TANG POEM TRANSLATION:BREAKING OF DAWN IN SPRING

TANG POEM TRANSLATION:BREAKING OF DAWN IN SPRING

 by                   Meng Haoran (Chinese: 孟浩然)

My translation:

BREAKING OF DAWN IN SPRING

 

Spring, dawn breaks, sleeps unaware;

Chirping of birds are heard everywhere.

Sounds of wind and rain as  night glow;

Petals fall, flowers more or less know.

 

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Meng Haoran (Chinese: 孟浩然) was a popular Tang poet. This poem was recited by all Chinese school children.

 

The literal translation and hanyu pin yin of the poem was copied and paste from the web:

 

春曉( Chūn Xiǎo) Spring Dawn

 

春眠不覺曉 (Chūn mián bù jué xiǎ),[spring] [sleep] [not] [aware] [dawn]

In Spring one sleeps, unaware of dawn;

 

處處聞啼鳥(chùchù wén tíniǎo),[place] [place] [hear] [crow] [bird]

everywhere one hears crowing birds.

 

夜來風雨聲 (Yè lái fēngyǔ sheng)[night] [come] [wind] [rain] [sound]

In the night came the sound of wind and rain;

 

花落知多少 (Huā luò zhī duōshǎo).[flower] [fall] [know] [many] [few]

who knows how many flowers fell

 

 

 

 

CRIMSON SILK THREADED CARPETS〔深红色絲绸地毯〕 DOUBLE TRANSLATION

CRIMSON SILK THREADED CARPETS〔深红色絲绸地毯〕
BY BAI JUYI, TANG DYNASTY POET《红线毯》年代:唐 作者: 白居易

Crimson silk threaded carpets, hands that marveled,
深红色絲绸穿线地毯，惊奇的雙手，
Cocoon, selected and boiled, silk spools unraveled.
蚕茧，揀出和煮沸，絲绸卷軸解开。
Softened, whitened, red and blue dyed, fibers handled.
軟化，更潔白，染成红色與蓝色，纤维处理。
When dyed red, the silk threads were red etched in blue,
當染成红色，絲线被红色蝕刻在蓝色，
Weaved silk into carpet in Chambers for dance retinue.
编織絲绸在地毯，在大堂為一班舞蹈隨從員。
More than thirty meters, the palatial area by measure,
超過三十米，若要估量宫殿區，
These crimson silk threads were hand sewn for full cover.
這些红色絲线是手工缝制充滿色彩。
Multi-coloured and fluffy, with whisk, fragrance exuded,
色彩繁多，毛茸茸，用拂尘，香味發散，
Soft threading, the virtual embroidery and real eluded.
柔軟絲线，虚拟刺绣，真的難倒。
When beauties sing and dance on this velvety carpet,
當美女歌唱和跳舞在這柔綿綿的地毯上，
Silk stocking and embroidered shoes sank with every step.
絲袜和绣花鞋下沉的每一步。
The carpets of Taiyuan, their threads were coarse and hard,
太原地毯，他們的线條粗糙和硬的，
Thin bedding and brocade from Shu, quality, not avant-garde.
淡薄的臥床用品和織錦來自蜀國，質量，不是先進。
In comparison, silk threaded carpet was so warm and supple,
相比而言，絲绸穿线地毯是很温暖而柔軟，
Annually, the tenth lunar month, trade from Xuanzhou, dazzled.
年年，農歷十月，贸易來自宣州，令人眼花缭乱。
Prefect of Xuancheng, to increase production, raised the sledge,
宣城的完善，提高產量，增加雪橇，
As a minister, his call reflected his loyalty to imperial pledge.
作為一位大臣，他呼喚反映了他對帝皇的忠誠。
To carry the load into the palace, a hundred people’s burden.
携带大量進宫，要一百多人的負荷。
The silk carpet could not be rolled, it was thick and abundant.
絲绸地毯不能回滚，它是厚的和重的。
Was the perfect of Xuan Cheng aware of such hardships.?
曾是宣城太守意識到這樣的艱難吗？
Less than a meter of carpet required a thousand silk strips.
不到一米的地毯需要一千絲條。
The floor, ignorant of the cold, that the living required,
地板上，不怕冷，那是生活的所需，
Don’t steal human clothing for the ground to be attired.
不可奪取人的衣物成為范圍的盛装。

CRIMSON SILK THREADED CARPETS BY BAI JUYI, TANG DYNASTY POET.《红线毯》年代:唐 作者: 白居易

After understanding and translating this poem, I am awed struck to buy anything made from silk. Not only the process involved many killing of silk worms, the end products are meant for the very rich and powerful. Luxury items tend to encourage corruption and lavishness in Asia. My purpose is to encourage reading in Chinese Literature, and to promote mutual understanding. Despite my in competency in Chinese, I hope readers will find my translations helpful. The poets and poems are always with the people.

CRIMSON SILK THREADED CARPETS
BY BAI JUYI, TANG DYNASTY POET

Crimson silk threaded carpets, hands that marveled,
Cocoon, selected and boiled, silk spools unraveled.
Softened, whitened, red and blue dyed, fibers handled.
When dyed red, the silk threads were red etched in blue,
Weaved silk into carpet in Chambers for dance retinue.
More than thirty meters, the palatial area by measure,
These crimson silk threads were hand sewn for full cover.
Multi-coloured and fluffy, with whisk, fragrance exuded,
Soft threading, the virtual embroidery and real eluded.
When beauties sing and dance on this velvety carpet,
Silk stocking and embroidered shoes sank with every step.
The carpets of Taiyuan, their threads were coarse and hard,
Thin bedding and brocade from Shu, quality, not avant-garde.
In comparison, silk threaded carpet was so warm and supple,
Annually, the tenth lunar month, trade from Xuanzhou, dazzled.
Prefect of Xuancheng, to increase production, raised the sledge,
As a minister, his call reflected his loyalty to imperial pledge.
To carry the load into the palace, a hundred people’s burden.
The silk carpet could not be rolled, it was thick and abundant.
Was the perfect of Xuan Cheng aware of such hardships?
Less than a meter of carpet required a thousand silk strips.
The floor, ignorant of the cold, that the living required,
Don’t steal human clothing for the ground to be attired.

