East Asia Student

Random Stuff Related to East Asia

Classical Chinese

049 李頎 琴歌 translation: Zither Song, by Lǐ Qí

This is a translation and annotation of the poem 琴歌 (Qín Gē), “Zither Song”, by the Tang dynasty poet 李頎 (Lǐ Qí). The poem is #049 in the collection 300 Tang Poems.

琴歌 Qín Gē [zither] [song] Zither Song

主人有酒歡今夕， zhǔ rén yǒu jiǔ huān jīn xī [host] [person] [have] [wine] [enjoy] [now] [evening] The host has wine to enjoy this evening;

請奏鳴琴廣陵客。 qǐng zòu míng qín guǎng líng kè [invite] [play] [sound] [zither] [Guangling] [guest] inviting to play the zither a guest from Guangling.

月照城頭烏半飛， yuè zhào chéng tóu wū bàn fēi [moon] [shine] [city] [head] [crow] [half] [fly] The moon shines on ramparts, crows mid flight; 城頭

霜淒萬樹風入衣。 shuāng qī wàn shù fēng rù yī [frost] [bleak] [ten-thousand] [tree] [wind] [enter] [clothes] frost bleakens ten thousand trees, wind enters clothing.

銅鑪華燭燭增輝， tóng lú huá zhú zhú zēng huī [bronze] [brazier] [splendid] [candle] [candle] [increase] [brilliance] Copper braziers, splendid candles &em; candles add brilliance;

初彈淥水後楚妃。 chū tán lù shuǐ hòu chǔ fēi [first] [play] [clear] [water] [after] [Chu] [concubine] first playing _Limpid Water_, then _Chu Concubine_;

一聲已動物皆靜， yī shēng yǐ dòng wù jiē jìng [one] [sound] [already] [move] [thing] [all] [quiet] When one sound has stirred, all things fall silent;

四座無言星欲稀。 sì zuò wú yán xīng yù xī [four] [seat] [no] [speech] [star] [will] [sparse] Those on four sides seated, unspeaking &em; the stars about to fade; 四座 means the whole audience or all those present.

清淮奉使千餘里， qīng huái fèng shǐ qiān yú lǐ [clear] [Huai] [serve] [mission] [thousand] [excess] [mile] By the clear River Huai, serving a mission of a thousand _li_ and more; 奉使 means “envoy”.

敢告雲山從此始。 gǎn gào yún shān cóng cǐ shǐ [dare] [tell] [cloud] [mountain] [from] [here] [begin] one dares tell of clouds and mountains &em; from here it begins. 雲山 means a secluded place or a life of seclusion.


Contact me: mhg@eastasiastudent.net

Tags