Fire-Setting as in California灶 /zào/: an oven is built by setting a fire beside a pile of earth灿 /càn/: splendid is the view of a fire sweeping over a mountain烟 /yān/: smoke originates as a cause flickering like a spark烦 /fán/: frustration occurs when a fire burns a page烧 /shāo/: to burn something is to set a fire high on it炒 /chǎo/: to fry is to use little fire烙 /lào/: to iron is to burn each and every spot炉 /lú/: a stove is the fire burning in a household炮 /pào/: a cannon is a fire wrapped tightWater-Filled as in the Yangtze Valley沙 /shā/: sand is something holding little water河 /hé/: a river has water allowing everything possible洗 /xǐ/: to wash is to put something into water first波 /bō/: waves surge when water flows like skin注 /zhù/: to focus is to be the master of water源 /yuán/: a wellspring is the original water泪 /lèi/: tears are water seeping from the eyes洒 /sǎ/: to spread is to throw water into the west演 /yǎn/: a performance is a show in respect for water酒 /jiǔ/: wine is water fully matured
Yin/Yang vs. Water/Fire: Lesson One in Chinese Characters
Feature Date
- March 11, 2022
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Copyright © 2021 by Yuan Changming.
All rights reserved.
Reproduced by Poetry Daily with permission.
Yuan Changming grew up in a remote village, started to learn the English alphabet in Shanghai at age nineteen, and published monographs on translation before leaving China. With a Canadian PhD in English, Yuan edits Poetry Pacific with Allen Yuan in Vancouver. Credits include twelve Pushcart nominations & chapbooks (most recently Limerence) besides appearances in Best of the Best Canadian Poetry (2008-17) & BestNewPoemsOnline, among others across forty-eight countries. Yuan was nominated and served on the jury for Canada’s National Magazine Award (poetry category). Currently, Yuan is working on his hybrid or cross-cultural novel Edening.
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Victoria, British Columbia
Canada
University of Victoria
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Iain Higgins
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L'Amour Lisik
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