Translation
Sikong Shu (720-790) | 司空曙 |
Enjoying a Visit with My Cousin Lu Lun | 喜外弟盧綸見宿 |
Quiet night, all around there are no neighbors, | 靜夜 四無鄰 |
Living in isolation on the family’s ancient farm. | 荒居 舊業貧 |
In the midst of rain, a tree with yellow leaves; | 雨中 黃葉樹 |
Beneath a lantern, a white-haired man. | 燈下 白頭人 |
Because I am alone, sinking with the time, | 以我 獨沉久 |
I often feel ashamed when you see me. | 愧君 相見頻 |
All our lives we have shared a friendship, | 平生 自有分 |
Bonded, moreover, like the cousins Cai. | 況是 蔡家親 |
Commentary
This poem might have been written after Sikong Shu retired. He was idealistic all his life and, as a result, was not successful in the bureacracy, living in poverty and suffering career setbacks. When he retired, he lived alone in the country on his family’s ancient farm. He symbolizes this by painting a picture of an old, white-haired man with a lamp under a tree with yellow leaves in the rain. Because of how close he is with his cousin, Lu Lun, they meet often. Sikong makes an allusion to the Cai cousins, historical figures known for the tightness of their bond.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
司空曙 | 司空曙 | Sī kōng Shǔ |
喜外弟盧綸見宿 | 喜外弟卢纶见宿 | Xǐ wài dì lú lún jiàn sù |
靜夜四無鄰， | 静夜四无邻， | Jìng yè sì wú lín， |
荒居舊業貧。 | 荒居旧业贫。 | Huāng jū jiù yè pín。 |
雨中黃葉樹， | 雨中黄叶树， | Yǔ zhōng huáng yè shù， |
燈下白頭人。 | 灯下白头人。 | Dēng xià bái tóu rén。 |
以我獨沉久， | 以我独沉久， | Yǐ wǒ dú shěn jiǔ， |
愧君相見頻。 | 愧君相见频。 | Kuì jūn xiāng jiàn pín。 |
平生自有分， | 平生自有分， | Píng shēng zì yǒu fēn， |
況是蔡家親。 | 况是蔡家亲。 | Kuàng shì cài jiā qīn。 |
Translation Notes
司空曙 | Manage Empty Dawn [=Sikong Shu (720-790)] |
喜外弟盧綸見宿 | Enjoy/delighted outside little-brother Cottage Green-silk-thread see stay-overnight [outside little-brother = cousin], [Cottage Green-silk-thread = Lu Lun, the author of poems #256-259 and #145 in this collection.], [see stay-overnight = sleep over] |
靜夜四無鄰， | Quiet/still night four have-no neighbors |
荒居舊業貧。 | Desolate/desert live/dwell old/ancient family-property/family-business poor/impoverished |
雨中黃葉樹， | Rain midst yellow leaf tree |
燈下白頭人。 | Lantern/lamp beneath white head man [White head man = old man, referring to himself] |
以我獨沉久， | Because I alone sink grow-late/time-passage |
愧君相見頻。 | Ashamed you/sir mutual/each-other see frequently/again-and-again [“you” refers to Lu Lun], [mutual see = meet each other] |
平生自有分， | Peaceful/even life/lifetime self have share [Peaceful life = always, at all times, all one’s life], [share = mutual affection, mutual friendship] |
況是蔡家親。 | Moreover is Tortoise family relatives [Moreover is = let alone], [Tortoise = Cai, a family name], [Tortoise family relatives = Cai family relatives, meaning “we are cousins” when talking to Lu Lun. Here the author used an allusion. According to Book of Jin, Yang Hu was conferred a title of nobility due to his meritorious service, but he asked to give this title to his cousin, Cai Xi. So “Cai family relatives” can be used to describe cousins who have tight relationship.], [The last two lines together mean that they are both close friends and cousins, so they should continue getting closer] |
Year:
2012
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