Poem that Zhang Chui Presented in a Dream, Zhang Shenggong

[lnhammer]

Shenggong was the son of Zhang Ting, the Zhijiang county magistrate. Because his father had died, he lived in Zhijiang. A certain Zhang Chui, who was of lower rank, died while traveling in Sichuan. Shenggong did not wear white (though) he knew of this. In 834, Shenggong dreamed during the daytime that Chui presented him a poem. Startled awake, he quickly wrote down the poem. Several days later, he died.

Sorrowful, so sorrowful—
The autumn hall seems centuries old.
If I’m alone in the boundless vast,
Still in the wilds I find cold food.

梦张垂赠诗
作者：张省躬
〈省躬，枝江县令汀之子。父死，因住枝江。有张垂者，下第客死于蜀，省躬未素识。太和八年，省躬昼梦垂赠诗一首，惊觉，遽录其诗，数日而卒。〉
戚戚复戚戚，
秋堂百年色。
而我独茫茫，
荒郊遇寒食。

“Even someone in the afterworld can get random offerings on Cold Food Day—so why didn’t you wear the white of mourning for me, O family member?” Though what the heck is up with the ascription? Usually the ghost is credited, not the dreamer/recipient. Is this a subtle aspersion on the supposed authorship or editorial carelessness? Ugh. Zhijiang is in Yichang, Hubei. I’m unclear whether to understand Chui is of a lower official rank or younger cousin—I would normally assume the latter, but then why mention Shenggong’s father’s position?

---L.

Comments

[sartorias]

There seems to be a lot missing here, especially in the top explanation.

[larryhammer]

Yes. Some of it is hidden behind knowing the meaning of not wearing white, but that's hardly the only part.