Introduction
Advisor Han worked for the Emperor during the Tang Dynasty. However, the country was thrown into disorder during the An Lushan Rebellion of 755-763 AD, leaving the capital sacked and the the Emperor exiled to another city. During this turmoil, Han decided to retire to the country. This poem is an appeal from Du Fu to his friend to stay in the court and help the Emperor keep the country together.
Translation
Du Fu (712-770) | 杜甫 |
To Imperial Advisor Han | 寄韓諫議 |
Today I am sad, thinking of your place, Yue Yang; | 今我不樂 思岳陽 |
I want to spread my wings and fly, but I am sick in bed. | 身欲奮飛 病在床 |
Graceful, pleasant man across the autumn waters— | 美人娟娟 隔秋水 |
You wash your feet in the Dong Ting and gaze at the distance. | 濯足洞庭 望八荒 |
A wild swan flies deep—beyond the world, the sun and moon—a spot of white | 鴻飛冥冥 日月白 |
Among the maples, freshly reddened leaves, the rain and sky—and frost. ~~ | 青楓葉赤 天雨霜 |
In the City of Jade the deities gather ’round the Northern Dipper, | 玉京群帝 集北斗 |
And ride on unicorns or fly with the phoenix. | 或騎麒麟 翳鳳凰 |
With feathered banners of cotton rose they descend through smoke and fog, | 芙蓉旌旗 煙霧落 |
Their shadows reflecting upside down about the rivers, Xiao and Xiang. | 影動倒景 搖瀟湘 |
The deities of this starry palace are drunk with wine so fine | 星宮之君 醉瓊漿 |
And around here, the feathered immortals are few. ~~ | 羽人稀少 不在旁 |
I seem to hear the immortal, Red Pine— | 似聞昨者 赤松子 |
But maybe it is actually the Han Dynasty’s Han Zhang Liang. | 恐是漢代 韓張良 |
In former days he followed the Liu Clan to settle Chang’an; | 昔隨劉氏 定長安 |
And though he stood by the leader’s curtain, he could not reform a thing—he seemed a wounded pity. | 帷幄未改 神慘傷 |
Can we dare ignore our national family’s success or failure? | 國家成敗 吾豈敢 |
When it smells of bitter decay can we dine among the maples scented sweet? | 色難腥腐 餐楓香 |
The ancient Southern Zhou detained a great historian and left him with much regret | 周南留滯 古所惜 |
But the Southern Star is one that gives the seasoned man a long and prosperous life. | 南極老人 應壽昌 |
Why keep yourself apart, like a beauty across the autumn waters? | 美人胡為 隔秋水 |
And when will you serve in the Hall of Jade? | 焉得置之 貢玉堂 |
Commentary
Advisor Han fled the rebellion and political turmoil to live the life of a hermit in the town of Yue Yang, near the famous Dong Ting Lake. Du Fu compared him to a wild swan, which has the symbolism of a noble and independent creature, reinforced by the color white, representing purity. The wild swan flies beyond the world—beyond the hardships of the An Lushan Rebellion and the disruption to society. He is now far away in the countryside, among the maples, with red leaves, showing that the time is autumn and the leaves are changing colors.
Next is a story from Daoism about celestial deities flying around the Northern Dipper (i.e., Big Dipper) in the heavens. Here the Big Dipper symbolizes the Emperor and the deities are the courtiers and advisors. The magical scene he describes of riding unicorns, flying on phoenixes, and getting drunk on wine symbolizes the happiness of the advisors in court while they serve the Emperor.
The final sequence begins by alluding to the Daoist immortal, Red Pine. Legend has it that a peasant named Huang Chuping was poor and hungry and became a shephard at eight years old. When he was fifteen, he met a Daoist immortal living in Red Pine Mountain and began practicing Daoism. Forty years later he had reached such mastery of Daoism that he was able to turn stones into sheep. Thereafter, he became known as the immortal, Red Pine. Here, it alludes to Han’s status as a hermit.
Du Fu jumps from the Red Pine allusion to compare Advisor Han to another Han in history—Han Zhang Liang. This historical Han was an advisor to a warlord of the time and helped found the Han Dynasty by fighting against the Qin Dynasty. However, disgusted by the corruption he saw, he retired to live the hermit life and said he wanted nothing to do with human life and just wanted to roam around with Red Pine. This parallels the current Advisor Han—he helped the Emperor in the capital of Chang’an and then left for retirement.
The last allusion is to historian Sima Qian of the Southern Zhou Dynasty. He was also an advisor, but was badly treated: after being delayed by illness from visiting the Emperor, he was tortured and castrated. Here, Du Fu is implying that his friend Han is dwelling on the bad things—the corruption, mistreatment, etc. He compares Advisor Han to the Southern Star, which brings longevity and peace on earth. Note that there is a contrast between the Northern Dipper and the Southern Star: the Emperor’s court is in the north while Han is living in the southern countryside. He is basically saying the Advisor Han should not dwell on the negative things and instead should do his duty to improve the situation.
