Hanshan > Quotes

“the ten thousand things are all reflections
the moon originally has no light”
― Han-shan

“Children I implore you
get out of the burning house now
three carts wait outside
to save you from a homeless life
relax in the village square
before the sky everything's empty
no direction is better or worse
east is just as good as west
those who know the meaning of this
are free to go where they want”
― Han-shan

“I spur my horse past the ruined city;
the ruined city, that wakes the traveler's thoughts:
ancient battlements, high and low;
old grave mounds, great and small.

Where the shadow of a single tumbleweed trembles
and the voice of the great trees clings forever,
I sigh over all these common bones --
No roll of the immortals bears their names.”
― Han-shan

“Spring water is pure in an emerald stream
moonlight is white on Cold Mountain
silence thoughts and the spirit becomes clear
focus on emptiness and the world grows still”
― Han Shan, The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“I divined and chose a distant place to dwell
T'ien-t'ai; what more is there to say?

Monkeys cry where valley mists are cold,
My grass gate blends with the color of the crags,
I pick leaves to thatch a hut among the pines,
Scoop out a pond and lead a runnel from the spring.

By now I am used to doing without the world,
Picking ferns, I pass the years that are left.
The trail to Cold Mountain is faint
the banks of Cold Stream are a jungle

birds constantly chatter away
I hear no sound of people
gusts of wind lash my face

flurries of snow bury my body
day after day, no sun
year after year no spring.”
― Hanshan

“Some seek pleasure in love
blind to the trials of a mortal body
others see a bubble or mirage
and realize impermanence undoes us all
a real man's will is straight like iron
in an uncrooked heart the Way is true
dense and tall bamboos in the snow
show you the mind not used in vain”
― Han Shan, The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“For an image of life and death
consider ice and water
water freezes into ice
ice melts back into water
what dies must live again
what lives is bound to die
ice and water don't harm each other
both life and death are fine..”
― Han Shan, The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“So many kinds of people exist
hundreds of plans for profit and fame
hearts intent on glory
always trying to get rich
minds that never rest
rushing about like smoke
dependents gather around
one yell and a hundred heads nod
but less than seventy years from now
ice becomes water and roof tiles break
dead at last all cares cease
who will be their heir
drop a ball of mud in water
and behold the thoughtless mind”
― Han Shan, The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“The hermit escapes the human world
and likes to sleep on mountains
among green widely-spaced vines
where clear torrents sing harmonies.
He steams with joy,
swinging at ease through freedom,
not stained with worldly affairs,
heart clean as a white lotus.”
― Hanshan

“Above Cold Mountain the moon shines alone
in a clear sky it illuminates nothing at all
precious heavenly priceless jewel
buried in the skandhas submerged in the body”
― Han-shan

“I labored in vain reciting the Three Histories
I wasted my time reading the Five Classics
I've grown old checking yellow scrolls
recording the usual everyday names
Continued Hardship was my fortune
Emptiness and Danger govern my life
I can't match riverside trees
every year with a season of green”
― Han Shan, The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“I once saw a huge pack of dogs, scruffy, mangy, maybe so, but they slept where they pleased, and waking, ran romping. But throw them a bone? It was war in the street . . . Maybe it’s a good thing bones are rare: but until there’s enough, no creature will share.”
― Han Shan, Cold Mountain Poems: Zen Poems of Han Shan, Shih Te, and Wang Fan-Chih

“I sit beneath the cliff, quiet and alone.
Round moon in the middle of the sky’s a bird
ablaze:
all things seen are mere shadows in its brilliance,
that single wheel of perfect light…
Alone, its spirit naturally comes clear.
Swallowed in emptiness in this cave of darkest
mystery,
because of the finger pointing, I saw the moon.
That moon became the pivot of my heart.”
― Han Shan, Cold Mountain Poems: Zen Poems of Han Shan, Shih Te, and Wang Fan-chih

“The Yellow River is boundless
flowing east without cease
on and on never clearing
while everyone's lifespan ends
and ifyou would ride the clouds
how will you grow wings
unless while your hair is black
you make an effort moving or still”
― Han Shan, The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“Day by day the blossoms fall, Year by year the people go. Where the dust blows through these heights, There once shone a silent sea.”
― Han-Shan, Cold Mountain 101 Chinese Poems Translated by Burton Watson

“The mountains are so cold
not just now but every year
crowded ridges breathe in snow
sunless forests breathe out mist
nothing grows until Grain Ears
leaves fall before Autumn Begins
a lost traveler here
looks in vain for the sky”
― Han Shan, The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“No need to attack the faults of others
no need to flaunt your own virtues
act when you're acknowledged
retire when you're ignored
rich rewards mean great trials
deep words meet superficial minds
think about what you hear
children must see for themselves..”
― Han Shan, The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“As long as we are bound by the Six Extremes
discussing the Nine Knots is futile
talented men remain in the wilds
the unskilled close rough doors
the cliffs are still dark at noon
the valleys stay dim on cloudless days
here you'll find the sons of elders
and none of them have any pants”
― Han Shan, Cold Mountain Poems

“I live in a village in the countryside, without a father or a mother. With no name, no rank in my clan. Some people will call me any old name. Some people call me another. No one is my teacher: I’m just a poor low creature like many another. But I know myself. I’m real, and my heart is the Diamond.”
― Hanshan, Cold Mountain Poems: Zen Poems of Han Shan, Shih Te, and Wang Fan-Chih

“Give me a hidden eddy
a residence free from dust and noise
paths of newly trampled grass
clouds above for neighbors
birds to help me sing
no one asking for sermons
springtime for this Saha tree
nowadays lasts how many years”
― Han Shan, The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“De weg naar de witte wolken is in leegte.”
― Han Shan