Tears that brought bamboo-shoots from the frozen earth: Meng Zong

Meng Zong lived during the Three Kingdoms Period of China's past. His father
died when he was young, and he and his mother struggled to survive. 

孟宗，三国时江夏人，少年时父亡，母亲年老病重.

One winter his mother was stricken with a serious illness, and craved some
bamboo-shoot broth as medicine.

冬天，母亲病重，没有鲜笋为母亲做药。

But in the depths of winter, with snow and ice blanketing the ground, where
was anyone to find fresh bamboo shoots, shoots that emerge only in the warm
months? 

适值严冬，冰雪覆盖，找不到新鲜的竹笋，竹笋只有在温暖的季节才发芽。

Nonetheless, Meng Zong, to avoid disappointing his mother, bravely fetched
his shovel and went out into the white landscape in search of bamboo shoots. 

然而，孟宗无计可施，独自一人跑到竹林里，扶竹哭泣。

In the thicket he found only frosted leaves and green stalks coated with
snowflakes and ice. 

在灌木丛，他发现有磨砂绿茎叶和涂有雪花和冰。

Look as he might, there were simply no fresh shoots growing in the winter.
The thought of his poor mother lying sick on her bed, waiting for bamboo-broth
medicine, made his heartache. 

看了看，没有新鲜竹笋在冬天生长。一想到躺在床上病重的母亲，正在等着新鲜的竹笋做药来治病。

Uncontrollably, tears began to fall in rivers to the ground beneath the tall,
emerald canes. Even now, as his tears flowed down, he kept a light of faith in
his heart. If he was truly sincere in his search,
perhaps….

不幸的是，泪如泉涌。尽管这样，他仍然充满了信心，如果他一直这样诚心的话

Just then Meng Zong nearly tripped and fell over a sharply protruding lump of
earth. He quickly knelt down and knocked aside the dirt with his trembling
fingers. 

这时，孟宗被一块地面突出绊了一下,摔倒了。他躺在了地上，膝盖脏了，手也在颤抖。

How uncanny! Underneath his frozen hands he discovered a bed of fresh, tender
bamboo shoots! Overjoyed, he gathered up a coatful and carried them back home.
The broth that he quickly set stewing in the pot soon cured his mother's
illness.

少顷，他忽然听到地裂声，只见地上长出数茎嫩笋。他采回做汤，母亲喝了后果然病愈。

The neighbors, hearing the story, exclaimed that it was the strength of his
sincere, unselfish, filial resolve that inspired heaven and earth to respond,
and to bring up, out of season, the fresh shoots that cured his mother's
disease. 

邻居们听到这事，纷纷议论说，怎么可能有这事，孝顺的心感动了天帝，将季节交替，以至于能长出竹笋，可以治愈母亲的病。

Before Meng Zong's prayers generated this miracle, it was normally considered
impossible for bamboo shoots to grow in the winter. After the nmiracle took
place, however, people were able to gather and to eat bamboo shoots all year
round. The winter variety that existed hereafter became known as "winter
shoots."

孟宗的祈祷出现了奇迹，竹笋在冬季是通常被认为不可能成长的。这奇迹发生后，人们在每年的冬天都能吃到新鲜的竹笋了。各种各样的食物，在冬天也能存留被称为东芽。

The villagers were deeply influenced by Meng Zong's courage and devotion.
They renamed the spot where the event took place, "Meng Zong's Bamboo Grove". We
can now enjoy bamboo sprouts during the winter as well, and as we do so, it is
fitting to recollect Meng Zong's outstanding example of filial respect, and
reflect on our conduct as sons and daughter of our
parents.

村民们敬佩孟宗的勇气和奉献精神。他们给那地方重新取了个名字，叫：“孟宗的笋”。现在的冬天，我们依然能够吃到新鲜的竹笋，就是这么来的，充满了孟宗对母亲的一片敬意，影响着一代又一代。