesings,butthere'snowind. Whocanleaptheword'sties Andsitwithmeamongthewhiteclouds? 9 RoughanddarktheColdMountaintrail, Sharpcobblestheicycreekbank. Yammering,chirpingalwaysbirds

www.hermetica.info/hanshan.htm

4/8

1/22/13

Han Shan, The Cold Mountain Poems

Bleak,alone,notevenalonehiker. Whip,whipthewindslapsmyface Whirledandtumbledsnowpilesonmyback. MorningaftermorningIdon'tseethesun Yearafteryear,notasignofspring. 10 IhavelivedatColdMountain Thesethirtylongyears. YesterdayIcalledonfriendsandfamily: MorethanhalfhadgonetotheYellowSprings. Slowlyconsumed,likefiredownacandle Foreverflowing,likeapassingriver. Now,morning,Ifacemyloneshadow: Suddenlymyeyesareblearedwithtears. 11 Springwaterinthegreencreekisclear MoonlightonColdMountainiswhite Silentknowledgethespiritisenlightenedofitself Contemplatethevoid:thisworldexceedsstillness. 12 Inmyfirstthirtyyearsoflife Iroamedhundredsandthousandsofmiles. Walkedbyriversthroughdeepgreengrass Enteredcitiesofboilingreddust. Trieddrugs,butcouldn'tmakeImmortal Readbooksandwrotepoemsonhistory. TodayI'mbackatColdMountain: I'llsleepbythecreekandpurifymyears. 13 Ican'tstandthesebirdsongs NowI'llgorestinmystrawshack. Thecherryflowersarescarlet Thewillowshootsupfeathery. Morningsundrivesoverbluepeaks Brightcloudswashgreenponds. WhoknowsthatI'moutofthedustyworld

www.hermetica.info/hanshan.htm

5/8

1/22/13

Han Shan, The Cold Mountain Poems

ClimbingthesouthernslopeofColdMountain? 14 ColdMountainhasmanyhiddenwonders, Peoplewhoclimbherearealwaysgettingscared. Whenthemoonshines,watersparklesclear Whenthewindblows,grassswishesandrattles. Onthebareplum,flowersofsnow Onthedeadstump,leavesofmist. Atthetouchofrainitallturnsfreshandlive Atthewrongseasonyoucan'tfordthecreeks. 15 There'sanakedbugatColdMountain Withawhitebodyandablackhead. Hishandholdstwobookscrolls, OnetheWayandoneitsPower. Hisshack'sgotnopotsoroven, Hegoesforalongwalkwithhisshirtandpantsaskew. Buthealwayscarriestheswordofwisdom: Hemeanstocutdownsenslesscraving. 16 ColdMountainisahouse Withoutbeansorwalls. Thesixdoorsleftandrightareopen Thehallisskyblue. Theroomsallvacantandvague Theeastwallbeatsonthewestwall Atthecenternothing. Borrowersdon'tbotherme InthecoldIbuildalittlefire WhenI'mhungryIboilupsomegreens. I'vegotnouseforthekulak Withhsbigbarnandpasture Hejustsetsuoaprisonforhimself. Onceinhecan'tgetout. Thinkitover Youknowitmighthappentoyou.

www.hermetica.info/hanshan.htm

6/8

1/22/13

Han Shan, The Cold Mountain Poems

17 IfIhideoutatColdMountain Livingoffmountainplantsandberries Allmylifetime,whyworry? Onefollowshiskarmathrough. Daysandmonthsslipbylikewater, Timeislikesparksknockedoffflint. Goaheadandlettheworldchange I'mhappytositamongthesecliffs. 18 MostT'ient'aimen Don'tknowHanshan Don'tknowhisrealthought Andcallitsillytalk. 19 OnceatColdMountain,troublescease Nomoretangled,hungupmind. Iidlyscribblepoemsontherockcliff, Takingwhatevercomes,likeadriftingboat. 20 Somecritictriedtoputmedown "YourpoemslacktheBasicTruthofTao." AndIrecalltheoldtimers Whowerepooranddidn'tcare. Ihavetolaughathim, Hemissesthepointentirely, Menlikethat Oughttosticktomakingmoney. 21 I'velivedatColdMountainhowmanyautumns. Alone,Ihumasongutterlywithoutregret. Hungry,IeatonegrainofImmortalmedicine Mindsolidandsharpleaningonastone. 22

www.hermetica.info/hanshan.htm

7/8

1/22/13

Han Shan, The Cold Mountain Poems

OntopofColdMountaintheloneroundmoon Lightsthewholeclearcloudlesssky. Honorthispricelessnaturaltreasure Concealedinfiveshadows,sunkdeepintheflesh. 23 MyhomewasatColdMountainfromthestart, Ramblingamongthehills,farfromtrouble. Gone,andamillionthingsleavenotrace Loosed,anditflowsthroughgalaxies Afountainoflight,intotheverymind Notathing,andyetitappearsbeforeme: NowIknowthepearloftheBuddhanature Knowitsuse:aboundlessperfectsphere. 24 WhenmenseeHanshan Theyallsayhe'scrazy Andnotmuchtolookat Dressedinragsandhides. Theydon'tgetwhatIsay AndIdon'ttalktheirlanguage. AllIcansaytothoseImeet: "TryandmakeittoColdMountain."

www.hermetica.info/hanshan.htm

8/8