What I lost in translation at both ends of the Great Divide.

And what I found for making that attempt to bridge the chasm.




Wednesday, August 4, 2010

"From Clouds to Rain, from Dew to Frost" - Thousand Character Classic 千字文 – Line 5

'

云腾致雨, 露结为霜。
yún téng zhì yǔ, lù jié wèi shuāng。


(clouds) (rise) (cause) (rain),

When clouds rise and meet the colder atmosphere, condensation will take place and this will result in rain. This is a succinct and very clear explanation of how rain is formed considering this is written in only the 5th century.


(dew) (form) (become) (frost)。

Dew drops crystallize to become frost. Evelyn Lip added that ‘When water crystallizes in an area and appears as frost in the late autumn morning, it is called 早霜 zǎoshuāng (early frost). But if it appears in spring, it is called 晚霜 wǎnshuāng (late frost).'

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