Year
Xishi (~ 450 BC) is one of the most famous historical beauties in Chinese history (see poem #17). Legend has it that the King of Yue searched for a beauty to send to his enemy, the King of Wu, as a concubine to distract him from governing the state. His retainers found Xishi by the river; washing silk in some versions, plucking lotus flowers in others. In service of the King of Yue, she was sent to the King of Wu and attempted to seduce him. It worked as he began to spend all his time with her and his state soon fell apart.
Translation
By Li Bai (701-762) | 李白 |
Midnight Song of the Four Seasons: Summer | 子夜四時歌夏歌 |
Mirror Lake spans three hundred miles | 鏡湖 三百里 |
And the lotus buds begin to bloom: | 菡萏 發荷花 |
It’s May and Xishi is gathering them | 五月 西施采 |
So many people watch, admire— narrowing the Ruoye river | 人看 隘若耶 |
Her boat circles back before the moon has come out | 回舟 不待月 |
And on returning, she’s off to the Palace of Yue | 歸去 越王家 |
Notes:
1. 4th verse (Rén kàn ài ruò yé): Legend has it the famous beauty, Xishi. She used to wash silk in this stream. So Ruoye Stream is also called Wansha(Silk-washing) Stream. You can still find relevant historical site there.
2. 3rd /4th verses describe the beauty Xishi was on a boat on the stream and picking lotus there. She’s so attractive that the spectators actually made the Stream become narrow.
3. 7th / 8th verses use exaggeration to reveal Xishi left and joined Yue Kingdom so fast. Because her boat returned(probably in the dusk), but the moon for that night hasn’t come out yet, and she’s gone.
4. Xishi and Yue Kingdom is a frequently quoted history story. Wu Kingdom is Yue’s long-time enemy. So, Xishi was invited by Yuewang(Yue’s king) to adopt beauty tactic on Wu’s King. Soon, the Wu’s King was seduced/enticed and Wu Kingdom fell apart.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
李白 | 李白 | Li Bái |
子夜四時歌夏歌 | 子夜四时歌夏歌 | Zǐ yè sì shí gē xià gē |
鏡湖三百里， | 镜湖三百里， | Jìng hú sān bǎi lǐ, |
菡萏發荷花。 | 菡萏发荷花。 | Hàn dàn fā hé huā. |
五月西施采， | 五月西施采， | Wǔ yuè xī shī cǎi, |
人看隘若耶。 | 人看隘若耶。 | Rén kàn ài ruò yé. |
回舟不待月， | 回舟不待月， | Huí zhōu bù dài yuè, |
歸去越王家。 | 归去越王家。 | Guī qù yuè wáng jiā. |
Literal Translation
李白 | Plum White=Li Bai (701-762) |
子夜四時歌夏歌 | Midnight night four season song, summer song |
[Midnight night = midnight] | |
鏡湖三百里， | Mirror lake three hundred mile [Mirror lake= lake name, it’s in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province] , [mile=li, Chinese mile=0.5km] |
菡萏發荷花。 | Lotus-blossom/bud lotus deliver/develop lotus flower [Lotus-blossom lotus=Han Dan, is the name ancient Chinese use to describe lotus bud] |
五月西施采， | Five month west carry-out/give gather/pick-up [Five month= May], [west carry-out= Xishi (~450 BC), a famous ancient beauty’s name] |
人看隘若耶。 | People watch/see narrow/confined like/as Ye [narrow = make it narrow], [like/as Ye=Ruoye, it’s a stream’s name in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province] |
回舟不待月， | Return/circle-back boat not wait moon [not wait moon=moon hasn’t come out] |
歸去越王家。 | Return go surpass king home |
[surpass king= King of Yue Kingdom] |
The notes, character table, and literal translation were prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.
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