Translation
Sikong Shu (720-790) | 司空曙 |
At a Yunyang Lodge: Staying Overnight and Parting from Han Shen | 雲陽館 與韓紳宿別 |
Old friend, parted by sea, | 故人江海別 |
The countless mountains and streams. | 幾度隔山川 |
I saw you suddenly, as if in a dream; | 乍見翻疑夢 |
We talked of our years in mutual tears. | 相悲各問年 |
A lonely lamp that lights the cold and rain, | 孤燈寒照雨 |
A wafting fog from the bamboo deep. | 深竹暗浮煙 |
I rue the morning tomorrow, | 更有明朝恨 |
So let us cherish our parting toasts! | 離杯惜共傳 |
Commentary
Sikong Shu wrote this poem on meeting a long-lost friend named Han Shen while he was staying at a lodge in Yunyang. His friend lives so far away that he thought it was a vision or a dream to see him. They chatted through the night, in the rain and cold, lit by a candlelight. Unfortunately, they had to part again the next day, so they were drinking wine and toasting to commemorate their meeting. The second stanza was popular in the Tang Dynasty.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
司空曙 | 司空曙 | Sikong Shu |
雲陽館與韓紳宿別 | 云阳馆与韩绅宿别 | Yún yáng guǎn yǔ hán shēn sù bié |
故人江海別， | 故人江海别， | Gù rén jiāng hǎi bié， |
幾度隔山川。 | 几度隔山川。 | Jī dù gé shān chuān。 |
乍見翻疑夢， | 乍见翻疑梦， | Zhà jiàn fān yí mèng， |
相悲各問年。 | 相悲各问年。 | Xiāng bēi gè wèn nián。 |
孤燈寒照雨， | 孤灯寒照雨， | Gū dēng hán zhào yǔ， |
深竹暗浮煙。 | 深竹暗浮烟。 | Shī zhú àn fú yān。 |
更有明朝恨， | 更有明朝恨， | Gēng yǒu míng zhāo hèn， |
離杯惜共傳。 | 离杯惜共传。 | Lí bēi xī gòng chuán。 |
Translation Notes
司空曙 | Manage Empty Dawn [=Sikong Shu (720-790)] |
雲陽館與韓紳宿別 | Clouds Sun public-building and/with Fence Tie stay/rest separate/part [Clouds Sun = Yunyang county, is now located in Jingyang county, Shanxi province.], [Public-building = posthouse. In ancient times, the mail carrier and government officials could change their horses and get accommodation and supplies in a posthouse.], [Fence Tie = Han Shen (a name). In some editions, it was written as “韩升卿”（Han Shengqing）], [stay separate = stay overnight then bid farewell] |
| | |
故人江海別， | Old man large-river sea separate [Old man = old friend] |
幾度隔山川。 | How-many?/how-much? degree/manner separate mountain stream |
乍見翻疑夢， | First-time/suddenly/unexpectedly see instead/flip-over/upset/climb-over/cross doubt/question/suspect dream/vision |
相悲各問年。 | Each-other sorrow/grief each ask-about person’s-age |
孤燈寒照雨， | Orphan/solitary lantern/lamp cold/wintry/chilly shine/illuminate rain |
深竹暗浮煙。 | Deep/depth/far/extreme bamboo/flute dark/obscure to-float/drift/waft smoke/fog |
更有明朝恨， | More/still-further have/exist bright morning hatred/dislike/resent [Bright morning = tomorrow morning], [bright morning hatred = tomorrow morning regret/pity = they will part again tomorrow morning.] |
離杯惜共傳。 | Leave/depart/separate cup/glass cherish/pity/regret/rue together-with/all/to-share summon/propagate/transmit |
Year:
2012
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