Chang’an was the ancient name of Xi’an, the old capital of China. Feng Zhu is a local official from the town of Baling who plans to retire to the country, symbolized by buying an axe to chop firewood in the mountains. Flowers opening under a dark night of rain and newborn swallows symbolize the new life of the young and retirement of the old. Spring also symbolizes new life.
My Translation
| Wei Yingwu (737-792) | 韋應物 |
| Meeting Feng Zhu in Chang’an | 長安遇馮著 |
| | |
| My guest arrives from the east | 客從 東方來 |
| With Baling rain still on his clothes. | 衣上 灞陵雨 |
| I ask him, “why did you come?” | 問客何為來 |
| And he explains, “to buy an axe and gather mountain wood.” | 采山 因買斧 |
| In the dark rain the flowers—at once— open and bloom | 冥冥 花正 開 |
| Soaring, flying, are newborn swallows | 颺颺 燕新乳 |
| Yesterday we said our farewells and today it’s already spring | 昨別 今已春 |
| Our temples grow a bit more gray | 鬢絲生幾縷 |
| | |
Original Chinese
| Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
| | | |
| 韋應物 | 韦应物 | Wéi Yìng Wù |
| 長安遇馮著 | 长安遇冯著 | Cháng ān yù féng zhù |
| | | |
| 客從東方來， | 客从东方来， | Kè cóng dōng fāng lái, |
| 衣上灞陵雨。 | 衣上灞陵雨。 | Yī shàng bà líng yǔ. |
| 問客何為來？ | 问客何为来？ | Wèn kè hé wéi lái? |
| 采山因買斧。 | 采山因买斧。 | Cǎi shān yīn mǎi fǔ. |
| 冥冥花正開， | 冥冥花正开， | Míng míng huā zhèng kāi, |
| 颺颺燕新乳。 | 扬扬燕新乳。 | Yáng yáng yàn xīn rǔ. |
| 昨別今已春， | 昨别今已春， | Zuó bié jīn yǐ chūn, |
| 鬢絲生幾縷。 | 鬓丝生几缕。 | Bìn sī shēng jǐ lǚ. |
Literal Translation
| 韋應物 | Tanned-leather Must Thing [=Wei Yingwu (737-792)] |
| 長安遇馮著 | Long safe meet Feng famous |
| | [Long safe=Chang’an, ancient name for Xi’an city, in Shaanxi Province, Tang’s capital city] [Feng famous= Feng Zhu, a local official’s name] |
| 客從東方來， | Guest from east/orient direction come |
| 衣上灞陵雨。 | Clothes up/on-top Ba-river hill rain [Ba-river hill=Baling, an old town’s name in Shaanxi] |
| 問客何為來？ | Ask guest what for/why come? |
| 采山因買斧。 | Gather mountain because/for buy ax [gather mountain=gather firewood in the mountain] [This line means Feng Zhu wants to retire in the mountain.] |
| 冥冥花正開， | Dark/dim gloomy flower just/at-the-moment open/bloom [Dark/dim dark= depict the raining scene] |
| 颺颺燕新乳。 | Soar/raise fly/scatter swallow(the bird) new breast/milk [Soar/raise raise = birds flying] [swallow(the bird) new breast/milk= newborn bird] |
| 昨別今已春， | Yesterday farewell/separate today already spring [Yesterday farewell/separate= last farewell] |
| 鬢絲生幾縷。 | Temples(face area) hair grow several strand |
Notes and character tables prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.
Year:
2012
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