Tang Dynasty · Perspective & Elevation
On the Stork Tower登鹳雀楼
By Wang Zhihuan (王之涣)
白日依山尽，
黄河入海流。
欲穷千里目，
更上一层楼。
The white sun sinks behind the leaning hills;
The Yellow River surges onward toward the sea.
If you wish to broaden your vision for a thousand miles,
You must ascend one further flight of stairs.
Line-by-Line Study with Pinyin
Detailed study breakdown matching each verse with character pinyin and English phrasing.
Traditional Color: 秋香黄
The noble, ochre-gold hue of late afternoon sunlight illuminating the boundless Yellow River valley as it flows toward the horizon.
Cultural Context & Zen Lore
The Stork Tower stood beside the Yellow River in Shanxi province. Wang Zhihuan (688–742) uses two vast spatial vectors—the sun descending into western mountains and the river flowing east into the ocean—to establish a boundless canvas before pivoting to philosophical resolve.
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