Su Shi

Su Shi (苏轼; 8 January 1037 – 24 August 1101), also known as Su Dongpo, was a Chinese writer, poet, painter, calligrapher, pharmacologist, gastronome, and a statesman of the Song dynasty.

Quotes
欲把西湖比西子，淡妆浓抹总相宜. The dimming hills give a rare view in rainy haze. The West Lake looks like the fair lady at her best Whether she is richly adorned or plainly dressed.
 * 水光潋滟晴方好，山色空蒙雨亦奇.
 * The brimming waves delight the eye on sunny days;
 * "The West Lake, the Beauty" (《饮湖上初晴后雨》) (1073), in Song of the Immortals: An Anthology of Classical Chinese Poetry, trans. Yuanchong Xu (Beijing: New World Press, 1994), p. 200

不识庐山真面目，只缘身在此山中. far, near, high, low, no two parts alike. Why can't I tell the true shape of Lu-shan? Because I myself am in the mountain.
 * 横看成岭侧成峰，远近高低各不同.
 * From the side, a whole range; from the end, a single peak;
 * "Written on the Wall at West Forest Temple" (《题西林壁》) (1084), in Selected Poems of Su Tung-p'o, trans. Burton Watson (Port Townsend, Wash.: Copper Canyon Press, 1994), p. 108

Though to my mind not brought, Could the dead be forgot?
 * 十年生死两茫茫. 不思量，自难忘.
 * For ten long years the living of the dead knows nought.
 * "Dreaming of My Deceased Wife on the Night of the Twentieth Day of the First Month" (《江城子·乙卯正月二十日夜记梦》), in Song of the Immortals: An Anthology of Classical Chinese Poetry, trans. Yuanchong Xu (Beijing: New World Press, 1994), p. 202

When filling thy cup, be sure to fill it quite! Strive not for frothy fame or bubble wealth! A passing dream— A flashing flint— A shadow's flight! O what is knowledge, fine and superfine? To innocent and simple joys resign! To be myself and in contentment face A valley of clouds— a sweet-toned ch'in— A jug of wine!
 * 清夜无尘，月色如银 . 酒斟时须满十分.  浮名浮利，虚苦劳神.  叹隙中驹， 石中火， 梦中身.  虽抱文章，开口谁亲？ 且陶陶乐尽天真.  几时归去，作个闲人， 对一张琴， 一壶酒， 一溪云.
 * O the clear moon's speckless, silvery night!
 * "Random Thoughts, to the Tune of Shinghsiangtse" (《行香子·述怀》), in Lin Yutang Chinese-English Bilingual Edition: Selected Poems and Prose of Su Tungpo, trans. Lin Yutang (Taipei: Cheng Chung Book, 2008), p. 145


 * 事如春梦了无痕.
 * Life is like a spring dream which vanishes without a trace.
 * As quoted in Six Records of a Floating Life by Shen Fu, Chapter 1: 'Wedded Bliss'; translated by Lin Yutang in The Wisdom of China and India (1942), p. 968
 * Variant translation:
 * Life passes like a spring dream without a trace.
 * Lin Yutang, The Importance of Living (1937), p. 156

Quotes about Su Shi

 * There had to be one Su Tungpo, but there could not be two.
 * Lin Yutang, The Gay Genius (1947), p. vii


 * The mention of Su Tungpo always elicits an affectionate and warm admiring smile in China.
 * Lin Yutang, The Gay Genius (1947), p. vii