Incidentally, there is another translator of Chinese poetry and Buddhist sutras who has adopted the pen name, Red Pine.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
杜甫 | 杜甫 | Dù fǔ |
寄韓諫議 | 寄韩谏议 | Jì hán jiàn yì |
今我不樂思岳陽， | 今我不乐思岳阳， | Jīn wǒ bù lè sī yuè yáng, |
身欲奮飛病在床。 | 身欲奋飞病在床。 | Shēn yù fèn fēi bìng zài chuáng. |
美人娟娟隔秋水， | 美人娟娟隔秋水， | Měi rén juān juān gé qiū shuǐ, |
濯足洞庭望八荒。 | 濯足洞庭望八荒。 | Zhuó zú dòng tíng wàng bā huāng. |
鴻飛冥冥日月白， | 鸿飞冥冥日月白， | Hóng fēi míng míng rì yuè bái, |
青楓葉赤天雨霜。 | 青枫叶赤天雨霜。 | Qīng fēng yè chì tiān yǔ shuāng. |
玉京群帝集北斗， | 玉京群帝集北斗， | Yù jīng qún dì jí běi dǒu, |
或騎麒麟翳鳳凰。 | 或骑麒麟翳凤凰。 | Huò qí qí lín yì fèng huáng. |
芙蓉旌旗煙霧落， | 芙蓉旌旗烟雾落， | Fú róng jīng qí yān wù luò, |
影動倒景搖瀟湘。 | 影动倒景摇潇湘。 | Yǐng dòng dào jǐng yáo xiāo xiāng. |
星宮之君醉瓊漿， | 星宫之君醉琼浆， | Xīng gōng zhī jūn zuì qióng jiāng, |
羽人稀少不在旁。 | 羽人稀少不在旁。 | Yǔ rén xī shǎo bù zài páng. |
似聞昨者赤松子， | 似闻昨者赤松子， | Shì wén zuó zhě chì sōng zǐ, |
恐是漢代韓張良； | 恐是汉代韩张良; | Kǒng shì hàn dài hán zhāng liáng; |
昔隨劉氏定長安， | 昔随刘氏定长安， | Xī suí liú shì dìng cháng ān, |
帷幄未改神慘傷。 | 帷幄未改神惨伤。 | Wéi wò wèi gǎi shén cǎn shāng. |
國家成敗吾豈敢？ | 国家成败吾岂敢？ | Guó jiā chéng bài wú qǐ gǎn? |
色難腥腐餐楓香。 | 色难腥腐餐枫香。 | Sè nán xīng fǔ cān fēng xiāng. |
周南留滯古所惜， | 周南留滞古所惜， | Zhōu nán liú zhì gǔ suǒ xī, |
南極老人應壽昌。 | 南极老人应寿昌。 | Nán jí lǎo rén yīng shòu chāng. |
美人胡為隔秋水？ | 美人胡为隔秋水？ | Měi rén hú wèi gé qiū shuǐ? |
焉得置之貢玉堂。 | 焉得置之贡玉堂。 | Yān de zhì zhī gòng yù táng. |
Translation Notes
杜甫 | Birchleaf-pear-tree Man= Du Fu(712-770) |
寄韓諫議 | Send Han/Korea Jian/advice Yi/suggest [Send=a poem dedicated to…] [Han Jian Yi = Jianyi is an offiicial position similar to an advisor in a think tank. So Han Jianyi means “Advisor Han.”] |
今我不樂思岳陽， | Today/now I not happy miss Yue/Mountain Yang/Sun [Yue Yang = Mountain Sun, a city in Hu’nan.] |
身欲奮飛病在床。 | Body want spread-wings/exert-oneself/strive fly sick in bed [spread-wings fly = spread my wings and fly, strive] |
美人娟娟隔秋水， | Beautiful person beautiful graceful separate/lie- between autumn water [Beautiful person = in ancient Chinese, it means somebody the poet is missing, here referring to Advisor Han. Also in the book “The Odes of Chu”, “beautiful person fragrant grass” is used as an allusion for gentlemen.], [beautiful graceful = a graceful appearance]. |
濯足洞庭望八荒。 | Cleanse/wash foot Dong/cave/grotto/ravine Ting/garden/courtyard gaze-into-the-distance/look-towards eight barren/uncultivated [Dong Ting = Dongting Lake, literally “Cave Garden Lake,” in Hu’nan.], [eight barren/uncultivated = eight directions, meaning “in the distance.”] |
鴻飛冥冥日月白， | Eastern-bean-goose/species-of-wild-swan flies dark/deep underworld/gloomy/night sun moon white [dark/deep underworld= vast and faraway (a metaphor of Han’s retirement).], [sun moon = sun and moon, day and month, life and livelihood] |
青楓葉赤天雨霜。 | Green/young maple-tree leaf red sky rain frost [Note: Depicts late autumn.] |
玉京群帝集北斗， | Yu/Jade Jing/Capital-city group/crowd emperors gather/assemble/collect-together North Dipper [Yu Jing = Jade Capital = Mt. Yujing. In Daoism it is the sky’s center.], [group emperors=a group of deities], [North Dipper= the big dipper in the north] |
或騎麒麟翳鳳凰。 | Or/either/perhaps ride/mount male-unicorn female-unicorn feather-screen/to-shade male-phoenix female-phoenix [male-unicorn female-unicorn = Kylin or Qilin, a mythical Chinese animal, a mascot.], [feather-screen/to-shade= here means ride, in parallel with the first “ride”.], [male-phoenix female-phoenix = phoenix] |
