Qu Yuan (343-278 B.C)
This poem tells the story of the Minor Goddess of Fate, personified as a beautiful woman. The poet flirts with her, but cannot attain her. She holds the power to intervene in fate with her long sword, but instead chooses to give people beauty with flowers.
Autumn orchids, fragrant herbs,
Gathering life in the halls below.
Green leaves, silken branches,
Fragrance abounds, surrounding all.
There is a lady, a beautiful girl,
But why am I bitter, in this sea of irises?
Autumn orchids, youthful green,
Green leaves and violet stalks.
The hall is full and I see a beauty—
Suddenly we’re alone, exchanging glances.
She came without a word, then left,
Riding the wind, sailing the clouds.
I am sad that she left, but in life we must depart;
None are happy, meeting someone new.
Lotus clothes, fragrant orchids;
She came at once, then went away.
I stay overnight, away from the royal throne,
It is at the sky’s end, far from home.
I am with a bathing woman at dawn, here in a salty pond,
Drying in the sun, exposed in the light.
I gaze at her beauty, but she will not come,
The wind is wild and brings her, in numerous songs;
Lifting her cover, a banner of green,
Raising her to the nine heavens, touching the stars.
You are proud of your long sword, but hold a flower only,
For irises alone are fitting for the people’s fate.
Original Chinese
| Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
| 九歌 少司命 | 九歌 少司命 | jiǔ gē shǎo sī mìng |
| | | |
| 秋蘭兮蘼蕪， | 秋兰兮蘼芜， | qiū lán xī mí wú ， |
| 羅生兮堂下。 | 罗生兮堂下。 | luó shēng xī táng xià 。 |
| 綠葉兮素枝， | 绿叶兮素枝， | lǜ yè xī sù zhī ， |
| 芳菲菲兮襲予。 | 芳菲菲兮袭予。 | fāng fēi fēi xī xí yú 。 |
| 夫人兮自有美子， | 夫人兮自有美子， | fū rén xī zì yǒu měi zǐ ， |
| 蓀何以兮愁苦？ | 荪何以兮愁苦？ | sūn hé yǐ xī chóu kǔ ？ |
| 秋蘭兮青青， | 秋兰兮青青， | qiū lán xī qīng qīng ， |
| 綠葉兮紫莖； | 绿叶兮紫茎； | lǜ yè xī zǐ jīng ; |
| 滿堂兮美人， | 满堂兮美人， | mǎn táng xī měi rén ， |
| 忽獨與余兮目成。 | 忽独与余兮目成。 | hū dú yǔ yú xī mù chéng 。 |
| 入不言兮出不辭， | 入不言兮出不辞， | rù bù yán xī chū bù cí ， |
| 乘回風兮駕雲旗。 | 乘回风兮驾云旗。 | chéng huí fēng xī jià yún qí 。 |
| 悲莫悲兮生別離， | 悲莫悲兮生别离， | bēi mò bēi xī shēng bié lí ， |
| 樂莫樂兮新相知。 | 乐莫乐兮新相知。 | lè mò lè xī xīn xiāng zhī 。 |
| 荷衣兮蕙帶， | 荷衣兮蕙带， | hé yī xī huì dài ， |
| 儵而來兮忽而逝。 | 儵而来兮忽而逝。 | shū ér lái xī hū ér shì 。 |
| 夕宿兮帝郊， | 夕宿兮帝郊， | xī sù xī dì jiāo ， |
| 君誰須兮雲之際？ | 君谁须兮云之际？ | jūn shuí xū xī yún zhī jì ？ |
| 與女沐兮鹹池， | 与女沐兮咸池， | yǔ nǚ mù xī xián chí ， |
| 晞女發兮陽之阿； | 晞女发兮阳之阿； | xī nǚ fā xī yáng zhī ā ; |
| 望美人兮未來， | 望美人兮未来， | wàng měi rén xī wèi lái ， |
| 臨風怳兮浩歌。 | 临风怳兮浩歌。 | lín fēng huǎng xī hào gē 。 |
| 孔蓋兮翠旌， | 孔盖兮翠旌， | kǒng gài xī cuì jīng ， |
| 登九天兮撫彗星。 | 登九天兮抚彗星。 | dēng jiǔ tiān xī fǔ huì xīng 。 |
| 竦長劍兮擁幼艾， | 竦长剑兮拥幼艾， | sǒng cháng jiàn xī yōng yòu ài ， |
| 蓀獨宜兮為民正。 | 荪独宜兮为民正。 | sūn dú yí xī wéi mín zhèng。 |
Translation Notes
| 九歌 少司命 | Nine Songs Few/Lesser Control Destiny/Fate |
| | |
| 秋蘭兮蘼蕪， | Autumn orchids xi herb weeds, [Herb weeds = gracilaria confervoides, a type of fragrant herb] |
| 羅生兮堂下。 | Gathers life xi government-office/hall below. |
| 綠葉兮素枝， | Green leaves xi white-silk/plain branches, |
| 芳菲菲兮襲予。 | Fragrant luxuriant fragrant xi attack me. [Luxuriant fragrant = very fragrant] |
| 夫人兮自有美子， | Husband person xi self have beautiful child, [Husband person = lady; madam] [Self have = have; possess] |
| 蓀何以兮愁苦？ | Iris why therefore xi anxiety/distress bitter? [Why therefore = whence] |
| 秋蘭兮青青， | Autumn orchids xi green/youth green, |
| 綠葉兮紫莖； | Green leaves xi violet stalk; |
| 滿堂兮美人， | Full hall xi beautiful person, [Full hall = whole audience; jam-packed] |
| 忽獨與余兮目成。 | Suddenly alone with I xi eye/look fixed. [Eye fixed = exchange flirting glances] |
| 入不言兮出不辭， | Enter no words xi go-out no words/take-leave, |
| 乘回風兮駕雲旗。 | Ride turn-around/revolve wind xi sail clouds banner. [Sail clouds = ride the clouds; fig. self-satisfied or arrogant] |
| 悲莫悲兮生別離， | Sorrow/sad do-not/cannot grief xi life separate depart, [Separate depart = take leave of] |
| 樂莫樂兮新相知。 | Happy cannot/there-is-none-who happy/cheerful xi new mutual know. |
| 荷衣兮蕙帶， | Lotus/carry-on-one’s-back clothes xi fragrant-orchid carry, |
| 儵而來兮忽而逝。 | Sudden-sickness/abrupt and arrive xi suddenly and-then pass-away. |
| 夕宿兮帝郊， | Evening lodging/constellation xi emperor outskirts, |
| 君誰須兮雲之際？ | Monarch who must/have-to xi clouds ’s border? [’s border = during; at the time of] |
| 與女沐兮鹹池， | With woman bathe xi salty pool/pond, |
| 晞女發兮陽之阿； | Dry-in-sun/dawn woman send-out/show-feelings xi light/male-principle she ah; |
| 望美人兮未來， | Hope/gaze beautiful person xi not-yet come, [Not-yet come = future; approaching] |
| 臨風怳兮浩歌。 | Draw-near/face wind wild/flurried xi numerous songs. |
| 孔蓋兮翠旌， | Opening/hole cover xi color-green/kingfisher banner-adorned-with-feathers. |
| 登九天兮撫彗星。 | Rise nine celestial xi pat/caress comet stars. [Comet stars = comet] |
| 竦長劍兮擁幼艾， | Revere long sword xi hold/gather young artemisia, |
| 蓀獨宜兮為民正。 | Aromatic-grass/iris alone suitable xi becomes peoples right/proper. |
Year:
2013
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