Where is the temple of the famous Premier? --
In a deep pine grove near the City of Silk,
With the green grass of spring colouring the steps,
And birds chirping happily under the leaves.
...The third summons weighted him with affairs of state
And to two generations he gave his true heart,
But before he could conquer, he was dead;
And heroes have wept on their coats ever since.
Original Poem:
「蜀相」
杜甫
丞相祠堂何处寻? 锦官城外柏森森,
映阶碧草自春色, 隔叶黄鹂空好音。
三顾频烦天下计, 两朝开济老臣心。
出师未捷身先死, 长使英雄泪满襟。
Interpretation:
This poem was written in the spring of 760 A.D. when Du Fu first came to Chengdu to visit the ancestral hall of Zhuge Liang, expressing the poet's reverence for Zhuge Liang's talent, wisdom and virtue and his feelings about the failure of his career.
The first two lines: Where to find the shrine of Wuhou Zhuge Liang? Outside the city of Chengdu, where the cypress trees are thick.
The poet starts the poem with a self-answer, pointing out the location of the Wuhou Ancestral Hall in the southern suburb outside the Jin Guan City, and indicating that the trip is a purposeful visit, not a careless stroll. Then write the exterior of the Prime Minister's ancestral hall, rendering a quiet, solemn atmosphere.
The third and fourth lines: the blue grass reflects the stone steps, but it is the color of spring; the oriole across the leaves, but it is also empty for good sound.
These scenes depicted, colorful, calm and natural, infinitely wonderful performance of the Wuhou Ancestral Temple in the spring scene. However, the spring of nature has come, but the hope of national rejuvenation is very slim. Thinking of this, the poet can not help but produce another feeling of sadness and despair.
The fifth and sixth lines: Liu Bei for the unification of the world and three visits to the Cottage, asked Zhuge Liang, auxiliary two generations of monarchs of the old minister loyalty.
This is the Zhuge Liang's achievements, write Zhuge Liang's great talent and his dedication and dedication to the spirit.
The last two lines: it is a pity that the division to conquer Wei has not yet achieved the final victory on the first death, often make future generations of heroes emotional tears wet lapel!
Poet in sighing, after the feeling: like such a loyal people to serve the country has not accomplished the great cause of death, so that future generations of heroes and heroines feel sorry, sadness and tears.
The whole poem is solemn, somber and sad, fully expresses the poet's admiration for Zhu Geliang and the regret that he died before the division was successful.
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.