Qu Yuan (343-278 B.C.)
Propitious day—the early dawn is fine
And pleased—is the ruler up high,
Caressing his lengthy sword in its jaded case,
The lovely sparkles, the sound of glittering jewels,
Sitting on a mat of jade, earrings of jade—
Why not display his beautiful jade?
A feast of fragrant meats
And mats of scented orchid;
The wine is fine—a spicy brew.
They raise their sticks and strike their drums,
A slow beginning to a peaceful song;
The harp displayed—the sound of wind—a big beginning;
The spirits repose in splendid clothes;
Luxury fills the hall in whole;
Musicians match the notes in fine detail—
The Ruler’s in joy and all’s in peace.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation | |
九歌 東皇太一 | 九歌 东皇太一 | jiǔ gē dōng huáng tài yī | |
吉日兮辰良， | 吉日兮辰良， | jí rì xī chén liáng ， | |
穆將愉兮上皇； | 穆将愉兮上皇； | mù jiāng yú xī shàng huáng ; | |
撫長劍兮玉珥， | 抚长剑兮玉珥， | fǔ cháng jiàn xī yù ěr ， | |
璆鏘鳴兮琳瑯； | 璆锵鸣兮琳琅； | qiú qiāng míng xī lín láng ; | |
瑤席兮玉瑱， | 瑶席兮玉瑱， | yáo xí xī yù tiàn ， | |
盍將把兮瓊芳； | 盍将把兮琼芳； | hé jiāng bǎ xī qióng fāng ; | |
蕙肴蒸兮蘭藉， | 蕙肴蒸兮兰藉， | huì yáo zhēng xī lán jiè ， | |
莫桂酒兮椒漿； | 莫桂酒兮椒浆； | mò guì jiǔ xī jiāo jiāng ; | |
揚枹兮拊鼓， | 扬枹兮拊鼓， | yáng bāo xī fǔ gǔ ， | |
疏緩節兮安歌； | 疏缓节兮安歌； | shū huǎn jié xī ān gē ; | |
陳竽瑟兮浩倡； | 陈竽瑟兮浩倡； | chén yú sè xī hào chàng ; | |
靈偃蹇兮姣服， | 灵偃蹇兮姣服， | líng yǎn jiǎn xī jiāo fú ， | |
芳菲菲兮滿堂； | 芳菲菲兮满堂； | fāng fēi fēi xī mǎn táng ; | |
五音兮繁會， | 五音兮繁会， | wǔ yīn xī fán huì ， | |
君欣欣兮樂康。 | 君欣欣兮乐康。 | jūn xīn xīn xī lè kāng。 | |
Translation Notes
Written by Qu Yuan (343-278 B.C.). In the Buddhist Star Sutra, the highest star is located halfway to the south, where the Emperor of Heaven is master of sixteen gods. In Zhuangzi’s (369-286 B.C.) work, The Scroll of Heaven and Earth, he says that “the master of the great beyond becomes a mysterious hero and is the “Highest One.” The temple to the Emperor of Heaven was located in the eastern part of the Chu state (1030-223 B.C.), along with the Chu Emperor, which is why he was called the Supreme Eastern Emperor.
九歌 東皇太一 | Nine Songs Eastern Emperor Highest One |
吉日兮辰良， | Lucky/propitious day ah early-morning good, |
穆將愉兮上皇； | Majestic/solemn general pleased ah highest ruler; |
撫長劍兮玉珥， | Caress long sword ah jade pearl/insert, |
璆鏘鳴兮琳瑯； | Beautiful-jade/tinkle tinkle cry-of-bird ah beautiful-jade white-cornelian; [Beautiful-jade white-cornelian = glittering jewels] |
瑤席兮玉瑱， | Precious-jade mat ah jade earring, |
盍將把兮瓊芳； | Why-not general hold ah jade virtuous/beautiful; |
蕙肴蒸兮蘭藉， | Fragrant meat-dishes steam ah orchid/fragrant mat, |
莫桂酒兮椒漿； | Not cassia wine ah spicy liquid/broth; |
揚枹兮拊鼓， | Raise drumsticks ah strike drum, |
疏緩節兮安歌； | Sparse slow section ah peaceful song; |
陳竽瑟兮浩倡； | Display ancient-woodwind-instrument sound-of-wind ah grand initiate; |
靈偃蹇兮姣服， | Spirits lay-down lame ah beautiful clothes, |
芳菲菲兮滿堂； | Virtuous luxuriant luxuriant ah fill hall; [Fill hall = whole audience] |
五音兮繁會， | Five notes ah complex assemble, |
君欣欣兮樂康。 | Ruler joyous delighted ah happy peaceful. |
Year:
2013
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