This is a poem about the author’s experience listening to Master Dong, a retainer of Palace Attendant Fang, play the reed whistle. Specifically, he was playing a tune composed by Lady Cai Wenji, who was a noblewoman, poet, composer, and daughter of a famous poet. During a barbarian invasion, she was captured, forced to marry a Hun warlord, and bore him two sons over 12 years. Eventually, Chancellor Cao Cao of the Han State (an ancient Chinese dynasty) paid ransom to free her because she was the only survivor of her clan and he wanted to appease her clan’s spirits. However, she had to leave behind her two sons with the barbarian warlord.
As the poet is listening to the performance of her song by Master Dong, he imagines the desolate scene back then when she was living in the barbarian frontier and the sadness she had in parting from her children. The music has such a vivid impact on him that he imagines symbols of its different movements or parts, from birds over an empty mountain, to the spirits living deep in the mountains eavesdropping on the performance.
It’s my guess, but the 18 verses of this poem describing Master Dong’s performance, from the time he begins plucking the notes to the low sounds of deer bleeting running through the hall, may well have been written to match in imagery the 18 movements of Lady Cai’s work. The different images he imagines represent the different tones and pace of the various movements, from low to high, chaotic to melodious, and the scenes from Lady Cai’s life he imagines.
Translation
By Li Qi (690-751) | 李頎 |
Listening to Master Dong Play the Reed Whistle: A Poem Dedicated to Palace Attendant Fang | 聽董大彈胡笳聲兼寄語弄房給事 |
Lady Cai some time ago composed a tune on the Hun’s reed whistle | 蔡女 昔造 胡笳聲 |
It plays in eighteen movements | 一彈 一十 有八拍 |
It had the Huns shedding tears, moistening the border grass | 胡人 落淚 沾邊草 |
And the Han ambassador too felt the heartbreak facing the returning traveler | 漢使 斷腸 對歸客 |
Among the ancient garrisons the ash gray and cold, the fire beacon | 古戍 蒼蒼 烽火寒 |
A vast wasteland gloomy, heavy: and snow was flying white ~~ | 大荒 沈沈 飛雪白 |
First he plucks a string—the second note and then the third and fifth | 先拂 聲絃 後角羽 |
Around the outskirts the leaves of autumn startle, going shhh shhh | 四郊 秋葉 驚摵摵 |
Master Dong connects with the gods—shining, brilliant | 董夫子 通神明 |
Deep in the mountains secretly listening— come the evil spirits | 深山 竊聽 來妖精 |
The words come slow then quick— and all at the flick of his hand | 言遲 更速 皆應手 |
Back and forth then changing again as one in love | 將往 復旋 如有情 |
Empty hills hundreds of birds they scatter and unite | 空山 百鳥 散還合 |
Thousands of miles the wafting clouds they cover and clear | 萬里 浮雲 陰且晴 |
The bitter cry a baby goose that lost its flock at night | 嘶酸 雛雁 失群夜 |
Severed, cut-off, the Hu child, he yearns for his mother’s voice | 斷絕 胡兒 戀母聲 |
Rivers made motionless, the waves | 川為 靜其波 |
Birds also silence their chirp | 鳥亦 罷其鳴 |
Among the tribe, the children of Hun, her hometown far away | 烏孫 部落 家鄉遠 |
Lhasan sandstorms— her bitter hatred growing | 邏娑 沙塵 哀怨生 |
Dark, underworld tones that transform in tune— a graceful sudden whirl | 幽音 變調 忽飄灑 |
Long wind blowing through the forest and rain falling on the roof of earthen tiles | 長風 吹林 雨墮瓦 |
Gushing, bursting spring saaa saaa flying to the tops of trees | 迸泉 颯颯 飛木末 |
Wild deers bleeting, bleeting running through the hall down low ~~ | 野鹿 呦呦 走堂下 |
Chang’an— the city walls connect to palace walls in the east | 長安 城連 東掖垣 |
The Phoenix Pond faces the green palace doors | 鳳凰 池對 青瑣門 |
The best talents care not for name or wealth | 高才 脫略 名與利 |
And day and night I wait for him, holding his lute, to arrive | 日夕 望君 抱琴至 |
Notes:
1. Subject: Nong(弄) is a music genre. Ancient anthology proves Nong should have appeared right after Hujia, as Hujia Nong.
2. In the last section, the poet’s department was east of the palace, which is why he wrote that the city walls connect to the palace walls in the east. the Phoenix symbolizes the emperor.
3. Last 2 verses reveal Fang (Fang Guan) doesn’t care about fame and wealth. He only hopes to hear Dong playing the lute every day.
