Religion

Taoism and Buddhism

by Po Chü-i 772–846

Translated by Arthur Waley (1918) · From A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems (1918)

Religion

A traveller came from across the seas
Telling of strange sights.
“In a deep fold of the sea-hills
I saw a terrace and tower.
In the midst there stood a Fairy Temple
With one niche empty.
They all told me this was waiting
For Lo-t’ien to come.”

Traveller, I have studied the Empty Gate;
I am no disciple of Fairies
The story you have just told
Is nothing but an idle tale.
The hills of ocean shall never be
Lo-t’ien’s home.
When I leave the earth it will be to go
To the Heaven of Bliss Fulfilled.

MLA

Chü-i, Po. “Taoism and Buddhism.” Translated by Arthur Waley. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/po-chu-i/58/.

Chicago

Chü-i, Po. “Taoism and Buddhism.” Translated by Arthur Waley. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/po-chu-i/58/.

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