On the third day of the Third-month in the freshening weather
Many beauties take the air by the Changan waterfront,
Receptive, aloof, sweet-mannered, sincere,
With soft fine skin and well-balanced bone.
Their embroidered silk robes in the spring sun are gleaming --
With a mass of golden peacocks and silver unicorns.
And hanging far down from their temples
Are blue leaves of delicate kingfisher feathers.
And following behind them
Is a pearl-laden train, rhythmic with bearers.
Some of them are kindred to the Royal House --
The titled Princesses Guo and Qin.
Red camel-humps are brought them from jade broilers,
And sweet fish is ordered them on crystal trays.
Though their food-sticks of unicorn-horn are lifted languidly
And the finely wrought phoenix carving-knife is very little used,
Fleet horses from the Yellow Gate, stirring no dust,
Bring precious dishes constantly from the imperial kitchen.
...While a solemn sound of flutes and drums invokes gods and spirits,
Guests and courtiers gather, all of high rank;
And finally, riding slow, a dignified horseman
Dismounts at the pavilion on an embroidered rug.
In a snow of flying willow-cotton whitening the duckweed,
Bluebirds find their way with vermilion handkerchiefs --
But power can be as hot as flame and burn people's fingers.
Be wary of the Premier, watch for his frown.
Original Poem:
「丽人行」
杜甫
三月三日天气新， 长安水边多丽人。
态浓意远淑且真， 肌理细腻骨肉匀。
绣罗衣裳照暮春， 蹙金孔雀银麒麟。
头上何所有？ 翠微盍叶垂鬓唇。
背后何所见？ 珠压腰衱稳称身。
就中云幕椒房亲， 赐名大国虢与秦。
紫驼之峰出翠釜， 水精之盘行素鳞。
犀箸餍饫久未下， 鸾刀缕切空纷纶。
黄门飞鞚不动尘， 御厨络绎送八珍。
箫鼓哀吟感鬼神， 宾从杂遝实要津。
后来鞍马何逡巡？ 当轩下马入锦茵。
杨花雪落覆白苹， 青鸟飞去衔红巾。
炙手可热势绝伦， 慎莫近前丞相嗔。
Interpretation:
This poem is a mockery of Yang Guifei’s brother and sister’s extravagance and lechery.
The poem is divided into three sections. For the first paragraph, the general write March 3, Chang’an Qujiang River side of the spring tour of the women’s beautiful. At the beginning of the general writing on the day, Chang’an waterfront “more beautiful people” out of the spring. The second write posture: beautiful and elegant, and not pretentious. Third, the physical appearance: white skin, fine, well-proportioned body. Fourth, clothing: wearing embroidered gold peacock, silver unicorn silk clothes, in the spring sunshine in the light. Five write head jade flower ornaments and back full of jewels of the belt. This generalized writing for the following introduction of Yang’s siblings to pave the way.
The second paragraph of the Yang Guifei sister Qin, Mrs. Guo’s extravagance. Because of the above has been written very beautiful physical appearance of the dress, this paragraph is from the food and carriage of luxury into. Their tableware is “crystal plate”, food is “hump meat”, because the taste of poor land and water, wasteful, full of anorexia, the imperial chef had to work for a while. This is because Tang Xuanzong on Yang Guifei favor, mediocrity and licentiousness, and constantly send people to send the eight treasures. And then write their spring tour of the illustrious: xiao drums, the sound of the tone; tend to the power of the many, filling the main road. This is a specific depiction of the three ladies of Yang’s extravagance.
The third paragraph writes about the prestige of Yang Guozhong. He was big, escorted a lot, when Xuan horse, arrogance, no etiquette, directly into the noblewoman feast rest pavilion, regardless of men and women, brother and sister suspicion. And and Mrs. Guo Guo eye to eye, pass the affair. Really hot power, incomparable. The last sentence to “careful not close to the front” to persuade everyone not to come close to the onlookers, otherwise Yang Guozhong’s privacy is exposed, he will be angry and chastisement! This reversal reveals Yang Guozhong’s arrogance and lechery!
The whole poem is objective, bright and colorful, with the image of speech, although not a sarcastic language, but every sentence in the ridicule. Or rhetorical sarcasm, or positive condemnation, or metaphorical innuendo, a powerful attack on the Chinese feudal society to the imperial power as the center of the privileged group of extravagant life.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet:
Du Fu (杜甫), 712 – 770 AD, was a great poet of the Tang Dynasty, known as the “Sage of Poetry”. Born into a declining bureaucratic family, Du Fu had a rough life, and his turbulent and dislocated life made him keenly aware of the plight of the masses. Therefore, his poems were always closely related to the current affairs, reflecting the social life of that era in a more comprehensive way, with profound thoughts and a broad realm. In his poetic art, he was able to combine many styles, forming a unique style of “profound and thick”, and becoming a great realist poet in the history of China.
