This is a translation of the Chinese poem 驅車上東門 (Qū chē shàng dōng mén), from the Han dynasty collection 古試十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems).

驅車上東門 qū chē shàng dōng mén [drive] [chariot] [upper] [east] [gate] I drive my chariot to the upper east gate,

遙望郭北墓 yáo wàng guō běi mù [distant] [gaze] [city wall] [north] [tombs] and gaze at the tombs beyond the northern city wall.

白楊何蕭蕭 bái yáng hé xiāo xiāo [white] [poplar] [how] [desolate] [desolate] How desolate the white poplars are.

松柏夾廣路 sōng bǎi jiá guǎng lù [pines] [cypress] [lined] [spread] [road] The pines and cypress lined out down the road,

下有陳死人 xià yǒu chén sǐ rén [below] [has] [old] [dead] [people] and below are the ancient dead.

杳杳即長暮 yǎo yǎo jí zhǎng mù [dark] [dark] [and] [long] [evening] It’s deepest black in their endless night,

潛寐黃泉下 qián mèi huáng quán xià [submerge] [sleep] [yellow] [spring] [below] as they sleep submerged in the yellow fountains.

千載永不寤 qiān zǎi yǒng bù wù [thousand] [year] [forever] [not] [awake] They will never wake in a thousand years,

浩浩陰陽移 hào hào yīn yáng yí [vast] [vast] [positive] [negative] [shift] through vast changes in forces positive and negative forces.

年命如朝露 nián mìng rú zhāo lù [year] [fate] [like] [morning] [dew] The years fate grants us are but morning dew -

人生忽如寄 rén shēng hū rú jì [man] [life] [suddenly] [like] [reside] the life of men is but a brief residence.

壽無金石固 shòu wú jīn shí gù [longevity] [not have] [metal] [stone] [certain] Long life has not the certainty of metal and stone,

萬歲更相送 wàn suì gèng xiāng sòng [ten thousand] [year] [more] [each other] [see off] as another ten thousand years are sent on their way.

賢聖莫能度 xián shèng mò néng dù [wise] [sage] [none who] [can] [limit] Of the wise and the sage, there are none who can hold it back.

服食求神仙 fú shí qiú shénxiān [take medicine] [food] [seek] [spirit] [immortal] In medicine and food, some seek immortality,

多為要所誤 duō wèi yào suǒ wù [many] [do] [will] [that which] [harm] but in this way many end up poisoned.

不如飲美酒 bù rú yǐn měi jiǔ [not] [as] [drink] [beautiful] [wine] Far better to drink exquisite wines,

被服紈與素 bèi fú wán yǔ sù [cover] [garment] [white silk] [and] [plain] and be clothed in plain white silk.

Relevant books

• Chinese Lyricism (Burton Watson) – has a lot of quality translations and analysis.
• Popular Songs and Ballads of Han China (Anne Birrell) – more general insight into verse from this period.

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[Home](../) > [Articles](../articles/) > [Literary](../china/cn-literary/) > [China](../china/) > [Translations](../china/cn-literary/lzh-translations/) > 東城高且長 translation – The Eastern Wall is High and Long 東城高且長 translation – The Eastern Wall is High and Long Last updated on Tuesday 21st December 2010 at 11:31 This is a translation of the Chinese poem 東城高且長 (Dōng chéng gāo qiě cháng), the eleventh poem in the Han dynasty collection 古詩十九首 (Nineteen Old Poems). 東城高且長 東城高且長 逶迤自相屬 迴風動地起 秋草萋已綠 四時更變化 歲暮一何速 晨風懷苦心 蟋蟀傷局促 蕩滌放情志 何為自結束 燕趙多佳人 美者顏如玉 被服羅裳衣 當戶理清曲 音響一何悲 絲急知柱促 馳情整中帶 沉吟聊躑躅 思為雙飛燕 銜泥巢君屋 The Eastern Wall is High and Long The Eastern wall is high and long, snaking, winding, rejoining itself. The turning wind shakes the earth and lifts it, as the fragrant Autumn grasses lose their colour. The four seasons change endlessly - how quickly the year ends! The falcon harbours a bitter heart, and the crickets suffer from being cramped. Cleanse yourself, set your emotions free - why restrain yourself and hold back? There are many exquisite women in Yan and Zhao, the beautiful ones elegant like jade. The clothing that covers her is fine latticed silk, as she stands in the house composing a clear melody. How mournful is the sound - the strings are tense, the bridge is pressured. A rush of emotion, she adjusts her composure, * deep in thought, humming meditation. In thought we are a pair of flying swallows - let’s take mud and build a nest under your roof. _* Literally this line is ‘she adjusts her belt’_ Relevant books Chinese Lyricism (Burton Watson) – has a lot of quality translations and analysis. Popular Songs and Ballads of Han China (Anne Birrell) – more general insight into verse from this period.