A Hermit's Hut 考槃

考槃 A Hermit's Hut

考槃在涧，硕人之宽。独寐寤言，永矢弗谖。
考槃在阿，硕人之薖。独寐寤歌，永矢弗过。
考槃在陆，硕人之轴。独寐寤宿，永矢弗告。

English Translation:
He builds his hut by the mountain stream,
This large man, his mind undisturbed.
Alone he sleeps and wakes, and croons,
The joy of solitude cannot be forgotten.

He builds his hut among the hills,
This large man, his mind content.
Alone he sleeps and wakes, and sings,
The joy of solitude cannot be exceeded.

He builds his hut on the flat ground,
This large man, his mind at ease.
Alone he sleeps and wakes, and sleeps again,
The joy of solitude cannot be expressed.

Poetry Interpretation:

Here, we encounter a Daoist recluse, content in his solitude, finding joy and peace among the mountains and streams. For the Daoist, this is not an escape from the world of men, but a return to his true home in nature. By returning to nature, the Daoist returns to himself and cultivates his Heart-and-Mind. The “large man” here refers not to his physique but to the greatness of his character and mind.

Furthermore, we observe the range of emotions our Daoist recluse experiences, from crooning to singing, and ultimately, to the ineffable joy of hearing the Silent Music of the Dao. Perhaps such spiritual illumination is best described by this poem by the famed Tang dynasty poet Li Bai (701-762):

You ask me why I dwell in the green mountains.
I smile and make no reply.
My heart is free of care.
The peach-tree blooms,
The waters Flow
Into the unknown.
I dwell in a Realm
That is not of Man.*

*This poem is translated by John Minford, Tao Te Ching, New York: Viking, 2018, p.30.

这首充满道家哲学的歌曲，歌颂者著通过隐居者在自然中找到内心的平静与满足。它传达了人与自然和谐共存的圆满的理想。

Written by Dr. Annie Luman Ren

A Hermit's Hut 考槃

[VERSE 1]
考槃在涧，硕人之宽。
独寐寤言，永矢弗谖。

考槃在阿，硕人之薖。
独寐寤歌，永矢弗过，永矢弗过。

[VERSE 2]
考槃在陆，硕人之轴。
独寐寤宿，

独寐寤宿，永矢弗告。

SOLOS

[VERSE 1]
考槃在涧，硕人之宽。
独寐寤言，永矢弗谖。

考槃在阿，硕人之薖。
独寐寤歌，永矢弗过，永矢弗过。

[VERSE 2]
考槃在陆，硕人之轴。
独寐寤宿，

独寐寤宿，永矢弗告。