lnhammer: the Chinese character for poetry, red on white background (Default)
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Where a gorgeous pavilion rose up through five clouds
Within which there were many graceful, charming fairies,
Among them someone who was styled Great Purity
With snowy skin and flower face—it seemed like her.
He knocked upon its west wing’s golden watchtower,
Imploring Xiaoyu to announce him to Shaungcheng.

楼阁玲珑五云起,
其中绰约多仙子。
中有一人字太真,
雪肤花貌参差是。
金阙西厢叩玉扃,
转教小玉报双成。

Yang Guifei’s Daoist name Great Purity came up in #284. In Daoist lore, Xiaoyu (“small jade”) and Shuangcheng (“twice complete”) are two celestial beings (translated here as fairies, with some hesitation—it is a traditional rendering but only a rough correspondence) being repurposed as attendants.

(Three-quarters done.)

---L.

About

Warning: contents contain line-breaks.

As language practice, I like to translate poetry. My current project is Chinese, with practice focused on Tang Dynasty poetry. Previously this was classical Japanese, most recently working through the Kokinshu anthology (archived here). Suggestions, corrections, and questions always welcome.

There's also original pomes in the journal archives.

April 2025

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