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Spring Palace Song, Wang Changling (Tang Shi #266)
Thursday, 18 July 2019 10:38Last night, the breezes opened peach blooms by the well—
Before Lord Weiyang’s chambers the full moon was high.
A Pingyang song and dance: a new concubine found favor—
Spring chill outside: his highness bestowed a brocade robe.
春宫曲
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。
The Spring Palace is the Crown Prince’s residence. This uses an incident from the Han dynasty, in which a singer became an imperial concubine and eventually displaced the empress, to criticize the Tang Emperor Xuanzong’s similar elevation of Yang Yuhuan (see previous post). The historical singer was part of the household of the Pingyang Princess, and she was brought to the attention of Han Emperor Wu by the princess’s husband, Weiyang.
Lost in translation: the chill is outside a curtain. I don’t understand the significance of the well—possibly suggestive of a courtyard?
---L.
Before Lord Weiyang’s chambers the full moon was high.
A Pingyang song and dance: a new concubine found favor—
Spring chill outside: his highness bestowed a brocade robe.
春宫曲
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。
The Spring Palace is the Crown Prince’s residence. This uses an incident from the Han dynasty, in which a singer became an imperial concubine and eventually displaced the empress, to criticize the Tang Emperor Xuanzong’s similar elevation of Yang Yuhuan (see previous post). The historical singer was part of the household of the Pingyang Princess, and she was brought to the attention of Han Emperor Wu by the princess’s husband, Weiyang.
Lost in translation: the chill is outside a curtain. I don’t understand the significance of the well—possibly suggestive of a courtyard?
---L.