Translation
|
Meng Haoran (689-740)
|
孟浩然
|
|
On Purifying the
Tombstones Day,
A Banquet at the House of Mei, Daoist Priest
|
清明日
宴梅道士房
|
|
|
|
|
Reclining in the woods,
I fret on the end of spring,
|
林臥
愁春盡
|
|
So I open the balcony
to view its magnificence.
|
開軒
覽物華
|
|
Suddenly I come across
a bluebird, a messenger,
|
忽逢
青鳥使
|
|
Inviting me into
the home of Mr. Red
Pine. |
邀入
赤松家
|
|
His furnace is red
with starting fire,
|
丹灶
初開火
|
|
While the Immortal
Peach,
just then, begins to give its fruit.
|
仙桃
正發花
|
|
If youthful colors
could remain,
|
童顏
若可駐
|
|
Why begrudge
a drink of Flowing
Red Clouds? |
何惜
醉流霞
|
Interpretive Notes
This poem is set on Qingming Day, a festival to sweep
the tombstones and honor the dead. It occurs on the 104th day after
the winter solstice, the 15th day after the spring equinox.
the tombstones and honor the dead. It occurs on the 104th day after
the winter solstice, the 15th day after the spring equinox.
There is a contrast between the youthful,
vibrant colors of spring and the tombstones of the dead. This can be
personalized as well to the poet thinking of his lost youth, especially in the
last two verses.
vibrant colors of spring and the tombstones of the dead. This can be
personalized as well to the poet thinking of his lost youth, especially in the
last two verses.
Mr. Red Pine
refers to a legendary Daoist Immortal, here associated with the host, Daoist
Priest Mei. The Immortal Peach is a
legendary fruit that comes out only once every 3,000 years. Flowing Red Clouds is the name of an
immortal wine.
refers to a legendary Daoist Immortal, here associated with the host, Daoist
Priest Mei. The Immortal Peach is a
legendary fruit that comes out only once every 3,000 years. Flowing Red Clouds is the name of an
immortal wine.
Original Chinese
|
Traditional
|
Simplified
|
Pronunciation
|
|
|
|
|
|
孟浩然
|
孟浩然
|
Mèng Hào Rán
|
|
清明日宴梅道士房
|
清明日宴梅道士房
|
Qīng míng rì yàn méi dào shì fang
|
|
|
|
|
|
林臥愁春盡，
|
林卧愁春尽，
|
Lín wò chóu chūn jǐn,
|
|
開軒覽物華。
|
开轩览物华。
|
Kāi xuān lǎn wù huá.
|
|
忽逢青鳥使，
|
忽逢青鸟使，
|
Hū féng qīng niǎo shǐ,
|
|
邀入赤松家。
|
邀入赤松家。
|
Yāo rù chì sōng jiā.
|
|
丹灶初開火，
|
丹灶初开火，
|
Dān zào chū kāi huǒ,
|
|
仙桃正發花。
|
仙桃正发花。
|
Xian táo zhèng fā huā.
|
|
童顏若可駐，
|
童颜若可驻，
|
Tóng yán ruò kě zhù,
|
|
何惜醉流霞。
|
何惜醉流霞。
|
Hé xī zuì liú xiá.
|
Literal Notes
|
孟浩然
|
Elder-brother/first Grand/great Shape/pledge=Meng
Haoran(689-740) |
|
清明日宴梅道士房
|
Qing/clear/pure/clean Ming/bright/brilliant/clear Day
feast/repose/banquet Mei/plums Daoist/Path Priest/scholar/gentleman house/room |
|
|
[Qing Ming Day=Qingming Festival, a tomb-sweeping day.]
|
|
林臥愁春盡，
|
Woods/forest/grove lie/crouch worry-about/anxious spring/joyful/gay/youthful/love/life/lust/wanton
end/finish/exhaust/use-up/deplete |
|
開軒覽物華。
|
Open/initiate/begin/start curtained-carriage/pavilion-with-a-view/balcony/wide/tall
to-view/look-at/inspect/perceive thing/object/matter/substance magnificent/splendid/flowery/illustrious |
|
忽逢青鳥使，
|
Suddenly/abruptly/overlook/neglect come-across/meet-by-chance
blue-or-green bird envoy/messenger
[blue-or-green bird= in the fairy tale, it is the
messenger of the West Goddess.] |
|
邀入赤松家。
|
To-invite/request/welcome/meet
enter/go-into/join/become-a-member-of/confirm-with/agree-with Red/scarlet Pine-tree/fir/tree home
[Red/scarlet Pine-tree=Mr. Red Pine, a legendary immortal.
Here also refers to Priest Mei.] |
|
丹灶初開火，
|
Pellet/cinnabar/powder/red/vermilion furnace/kitchen-stove
at-the-beginning/at-first/beginning start/turn-on fire/flame |
|
仙桃正發花。
|
Immortal Peach just/at-the-moment issue/dispatch/send-out/develop
blossoms
[Immortal Peach= The West Goddess grows the immortal
peaches in her garden. They only give fruit once every 3,000 years and are regarded as an elixir.] |
|
童顏若可駐，
|
Child/boy face/color/countenance if/as/seem can/
may/able-to/permit/to-suit/certainly/very/approve to-stay/halt/to-be-stationed/reside |
|
何惜醉流霞。
|
Why/what/how/which regret/pity/to-rue/begrudge intoxicated/drunk
flow/move/drift/spread red-cloud/rosy-clouds
[flow red-cloud = Flowing Red Clouds, an immortal wine’s
name] |
|
|
|