《红线毯》
年代:唐 作者: 白居易

红线毯，
择茧缫丝清水煮，
拣丝练线红蓝染。
染为红线红于蓝，
织作披香殿上毯。
披香殿广十丈余，
红线织成可殿铺。
彩丝茸茸香拂拂，
线软花虚不胜物。
美人踏上歌舞来，
罗袜绣鞋随步没。
太原毯涩毳缕硬，
蜀都褥薄锦花冷。
不如此毯温且柔，
年年十月来宣州。
宣城太守加样织，
自谓为臣能竭力。
百夫同担进宫中，
线厚丝多卷不得。
宣城太守知不知？
一丈毯，
千两丝！
地不知寒人要暖，
少夺人衣作地衣。

SONG OF PURITY AND PEACE BY LI BAI: A MODERN REINTERPRETATION

SONG OF PURITY AND PEACE BY LI BAI: A MODERN REINTERPRETATION

Under the moon light,

among the jade mountains,

awaiting for her lover’s arrival,

in the terraces of Ferryland.

The cold wind in spring blows,

gently, fallen dew drops,

on the exquisite red peony,

exudes and pervades its fragrance,

mindful of her beautiful face,

moving clouds fancy their dresses,

artful and musically endowed.

The season changes, power shifts,

Her Prince Charming, the Tang Emperor,

rescinds on his love promises, everlasting,

his last gift and act to his loving concubine –

a long white silvery silk to bade her farewell.

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Li Bai  (Tang Dynasty, China) poems are widely taught in schools. The regulated seven character verses, with strict tonal patterns (level and deflected tone), are lost in translation. This reinterpretation, based on his poems of same title, is for the interest of non Chinese educated readers (myself included).

LI BAI , WINE IS NOW SERVED. ( A DOUBLE TRANSLATION)

A few years ago I have translated the above poem from classical Chinese into English. Mdm. Liu May Wong, translated my English into modern Chinese. Please take it as a literary game. The strange admission is I am not Chinese educated, and she is not well versed in English – a kind of “half baked” in our language proficiencies. However, for some readers, it may not be a bad idea to read her “modern” Chinese version, before you read the original, as long as the readers do not have the habit of making comparisons.
In March 2013, Li Bai’s hometown, Jiangu, Sichuan, held a poetry recital of this famous Tang (701 -762 AD) poet. BBC called him “China’s drunken superstar poet”. This post is mainly to arouse interest for some readers, whether Chinese or non Chinese.

WINE WILL BE SERVED
李白将進酒

Have you not seen,
你沒見到,
The downpour into the Yellow River, a heavenly scene,
那傾盆大雨落滴黃河裡，如天堂般的景色,
Its torrent gushes into the ocean,
其洪流湧進茫茫的大海,
And the return stream not reckon.
料想不復流.
(Have you not seen)
(你沒見到)
The weariness in your parents’ white lock
當你的父母衰弱氣塞,
A clear reflection of aging in shock.
老化休克是明顯的反映.
At the dawn of life, as black as silk,
在生命的開端，如黑如絲，
shines at dusk, shows snowy lines.
閃耀在黃昏，顯示雪域行
When happy opportunities appear,
當快樂時機來臨,
Fulfill them here and dear,
滿足他們盡情歡樂,
Do not let our golden cups emptied of wine
別讓我們的金杯無酒空對月
Under such bright moonshine.
多麼明朗的月光下.
The talent I am blissfully endowed
天賜天賦我幸福
My skill will facilitate what I have avowed
我的技能促進我承認
A thousand teals of gold may be squandered,
費盡黃金千兩,
Its value, in kinds and ways, will be recovered
其價值，在種類和方式將復來.
Gastronomical delight of beef and lamb is served
宰牛烹羊的佳餚為款客，
A binge of three hundred cups will be observed.
三百杯子歡鬧儀式將舉行.
To Master Cen,
向岑大師，
To Scholar Dangiu,
向丹丘學者,
Wine is now served
美酒在招待,
Do not be reserved
別含蓄，
I shall sing to both soon
我快将歌唱
Attentively, your ears,
請君側耳傾聽，
Attune palatial music, fine cuisine, is not grand
調絃富麗堂皇的音樂, 精美菜餚, 不是盛大,
Wish we are forever drunk and in dreamland
希望大家喝醉永遠在夢境裡.
In ancient times, lonely sages are not remembered
在古代, 記不清幾多聖賢皆寂寞，
Only wine drinkers have their names sculptured.
只有喝酒醉翁雕塑他們的盛名.
In the past, Prince Chen held a grand banquet in his palace
在往時，陳王子在他的宮殿舉行盛大的宴會,
In pursuit of hedonistic indulgence par excellence,
沉迷追求卓越的享樂,
At a cost of ten thousand silver pieces
丟掉白銀萬兩
For a mere dipperful of wine dashes
僅是為一群酒友
As your host, money is never in doubt
作為主人，金錢是毫無疑問的.
To procure more wine for our bout.
採購更多的酒為大家的較量,
My spotted horse and fur worth a thousand
我的斑點馬兒和毛皮價值白銀一千兩,
My son to trade and buy wine on errand
我的兒子是貿易和購酒的差使.
Together we shall drown away
我們的沉迷齊齊將消失
The million miseries of bygone days.
昔日百萬苦難的日子.