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lnhammerSeeing the place my deceased mother supported, the lonely feelings I bear multiply, making me dismal, as I recall my longings for her. Thus I composed [this] to express my sorrow:
I tour with his highness the restricted yard,
Granted leave from the Orchid Gate.
The clouds recline, concealing peaks;
A rose sky lowers, pierced by banners;
Sun Palace links to stream-side dwellings
And Moon Hall leads to cliff-top doors;
Golden wheels spin above golden earth,
In incensed halls sweep incensed robes;
Bells sound in a light puff of wind,
Pennons flap in a thin mist of drizzle.
Once these met a divine fire --
The mountains red above the fields.
Now Flower Terrace is half a shadow,
Though Lotus Tower retains its glory.
Truly we rely on good men of power
To help the Almighty perfect the world:
Compassion's karma draws up good fortune.
But with this thought I exhaust my refuge:
A branch in the wind cannot be still --
For how could blood tears bring her back?
从驾幸少林寺
睹先妃营建之所，倍切茕衿，逾凄远慕，聊题既事，用述悲怀。
陪銮游禁苑
侍赏出兰闱
云偃攒峰盖
霞低插浪旗
日宫疏涧户
月殿启岩扉
金轮转金地
香阁曳香衣
铎吟轻吹发
幡摇薄雾霏
昔遇焚芝火
山红连野飞
花台无半影
莲塔有全辉
实赖能仁力
攸资善世威
慈缘兴福绪
于此罄归依
风枝不可静
泣血竟何追
Wu Zetian wrote this, her most personal poem to survive, sometime between 670 (when her mother died) and 690 (when Zetian became emperor regnant). The "her" in the last line is supplied from the context of the headnote. The Orchid Gate is the entrance to the imperial women's quarters. And yes, this is the famous Shaolin Temple, which is on Mt. Song somewhat downstream the Yellow River from the Chang'an capital.
Lost in translation: In the first line, 銮 (luán) is the most interesting metonymy for the emperor I've met so far -- it's literally the special bells on the horses that pull the imperial carriage. The "divine" fire is literally a type of tree mushroom supposed to have divine healing powers -- er, yeah, IDK. (Source)
---L.
I tour with his highness the restricted yard,
Granted leave from the Orchid Gate.
The clouds recline, concealing peaks;
A rose sky lowers, pierced by banners;
Sun Palace links to stream-side dwellings
And Moon Hall leads to cliff-top doors;
Golden wheels spin above golden earth,
In incensed halls sweep incensed robes;
Bells sound in a light puff of wind,
Pennons flap in a thin mist of drizzle.
Once these met a divine fire --
The mountains red above the fields.
Now Flower Terrace is half a shadow,
Though Lotus Tower retains its glory.
Truly we rely on good men of power
To help the Almighty perfect the world:
Compassion's karma draws up good fortune.
But with this thought I exhaust my refuge:
A branch in the wind cannot be still --
For how could blood tears bring her back?
从驾幸少林寺
睹先妃营建之所，倍切茕衿，逾凄远慕，聊题既事，用述悲怀。
陪銮游禁苑
侍赏出兰闱
云偃攒峰盖
霞低插浪旗
日宫疏涧户
月殿启岩扉
金轮转金地
香阁曳香衣
铎吟轻吹发
幡摇薄雾霏
昔遇焚芝火
山红连野飞
花台无半影
莲塔有全辉
实赖能仁力
攸资善世威
慈缘兴福绪
于此罄归依
风枝不可静
泣血竟何追
Wu Zetian wrote this, her most personal poem to survive, sometime between 670 (when her mother died) and 690 (when Zetian became emperor regnant). The "her" in the last line is supplied from the context of the headnote. The Orchid Gate is the entrance to the imperial women's quarters. And yes, this is the famous Shaolin Temple, which is on Mt. Song somewhat downstream the Yellow River from the Chang'an capital.
Lost in translation: In the first line, 銮 (luán) is the most interesting metonymy for the emperor I've met so far -- it's literally the special bells on the horses that pull the imperial carriage. The "divine" fire is literally a type of tree mushroom supposed to have divine healing powers -- er, yeah, IDK. (Source)
---L.