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Poems of an Afterlife Encounter, Palace Concubines
Tuesday, 29 November 2022 07:57Consort Jīng: precious immortal
How could I not meet someone who’d speak with this one?
—This one within the long night, never knowing spring.
For since the realm was ruined and the people scattered,
Even on Mt. Long, the fragrant grass grows fresh.
Madam Zhang: brilliant realm
Don’t speak of the world of mortals—I hate yearning so.
And more, this honored guest: we must deal with each other.
Even if within the hall there’s thousands of tunes,
Do not on reaching the warmth of spring one ballad sing.
Concubine Jǐng: hibiscus flower
The hidden valley’s withered flowers are like this one’s life.
Even if bearing amorous feelings, I’ll vent without cause.
I’ve much affection for Noble Son—might he visit me?
I must let loose returning winds that briefly borrowed spring.
Kind feelings are not yet enough—the dawn light hastens;
The several sprays of sleeping buds have not yet opened.
Although I envy one or two of those gold bracelets,
I must obey the mortal world and leave for the future.
冥㑹诗
作者：宫嫔
争不逢人话此身，
此身长夜不知春。
自从国破家亡后，
陇上惟添芳草新。
〈京昭仪宝仙〉
休说人间恨恋多，
况逢佳客此相过。
堂中纵有千般乐，
争及阳春一曲歌。
〈张夫人华国〉
幽谷穷花似妾身，
纵怀香艳吐无因。
多情公子能相访，
应解回风暂借春。
〈景才人舜英〉
恩情未足晓光催，
数朵眠花未得开。
却羡一双金扼臂，
得随人世出将来。
Ah, headnote, I hardly knew ye. An ascription for the last poem would also be nice, not to mention an explanation of the topics(?) after the ascriptions we do get.
Consort Jīng (京) has the title for a high-but-not-highest ranking imperial concubine, while Concubine Jǐng (景) has a lower-ranked imperial concubine title. (I’ve found no historical record of either of them.) Madam Zhang OTOH is a Mrs., a wife to someone not royal/noble—so again N high + 1 lower status. Based on other “afterworld encounters,” I would expect the last poem to be by a living person, which its content supports, possibly a man who has just slept with one or more of the concubines. Or maybe, just to be original, a woman—thus the bracelet envy.
Mt. Long is in eastern Gansu, at the border with Shaanxi.
---L.
How could I not meet someone who’d speak with this one?
—This one within the long night, never knowing spring.
For since the realm was ruined and the people scattered,
Even on Mt. Long, the fragrant grass grows fresh.
Madam Zhang: brilliant realm
Don’t speak of the world of mortals—I hate yearning so.
And more, this honored guest: we must deal with each other.
Even if within the hall there’s thousands of tunes,
Do not on reaching the warmth of spring one ballad sing.
Concubine Jǐng: hibiscus flower
The hidden valley’s withered flowers are like this one’s life.
Even if bearing amorous feelings, I’ll vent without cause.
I’ve much affection for Noble Son—might he visit me?
I must let loose returning winds that briefly borrowed spring.
Kind feelings are not yet enough—the dawn light hastens;
The several sprays of sleeping buds have not yet opened.
Although I envy one or two of those gold bracelets,
I must obey the mortal world and leave for the future.
冥㑹诗
作者：宫嫔
争不逢人话此身，
此身长夜不知春。
自从国破家亡后，
陇上惟添芳草新。
〈京昭仪宝仙〉
休说人间恨恋多，
况逢佳客此相过。
堂中纵有千般乐，
争及阳春一曲歌。
〈张夫人华国〉
幽谷穷花似妾身，
纵怀香艳吐无因。
多情公子能相访，
应解回风暂借春。
〈景才人舜英〉
恩情未足晓光催，
数朵眠花未得开。
却羡一双金扼臂，
得随人世出将来。
Ah, headnote, I hardly knew ye. An ascription for the last poem would also be nice, not to mention an explanation of the topics(?) after the ascriptions we do get.
Consort Jīng (京) has the title for a high-but-not-highest ranking imperial concubine, while Concubine Jǐng (景) has a lower-ranked imperial concubine title. (I’ve found no historical record of either of them.) Madam Zhang OTOH is a Mrs., a wife to someone not royal/noble—so again N high + 1 lower status. Based on other “afterworld encounters,” I would expect the last poem to be by a living person, which its content supports, possibly a man who has just slept with one or more of the concubines. Or maybe, just to be original, a woman—thus the bracelet envy.
Mt. Long is in eastern Gansu, at the border with Shaanxi.
---L.