Translation
Du Shenyan (646-708) | 杜審言 |
Response to Jinling Deputy Official Lu’s poem: Early Spring Travel | 和晉陵路丞 早春遊望 |
Alone, the traveling officials... | 獨有 宦遊人 |
Unlike most, we are shocked by a new season. | 偏驚 物候新 |
Rosy clouds go out from the ocean’s rising sun | 雲霞 出海曙 |
While plum trees bloom across the Yangzi River in spring | 梅柳 渡江春 |
Fresh new air spurs the yellow robins | 淑氣 催黃鳥 |
And sunny weather shines through swaying green ferns | 晴光 轉綠蘋 |
Suddenly I hear the singing of your ancient tune... | 忽聞 歌古調 |
Thinking of home, my longing, I wet my handkerchief. | 歸思 欲霑巾 |
Notes:
1. The poet, Du Shenyan, is the grandfather of the famous Tang poet, Du Fu. Du Fu is very proud of his grandfather’s achievement in poetry, and his style is also greatly influenced by him. However, Du Shenyan was also very arrogant because of his literary talents.
2. People believe his poetry laid the foundation for the modern-style poetry(近体诗) in Tang Dynasty, which evolved into metrical verses with a strict standards on rhyme, tone, antithesis, etc.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
杜審言 | 杜审言 | Dù Shěn Yán |
和晉陵路丞早春遊望 | 和晋陵陆丞早春游望 | Hè jìn líng lù chéng zǎo chūn yóu wàng |
獨有宦遊人， | 独有宦游人， | Dú yǒu huàn yóu rén, |
偏驚物候新。 | 偏惊物候新。 | Piān jīng wù hòu xīn。 |
雲霞出海曙， | 云霞出海曙， | Yún xiá chū hǎi shǔ, |
梅柳渡江春。 | 梅柳渡江春。 | Méi liǔ dù jiāng chūn。 |
淑氣催黃鳥， | 淑气催黄鸟， | Shū qì cuī huáng niǎo, |
晴光轉綠蘋。 | 晴光转绿苹。 | Qíng guāng zhuǎn lǜ píng。 |
忽聞歌古調， | 忽闻歌古调， | Hū wén gē gǔ diào, |
歸思欲霑巾。 | 归思欲沾巾。 | Guī sī yù zhān jīn。 |
Literal Translation
杜審言 | Birchleaf-pear-tree Cautious Speech=Du Shenyan=(646-708) |
和晉陵路丞早春遊望 | Cap-a-poem-to-respond/respond-to-in-singing Jin/increase Ling/hill Lu/road Deputy-official/assist early spring trip/wander/roam visit/look-at/look-forward [Jin Ling= city name, now it’s Changzhou, Jiangsu Province.], [Lu Deputy-official= a county deputy official named Lu] |
獨有宦遊人， | Only/alone/solitary there-is official traveling people [only there-is = to personally own, to possess solely, only, solely], [official traveling people= officials who are working away from home] |
偏驚物候新。 | On-the-contrary/deviate-from-average surprise/frightened seasonal/thing/substance/creature nature/wait/expect/visit/greet new [Meaning of the above two lines: people are usually happy when spring comes. Only those wandering officials are shocked to see spring coming, because another year has passed.] |
雲霞出海曙， | Cloud red-clouds /rosy-clouds come-out-of/go-out-to sea/ocean dawn/aurora/bright/light-of-rising-sun |
梅柳渡江春。 | Plum-flower/plums willow-tree pass-through/across/cross-over River/large-river/Yangzi-River spring [Meaning: The spring scenery among the plum flower and willow trees has spread from the south bank to the north bank.] |
淑氣催黃鳥， | Warm-and-virtuous/good/pure/charming climate/air urge/press yellow bird(to chirp) [yellow bird= oriole or yellow robin] |
晴光轉綠蘋。 | Sunny/clear-weather/fine-weather light/beam/brilliant/shine shake/rotate/shift/move green float-grass/aquatic/ |
忽聞歌古調， | Suddenly/abruptly hear singing/song/lyrics ancient/classic tune/melody [ancient tune/melody= here refers to the original poem composed by Official Lu.] |
歸思欲霑巾。 | Return-home/return-to thoughts/miss will/going-to/desire/intend wet/moisten handkerchief |
Notes and character tables prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.
Year:
2012
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