The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain Quotes

“In this village is a house
a house without an owner
earth gives rise to grass
water appears as drops of dew
fire ignites a gang of thieves
wind whips up a black-cloud rain
search inside for the occupant
a pearl concealed in rags”
― Cold Mountain (Han Shan), The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“Why am I so troubled
life is a one-day mushroom
what good is another decade
with friends and family gone
thinking of this makes me sad
and sadness I can’t bear
what then shall I do
entrust myself to the hills for good”
― Cold Mountain (Han Shan), The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“it’s always due to their dog hearts
men don’t ever get free”
― Cold Mountain (Han Shan), The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“Two turtles aboard an ox cart
took part in a highway drama
a scorpion came alongside
begging desperately for a ride
to refuse would violate good will
to accept would weigh them down
in a moment too brief to describe
acting kindly they got stung”
― Cold Mountain (Han Shan), The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“on either shore there’s no ferry
but one day you’ll cross the vast divide”
― Cold Mountain (Han Shan), The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain

“I see hundreds of dogs
and every one of them scruffy
lying wherever they please
rambling whenever the whim arises
but throw them out a bone
and watch them growl and fight
as long as bones are rare
a pack of dogs can’t share”
― Cold Mountain (Han Shan), The Collected Songs of Cold Mountain