Her robe is a cloud, her face a Ro wer;
Her balcony, glimmering with the bright spring dew,
Is either the tip of earth's Jade Mountain
Or a moon-edged roof of paradise.
Original Poem:
「清平调 · 其一」
李白
云想衣裳花想容，春风拂槛露华浓。
若非群玉山头见，会向瑶台月下逢。
Interpretation:
This poem praises the beauty of Yang Guifei. In the first line, two metaphors are used to compare the beauty of Yang Guifei’s dress with that of white clouds and peonies. In the poem, Tang Xuanzong’s favourite “famous flower” and his “beloved consort” are cleverly linked: the colourful clouds in the sky are like your consort’s neon dress, and the delicate peonies in front of you are just like your consort’s face.
In the bright spring breeze, under the threshold of the pavilion, that magnificent and glowing peony, displaying the wonderful handiwork of the Creator, made Emperor Tang Xuanzong’s mind fascinated whether it was the blossoming peony or the beauty that looked like a heavenly fairy. Is it the blossoming peony or the beauty that looks like a celestial being that fascinates Tang Xuanzong, or are the two complementary and comparable to each other? Then the poet releases his brushwork and moves away from the actual scene in front of his eyes, converting it into the heavenly fairyland, saying that such a beautiful woman like a heavenly fairy should only be encountered in the heavenly fairyland of Yaodai, if she is not seen in Qunyushan. The implication is that this rare event, i.e. “enjoying the famous flowers and the love of the princess”, brings great sensory enjoyment and spiritual beauty, which is beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
The poet compares Yang Guifei to the delicate peony, and to the heavenly maiden of Yaochi, who descends to the earth in splendour.
Poem translator:
Kiang Kanghu
About the poet:
Li Bai (李白), 701 ~ 762 A.D., whose ancestral home was in Gansu, was preceded by Li Guang, a general of the Han Dynasty. Tang poetry is one of the brightest constellations in the history of Chinese literature, and one of the brightest stars is Li Bai.