4. Dong is the one who played the lute in the poem, however the poem is dedicated to Fang. It shows the two people are in good relationship. Other historical summaries say Master Dong was so popular around Official Fang that inferiors often bribed or flattered Dong in order to schedule a meeting with Fang. Later, Fang was impeached because of bribery.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
李頎 | 李颀 | Li qí |
聽董大彈胡笳聲兼 寄語弄房給事 | 听董大弹胡笳声兼 寄语弄房给事 | Tīng dǒng dà tán hú jiā shēng jiān jì yǔ nòng fáng jǐ shì |
蔡女昔造胡笳聲， | 蔡女昔造胡笳声， | Cài nǚ xī zào hú jiā shēng, |
一彈一十有八拍。 | 一弹一十有八拍。 | Yī tán yì shí yǒu bā pāi. |
胡人落淚沾邊草， | 胡人落泪沾边草， | Hú rén luò lèi zhān biān cǎo, |
漢使斷腸對歸客。 | 汉使断肠对归客。 | Hàn shǐ duàn cháng duì guī kè. |
古戍蒼蒼烽火寒， | 古戍苍苍烽火寒， | Gǔ shù cāng cāng fēng huǒ hán, |
大荒沈沈飛雪白。 | 大荒沉沉飞雪白。 | Dà huāng chén chén fēi xuě bái. |
先拂聲絃後角羽， | 先拂声弦后角羽， | Xiān fú shēng xián hòu jiǎo yǔ, |
四郊秋葉驚摵摵。 | 四郊秋叶惊摵摵。 | Sì jiāo qiū yè jīng shè shè. |
董夫子，通神明， | 董夫子，通神明， | Dǒng fū zǐ, tōng shén míng, |
深山竊聽來妖精。 | 深山窃听来妖精。 | Shēn shān qiè tīng lái yāo jing. |
言遲更速皆應手， | 言迟更速皆应手， | Yán chí gèng sù jiē yìng shǒu, |
將往復旋如有情。 | 将往复旋如有情。 | Jiāng wǎng fù xuán rú yǒu qíng. |
空山百鳥散還合， | 空山百鸟散还合， | Kōng shān bǎi niǎo sàn huán hé, |
萬里浮雲陰且晴。 | 万里浮云阴且晴。 | Wàn lǐ fú yún yīn qiě qíng. |
嘶酸雛雁失群夜， | 嘶酸雏雁失群夜， | Sī suān chú yàn shī qún yè, |
斷絕胡兒戀母聲。 | 断绝胡儿恋母声。 | Duàn jué hú ér liàn mǔ shēng. |
川為靜其波， | 川为静其波， | Chuān wèi jìng qí bō, |
鳥亦罷其鳴； | 鸟亦罢其鸣; | Niǎo yì bà qí míng; |
烏孫部落家鄉遠， | 乌孙部落家乡远， | Wū sūn bù luò jiā xiāng yuǎn, |
邏娑沙塵哀怨生。 | 逻娑沙尘哀怨生。 | Luó suō shā chén āi yuàn shēng. |
幽音變調忽飄灑, | 幽音变调忽飘洒， | Yōu yīn biàn diào hū piāo sǎ, |
長風吹林雨墮瓦； | 长风吹林雨堕瓦; | Cháng fēng chuī lín yǔ duò wǎ; |
迸泉颯颯飛木末， | 迸泉飒飒飞木末， | Bèng quán sà sà fēi mù mò, |
野鹿呦呦走堂下。 | 野鹿呦呦走堂下。 | Yě lù yōu yōu zǒu táng xià. |
長安城連東掖垣， | 长安城连东掖垣， | Cháng ān chéng lián dōng yē yuán, |
鳳凰池對青瑣門， | 凤凰池对青琐门， | Fèng huáng chí duì qīng suǒ mén, |
高才脫略名與利， | 高才脱略名与利， | Gāo cái tuō lüè míng yǔ lì, |
日夕望君抱琴至。 | 日夕望君抱琴至。 | Rì xī wàng jūn bào qín zhì. |
Literal Translation
李頎 | Plum Tall = Li Qi(690-751) |
聽董大彈胡笳聲兼寄語弄房給事 | Listen Director Big play beard/outragious/wild reed-whistle sound and send words alley/play-or-fiddle-with house supply thing [Director Big= Dong Tinglan or Dong Da, who’s a lute master. He’s a retainer of Fang.] , [beard reed-whistle= Hu-chia, Mongolian reed whistle. Here refers to a flute tune, Hujia.] [supply thing= Jishi, attendant, an official position] |
蔡女昔造胡笳聲， | Cai woman before/past produce/compose beard/reckless reed-whistle sound [beard reed-whistle= Hu-chia] [Cai woman= Cai Wenji, who composed a lute song according to Hu-chia tunes.] |
一彈一十有八拍。 | One play one ten and eight beat [The tune has 18 parts.] |
胡人落淚沾邊草， | Hu people falling tears moisten side/border grass [Hu people= Northern barbarian tribes near ancient China], [moisten side = connection with] |
漢使斷腸對歸客。 | Han ambassador break/sever intestines facing/couple/pair return guest/traveler [break intestine=from idiom, means extremely sad, heartbroken], [returned guest= Lady Cai, appeared earlier] |
古戍蒼蒼烽火寒， | Ancient garrison pale/blue pale beacon fire cold [When the beacon file is lit, the frontier looks more desolate in the cold days.], [pale pale = ash gray, vast and hazy] |
大荒沈沈飛雪白。 | Vast desolate/wasteland lower/submerge heavy/sink flying snow white [lower/heavy heavy= a gloomy scene] |
先拂聲絃後角羽， | First play sound/2nd-note string later corner/3rd-note feather/5th-note [sound string later corner feather= Shang, Jiao, Yu, are three music scales. Ancient Chinese used a 5-scale mechanism.] |
四郊秋葉驚摵摵。 | Four suburb/open-spaces/waste-land autumn leaf surprise/startle she she [Four suburb= the suburb around, outskirts of town], [she she= a sound Chinese describes falling leaves. Here’s a metaphor of the lute sound.] |
