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沧浪之水清兮

滄浪之水清兮
cānglángzhīshuǐqīngxī
phrase

Meanings

  1. 1 oh, the Canglang's water is clear
  2. 2 (fig.) when the times are pure, use them for noble purposes
  3. 3 (lit.) Canglang's water clear (oh!)

Examples

渔父唱沧浪之水清兮，可以濯我缨。
Yúfù chàng cānglàng zhī shuǐ qīng xī, kěyǐ zhuó wǒ yīng.
The Fisherman sang, 'Canglang's water is clear — it can wash my hatstrings.'
太平之世，正可沧浪之水清兮，一展抱负。
Tàipíng zhī shì, zhèng kě cānglàng zhī shuǐ qīng xī, yī zhǎn bàofù.
In a peaceful age — as 'Canglang's water runs clear' — one can unfold one's ambitions.

Tips

history
From 《楚辞·渔父》(Chu Ci, The Fisherman, ca. 3rd c. BCE), the Fisherman's reply to Qu Yuan: 沧浪之水清兮，可以濯我缨；沧浪之水浊兮，可以濯我足 (When Canglang's water is clear, I wash my hatstrings; when it is muddy, I wash my feet). 缨 = the silk tassels of an official's hat, symbol of office; washing them requires pure water, i.e., an honorable regime. A Daoist argument for adapting to the times instead of destroying oneself for principle. Also quoted in 《孟子·离娄上》as a children's song that Confucius overheard and commented on.
usage
Always paired with 沧浪之水浊兮. 兮 (xī) is the Chu-dialect exclamatory particle, characteristic of all 楚辞 (Chuci) prosody. The Suzhou scholar's garden 沧浪亭 (Canglang Pavilion, 1044) is named for this passage.

Stroke Order

沧 cāng
浪 làng
之 zhī
水 shuǐ
清 qīng
兮 xī