春山淡治而如笑
夏山蒼翠而如滴
秋山明浄而如粧
冬山惨淡而如眠
Spring Mountains smiling, laughing
Summer mountains drizzling blue-green
Autumn mountains crystal clear, adorned in color
Winter mountains fading into sleep
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“Mountains smiling in early spring” –Borrowed like so many things from China, it was made famous by the Northern Song painter Guo Xi, whose poem about mountains smiling and laughing appeared in an poetry anthology in Japanese known as 漢詩集 「臥遊録」 Chinese Poetry Anthology Dream Journey Jottings: 春山淡治而如笑 夏山蒼翠而如滴 秋山明浄而如粧 冬山惨淡而如眠 “Mountains smiling in early spring” was an image much appreciated in Japan. Imagine after what must have felt like an almost unendingly long period of cold and depressing “mountains sleeping,” the mountains in March would seem to almost “spring” to life again.
Painting of Early Spring by Song: Guo Xi’s
Dewdrop World 