Translation
Wang Wei (701-761) | 王維 |
A Reply to Minor Treasurer Zhang | 酬張少府 |
In the evening of our years we’re fond of quiet calm: | 晚年 惟好靜 |
A thousand things do not concern our soul. | 萬事 不關心 |
Attending to ourselves, not making constant plans, | 自顧 無長策 |
Aware of leisure— returning to the ancient woods. | 空知 返舊林 |
The pines, the wind, a breeze that loosens my belt— | 松風 吹解帶 |
The mountains, a moon that shines—I play the lute. | 山月 照彈琴 |
Sir, you ask how I manage poverty: | 君問 窮通理 |
But a fishing song goes deep to the river’s shore. | 漁歌 入浦深 |
Notes:
1. This poem reveals the poet’s mood in his later years. The 3rd/4th line showed his dissatisfaction about the imperial policies.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
王維 | 王维 | Wáng Wéi |
酬張少府 | 酬张少府 | Chóu zhāng shào fǔ |
晚年惟好靜， | 晚年惟好静， | Wǎn nián wéi hào jìng, |
萬事不關心。 | 万事不关心。 | Wàn shì bù guān xīn. |
自顧無長策， | 自顾无长策， | Zì gù wú cháng cè, |
空知返舊林。 | 空知返旧林。 | Kōng zhī fǎn jiù lín. |
松風吹解帶， | 松风吹解带， | Sōng fēng chuī jiě dài, |
山月照彈琴。 | 山月照弹琴。 | Shān yuè zhào tán qín. |
君問窮通理， | 君问穷通理， | Jūn wèn qióng tōng lǐ, |
漁歌入浦深。 | 渔歌入浦深。 | Yú gē rù pǔ shēn. |
Literal Translation
王維 | King/ruler Maintain/preserve = Wang Wei (701-761) |
酬張少府 | Repay/toast/return/reward/compensate/entertain Zhang Junior Governor [Repay/toast/return/reward/compensate/entertain=use a poem to answer], [Junior Governor=Shaofu, Minor Treasurer, the title of a local deputy governor] |
晚年惟好靜， | Evening/night/late years/age only fond-of/prone-to/good-to/easy-to quiet/peaceful/still/calm/quiet [Evening years = one’s later years] |
萬事不關心。 | Thousands matter/thing/item/work/affair not concern/involve/close/relation heart/mind/soul [Thousands matter/thing/item/work/affair = all things], [concern/involve heart/mind=care for something, caring, concerned] |
自顧無長策， | Self/from/since attend-to/look-after/take-into-consideration no/look-back/look-to long/always/forever/constantly/length plan/scheme/policy |
空知返舊林。 | Vacant/empty/unoccupied/space/leisure/free-time know/aware-of return-to old/ancient forest/woods |
松風吹解帶， | Pine-tree/fir-tree wind blow/blast/puff loosen/untie/remove belt/girdle [loosen/untie/remove belt/girdle = loosen the belt/girdle, hinting the poet was at leisure.] |
山月照彈琴。 | Mountain moon illuminate/shine/reflect play/strum lute/stringed-instrument/Chinese-lute-or-guitar |
君問窮通理， | Gentleman/lord/monarch ask-about/inquire-after exhausted/poor/destitute/impoverished know-well/go-through/pass-through/communicate reason/logic/truth/manage |
漁歌入浦深。 | Fisherman/to-fish/seize/pursue song/to-sing/lyrics enter/go-into/join riverbank/shore deep/depth/profound |
Year:
2012
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