董夫子，通神明， | Dong man son, communicate/understand/connect god/spirit bright/brilliant [man son= Master], [god bright= deities] |
深山竊聽來妖精。 | Deep mountain eavesdrop/secretly/stealthily listen come evil/strange/weird/supernatural spirits [The above 2 verses: Master Dong’s performance can move/touch the deities and the ghosts.], [deep mountain = deep in the mountains], [come evil = evil spirits, alluring woman] |
言遲更速皆應手， | Words/speech late/slow/ alter/change/still/more speed/quick all fit hand [fit hand = handle, convenient] |
將往復旋如有情。 | Will/going-to/request/desire/a-short-while-ago go/back again/return revolve/return as-if/like have/own emotion/feeling [go again = back and forth], [have emotion = be in love, sentient beings (Buddhist)] |
空山百鳥散還合， | Empty hill hundred birds scatter/leave still/yet/also gather/unite |
萬里浮雲陰且晴。 | 10,000/myriad Chinese-miles float/drift/waft/transient cloud overcast/cloudy/dark/shady further/moreover/soon sunny/clear-weather |
嘶酸雛雁失群夜， | Hiss/cry/neigh bitter/acid/tart baby/chick bird/wild-goose lose crowd/flock (in/by)-night [Meaning: the baby bird cried because it’s solitary that night.] |
斷絕胡兒戀母聲。 | Sever/break cease/cut-off Hu kid/child love/yearn-for/long-for/feel-attached-to mother sound/voice [The above 2 verses: When Lady Cai returned to her home country, she had a heart-broken farewell with her son born in the Hun Kingdom. The music reminded the poet of this story.] |
川為靜其波， | River make motionless/quiet/still its wave |
鳥亦罷其鳴； | Bird also stop/cease its chirp/cry |
烏孫部落家鄉遠， | Dark/crow grandson/descendent section fall home town distant [Dark grandson = Huns; section fall = tribe; Dark grandson section fall= the Hun tribe] [It implies Lady Cai was faraway from her home.] |
邏娑沙塵哀怨生。 | Logic/patrol Loose/frolic sand dust sorrow/sad/mournful/grief hatred/resentment grow [Logic Loose= Luosuo, the old name for Lhasa], [sand dust = sand, sandstorm] |
幽音變調忽飄灑, | Hidden-bitterness/quiet/dark/underworld/remote music/tone change/transform tune suddenly float/whirlwind/cyclone spill/splash/sprinkle [float spill= suave, facile, graceful] |
長風吹林雨墮瓦； | Long wind blow forest rain falling (roof)-tile/earthenware/girl |
迸泉颯颯飛木末， | Spurting/gush-out/burst spring sa sa fly tree top [sa sa = sound of wind/water, bleak, melancholy.] |
野鹿呦呦走堂下。 | Wild deer deer-bleeting bleeting walk/through hall (going)-down [deer-bleeting bleeting= shows the lute sound became deep and lowering] |
長安城連東掖垣， | Long Safe/Peaceful City/city-walls connect/join east tuck/fold-up low-wall [Long Safe City=Chang’an, ancient name of Xi’an], [tuck low-wall = palace sidewalls], [east tuck wall= the department Fang worked in located in the east of Chang’an] |
鳳凰池對青瑣門， | Male-Phoenix/symbol-of-joy Female-Phoenix Pond face/directed-to Green fragmentary door/entrance [Male-phoenix female-phoenix = phoenix, a symbol of the Emperor], [Phoenix Phoenix Pond= Phoenix Pond, is a metaphor of Zhongshu Department, because officials there are close to the Emperor.] [Green fragmentary door/entrance= Palace gate, fragmentary= Suo, means linked pattern] |
高才脫略名與利， | High talents skip/take-off/strip ignore/approximately fame/name and wealth/gain [High talents= great talents, people of outstanding ability], [skip ignore = unrestrained, not respectful] |
日夕望君抱琴至。 | Day night hope/look-forward gentleman hold/hug lute arrive [gentleman= Jun, a respectful title to address people, here refers to Dong Da] |
The notes, character table, and literal translation were prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.
Year:
2012
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