Last night, while a gust blew peach-petals open
And the moon shone high on the Palace Beyond Time,
The Emperor gave Pingyang, for her dancing,
Brocades against the cold spring-wind.
Original Poem:
「春宫怨」
王昌龄
昨夜风开露井桃，未央前殿月轮高。
平阳歌舞新承宠，帘外春寒赐锦袍。
Interpretation:
This poem is a satirical poem, although it is explicitly written that Emperor Wu favored his new lover and disliked his old one, in fact, it is a metaphor for Emperor Tang Minghuang, who favored Yang Yuhuan exclusively and stayed in the palace all day long without caring about the affairs of the state.
In the first two lines of this poem, adhering to Wang Changling’s usual characteristic of blending imagery with feelings, the Weiyang Palace, where he used to feast, has become the favored place of the newcomer. The high moon is not only realistic, but also expresses a kind of envy and despondency that is unattainable and unattainable.
Wei Zifu was originally a songstress in Princess Pingyang’s family, but because of her beauty and dance, she was favored by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and was called into the palace, where she was greatly favored. In the peach and plum fragrance of the spring season, give brocade robe is purely superfluous concern, this seemingly boring move precisely into the wood portrays the disfavored courtesan on the favored newcomer’s resentment. At the same time, also profoundly reveals the emperor ignore the affairs of state all day, indulging in the palace between the extreme desolation.
This poem seems to have no grudge, grudge to deep, seemingly no hate, hate to long. Irony without vulgarity, ridicule without revealing, and deeply get the three flavors of poets.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet:
Wang Changling (王昌龄), circa A.D. 690 – 756, was a native of Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. Wang Changling’s poems were mostly about the Border Places, love affairs and farewells, and he was well known during his lifetime. His seven poems are equal to those of Li Bai, and he is known as the “Master of seven lines”.
