Inscribed in the temple of the wandering genie

I face, high over this enchanted lodge, the Court of the Five Cities of Heaven,
And I see a countryside blue and still, after the long rain.
The distant peaks and trees of Ch'in merge into twilight,
And Han Palace washing-stones make their autumnal echoes.
Thin pine-shadows brush the outdoor pulpit,
And grasses blow their fragrance into my little cave.
...Who need be craving a world beyond this one?
Here, among men, are the Purple Hills! 

Original Poem:

「同题仙游观」
仙台初见五城楼，风物凄凄宿雨收。
山色遥连秦树晚，砧声近报汉宫秋。
疏松影落空坛静，细草香闲小洞幽。
何用别寻方外去，人间亦自有丹丘。

韩翃

Interpretation:

Xianyou Guan(the temple of the wandering genie) is located in Shaanxi’s Easy Valley, where the Taoist Pan Shizheng lived, and Tang Emperor Gaozong ordered to build a Guan for him, and set up a gate at the entrance of the valley, saying “Xianyou”. This is a poem of travelling, through the artistic reproduction of the scenery, highlighting the quietness and seclusion, expressing the poet’s state of mind and the idea of retreat.

The first line of the poem explains the time and place of the tour and points out the theme of the tour. The first line both explains the location and praises Xianyouguan, saying that it is like the five cities and twelve buildings built by the Yellow Emperor to welcome the gods in the legend. The comparison with the five city buildings is very suitable for the characteristics of a Taoist temple, and it also adds some mysterious and cultural colours to Xianyouguan. The second line writes about the feeling of entering Xianyouguan, and at the same time explains that the time of the tour is the autumn of depression and coldness. The poet writes, last night under the night rain has stopped, the rain has cleared, XianYouGuan around the scenery scenery gives a person a sense of bleakness. Jaw write XianYouGuan outside the scenery, when autumn, the poet by the sight and hearing, from near to far, from far to near to depict. From the Songshan mountain hill think of the capital Chang’an location of the Qinzhong tree scene; by hearing the anvil sound, and think of the capital of Luoyang’s autumn colours. In one line, there are virtual and real, near and far; in one line, far and near are intertwined. The neck line is back to the temple, writing about the ancient pine trees falling on the silent altar, the courtyard grass is not yet yellow, the aroma can be heard, the cave in the Taoist temple is more secluded and silent. The poet first writes about the quietness of the high “empty altar”, and then writes about the seclusion of the low “small hole”, focusing on describing the quietness and seclusion in the view, showing the characteristics of the Taoist temple, pointing out that this is the Taoist priests’ residence. The last line praises such a quiet place is the immortal residence of the Danqiu wonderful place, do not have to go looking for other places, which is the praise of Xianyou Guan. It is written in an interesting way and echoes the first line.

Although there is no deep meaning in the whole poem, the dialogue is exquisite, the rhyme is harmonious, and the language is beautiful and beautiful. The poem is written in a very detailed style, highlighting the scenery around the kwan, highlighting the quietness and seclusion, and expressing heartfelt admiration for this fairyland on earth.

About Author:

Han hong (韩翃), whose date of birth and death is unknown, was a native of Nanyang (present-day Nanyang, Henan). In 754 A.D., Han hong was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree, and worked in the office of Hou Xiyi, then lived in Chang’an for ten years. In 780 AD, he was promoted to the post of “Gaobu Langzhong” (驾部郎中) and “Zhiqun” (知制诰) in the Ministry of Transportation, and then to the post of “Zhongshu Sheyan” (中書舍人). Han hong was one of the “Ten Scholarly Men of the Dali Dynasty”, and his poems were written in a light style, with chic landscapes, and most of the subjects were farewell songs and harmonies.

Poem translator:

Kiang Kanghu