Summer’s radiance ...

When winter wind scratches and chafes,
we face south and the enduring warmth,

and when summer’s radiance blazes down,
we face north where frost and snow abide.

From The Mountain Poems of Hsieh Ling-yun, translated by David Hinton (New York, 2001)

Hidden harvest moons

No moon to see yet!
Wind rustling the long grasses
Happy gathering

               *

Drinking lemon tea
Dark night and a hidden moon
But still purity!

Luxurious growth

The three months of Summer are called the period of luxurious growth.

The breaths of Heaven and Earth intermingle and are beneficial.

Everything is in bloom and begins to bear fruit.

After a night of sleep people should get up early in the morning.

They should not weary during daytime and they should not allow their minds to become angry.

They should enable the best parts of their body and spirit to develop; they should enable their breath to communicate with the outside world; and they should act as though they loved everything outside.

All this is in harmony with the atmosphere of Summer and all this is the method for the protection of one’s development.

From The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, translated by Ilza Veith (Berkeley, 1966).

Japanese Tea in the woods

 

 

To be one with nature

Saigyo in traditional poetry, Sogi in linked verse, Sesshu in painting, Rikyu in tea ceremony, and indeed all who have achieved real excellence in any art, possess one thing in common, that is, a mind to obey nature, to be one with nature, throughout the four seasons of the year.

From Matsuo Basho 'The Records of a Travel-worn Satchel', translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa in The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches (London, 1966).

The beginning and development of life

The three months of spring are called the period of the beginning and development of life.
The breaths of Heaven and Earth are prepared to give birth; thus everything is developing and flourishing.
After a night of sleep people should get up early in the morning; they should walk briskly around the yard; they should loosen their hair and slow down their body movements; by these means they can fulfill their wish to live healthfully.
During this period one's body should be encouraged to live and not be killed; one should give to it freely and not take away from it; one should reward it and not punish it.
All this is in harmony with the breath of Spring and all this is the method for the protection of one's life.

From The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, translated by Ilza Veith (Berkeley, 1966).

Closing and storing

The three months of Winter are called the period of closing and storing.
Water freezes and the Earth cracks open.
One should not disturb one's Yang.
People should retire early at night and rise late in the morning and they should wait for the rising of the sun.
They should suppress and conceal their wishes, as though they had no internal purpose, as though they had been fulfilled.
People should try to escape the cold and they should seek warmth, they should not perspire upon the skin, they should let themselves be deprived of breath of the cold.
All this is in harmony with the atmosphere of Winter and all this is the method for the protection of one's storing.

From The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, translated by Ilza Veith (Berkeley, 1966).

Tranquility of one's conduct

The three months of Autumn are called the period of tranquillity of one’s conduct.

The atmosphere of Heaven is quick and the atmosphere of the Earth is clear.

People should retire early at night and rise early in the morning with the crowing of the rooster.

They should have their minds at peace in order to lessen the punishment of Autumn.

Soul and spirit should be gathered together in order to make the breath of Autumn tranquil; and to keep their lungs pure they should not give vent to their desires.

All this is in harmony with the atmosphere of Autumn and all this is the method for the protection of one’s harvest.

From The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, translated by Ilza Veith (Berkeley, 1966).