芙蓉旌旗煙霧落， | Cotton/hibiscus rose/hibiscus gonfalon/banner-or-flag-adorned-with-feathers/to-signal flag/banner smoke fog fall [Cotton rose = cotton rose, hibiscus, lotus], [gonfalon flag = banner] |
影動倒景搖瀟湘。 | Shadow/image/reflection move upside-down/fall-over scenery/view shake/wave Xiao/sound-of-beating-wind-and-rain Xiang/Hunan-province [Xiao Xiang= Xiao and Xiang are two rivers in Hu’nan, they merge in Yongzhou and join Dongting Lake, Hu’nan.] |
星宮之君醉瓊漿， | Star palace ’s emperor/monarch/ruler drunk/intoxicated exquisite/elegant/precious/jade broth/serum/thick-fluid [exquisite broth/serum= idiom, excellent wine] |
羽人稀少不在旁。 | Feather/wings people scarce few not at nearby/side [Feather people = the deities in feather dress] |
似聞昨者赤松子， | Seem/similar-to/resemble hear/news yesterday/former person/he-who/that-which Red Pine Son [yesterday person= a person in the past] [Red Pine Son= a deity named Red Pine. Interestingly enough, there is another translator of Chinese poetry that goes by the pseudonym “Red Pine.”] |
恐是漢代韓張良； | Maybe/fear/fearful is/indeed/this Han/Chinese-people Dynasty Han/Korea Zhang/stretch/open Liang/good [Zhang Liang = Stretch Good, someone from the Han Dynasty that is on the Hall of Fame; later he gave up his official rank. So the poet use the Han Dynasty’s Zhang Liang to connect with Advisor Han.] |
昔隨劉氏定長安， | Past-days/formerly/ancient follow/listen Liu/kill/destroy Clan-name/family/mister settle/determine/decide Long Safe/peaceful [Liu Clan-name= Lui Bei, founder of the Han Dynasty], [Long Safe= Chang’an, modern Xi’an, capital of the Han Dynasty.] |
帷幄未改神慘傷。 | Curtain/screen/tent tent/mosquito-net not-yet change/alter/improve look/spirit/god/supernatural-being miserable/sad/pitiful/wretched/cruel hurt/wound/injury [Curtain/screen tent= idiom meaning to give advice to the leader. In the past, the advisor always stood behind the curtain of the leaders.] [Meaning: Advisor Han was still loyal to the emperor, but witnessing the corruption made him in low spirits.] |
國家成敗吾豈敢？ | Nation/country family/house succeed/fixed/completed fail/be-defeated/decline I/resist how?/what? dare/venture/bold/brave [Nation family= the country], [succeed fail = success or failure], [Meaning: How do I dare to ignore the imperial ups and downs?] |
色難腥腐餐楓香。 | Color/face/tint/hue/form/beauty difficult/reluctant/arduous/hard fishy/raw-meat/strong-smelling decay/rotten/spoil dine/eat maple-tree aroma/fragrant/sweet-smelling [dine/eat maple aroma= metaphor of a secluded life in the forest.] |
周南留滯古所惜， | Zhou-dynasty/circumference South/southern/southward stay/stop/half sluggish/block-up/stagnent ancient/old so/because/place/location regret/pitiful/pity/rue/begrudge [Zhou South= placename, Luoyang in He’nan], [Note: Du Fu cites the sufferings from the famous historian Sima Qian of the Han Dynasty. He used to an advisor of the highest rank. Later, he was put in jail and castrated.] |
南極老人應壽昌。 | South Pole/extreme old/aged/experience people/man should/ought-to longevity/old-age/long-life prosperous/light-of-sun/good/proper [South Pole= Antarctic Star, a symbol for longevity.] |
美人胡為隔秋水？ | Beautiful/pleasing person/man why/recklessly/foolishly/wildly do/is/be separate-from autumn/fall water |
焉得置之貢玉堂。 | How/thereupon/how?/why?/where? to/obtain/get/acquire put/place/set-aside him/his offer-tribute Jade Hall |
[Jade Hall = Han’s palace name, here refers to the imperial court.] | |
Year:
2012
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