Year
Translation
By Li Bai (701-762) | 李白 |
Midnight Song of the Four Seasons: Spring | 子夜四時歌春歌 |
Here in the Land of Qin, Luofu, a beautiful girl | 秦地 羅敷女 |
She plucks a mulberry by the water’s edge | 采桑 綠水邊 |
Her hands of white resting on the branches | 素手 青條上 |
And dyed-red garments shining in the daytime sun: | 紅妝 白日鮮 |
“I must leave to feed my silkworms | 蠶飢 妾欲去 |
So don’t linger there in your fancy carriage” | 五馬 莫留連 |
Notes:
1. Spring is symbolic of youth, vibrancy, sexuality, and pleasure.
2. Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC), where the name “China” derives from.
3. Verse 1 refers to a beauty in Chan Kuo (dynasty), Luofu, generically meaning he sees a beautiful young woman.
4. Last verse, the “fancy carriage” is a five-horse carriage, referring to the officials and rich people, because in the Han, personal carriages only use 4 horses. However, the county chief uses 5 horses.
5. The poem depicts a vivid scene in the spring. On the other hand, it also reveals the woman’s nobleness. She won’t fall for any man in power or with fortune.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
李白 | 李白 | Li Bái |
子夜四時歌春歌 | 子夜四时歌春歌 | Zǐ yè sì shí gē chūn gē |
秦地羅敷女， | 秦地罗敷女， | Qín dì luō fū nǚ, |
采桑綠水邊。 | 采桑绿水边。 | Cǎi sāng lǜ shuǐ biān. |
素手青條上， | 素手青条上， | Sù shǒu qīng tiáo shàng, |
紅妝白日鮮。 | 红妆白日鲜。 | Hóng zhuāng bái rì xiān. |
蠶飢妾欲去， | 蚕饥妾欲去， | Cán jī qiè yù qù, |
五馬莫留連。 | 五马莫留连。 | Wǔ mǎ mò liú lián. |
Literal Translation
李白 | Plum White=Li Bai (701-762) |
子夜四時歌春歌 | Midnight night four season song, spring song [Midnight night = midnight] |
秦地羅敷女， | Qin(dynasty) place fussy/gather/net apply woman [Qin(dynasty) place = place name, now in Shaanxi] [fussy apply=Luofu, is a beauty in Chan Kuo (dynasty), here means young woman] |
采桑綠水邊。 | Gather/pluck/color/complexion mulberry-tree green/crystal-clear river/water side/edge [mulberry-tree = mulberry leaf] |
素手青條上， | Plain hand green strip/stick/string on [Plain hand = white hand, empty-handed], [green strip= mulberry tree branches] |
紅妝白日鮮。 | Red make-up white/bright sun fresh/distinct [Red make-up = splendid, colorful female clothing], [white sun = daytime] |
蠶飢妾欲去， | Silkworm hungry your-servant/concubine intend go [your-servant= self-reference for women] |
五馬莫留連。 | Five horse don’t stay join |
[stay join= linger, reluctant to leave] | |
The notes, character table, and literal translation were prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.
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