Poems of an Afterlife Encounter, together with Zeng Jiheng, Wang Lizhen

[lnhammer]

In 830, prefectural commander Zeng Xiao’an had a grandson, Jiheng, who moved into the west courtyard residence. Before this, a Lord Wang’s daughter, Lizhen, had died suddenly. When Jiheng moved, her spirit appeared to him, wanting to join with him. For approximately 60 days, the youth was lustful and not concerned with being careful, and accidentally divulged his lover. Lizhen berated his turning his back on their agreement, and signaled her leaving by presenting a departure poem. Jiheng was not good at poetry but strived hard to answer her with a composition, and thereupon she vanished. [TN: read the poems now] Afterwards, they inquired in Wuyuan, and a seamstress there told them, “Wang sent away m’lord’s daughter, who was returned to her family home to be buried on Mt. Beimang, and on a dark night, many people saw her spirit travel there.” However, the daughter’s poem actually says, “With Beimang empty, I resent the peaceful autumn moon.”

Lizhen’s Poem upon Departing
Wuyuan, we parted from each other, truly like Wu and Yue—
Swallows will split, orioles cleave, fragrant grass dries out.
This year there were few fireworks, hither and yon in spring.
With Beimang empty, I resent the peaceful autumn moon.

Jiheng’s Reply upon Her Departure
Sedge grasses green, so very green—the wild geese long to return.
On your jade cheek, the pearl tears scatter as we near the fork.
Your cloud chignon is floating off—the fragrant wind dies down.
I’m anxious, seeing the oriole sing upon the red tree-branch.

与曽季衡冥会诗
作者：王丽真

〈太和四年，监州防禦使曾孝安有孙季衡，居使宅西院。前使君王有女丽真，暴终于此，魂现，与季衡款合。近六十日，少年好色，不以为疑，偶泄之人，丽真责其负约，留诗为别，季衡不能诗，强为一篇酬之，遂绝。后询五原纫针妇，云：“王使君女，归葬北邙山，阴晦，人多见其魂游于此。”则女诗所云“北邙空恨清秋月”也。〉

五原分袂真吴越，
燕拆莺离芳草歇。
年少烟花处处春，
北邙空恨清秋月。〈丽真留别〉

莎草青青雁欲归，
玉腮珠泪洒临岐。
云鬟飘去香风尽，
愁见莺啼红树枝。〈季衡酬别〉


A specific year again. Nope, my initial guess on how these poems were divided between chapters was wrong. Relative realism seems to be a component, which I guess makes it a genre thing.

Mt. Beimang near Luoyang was the site of many burials, including royalty and nobles from the Han and Jin dynasties. As we’ve seen before, Wuyuan (“five springs”) is a common place name. Wu and Yue are names used for many states over the millenia, almost always both in the Yangzi delta region, almost always rivals. Jiheng’s poem is indeed a little clumsy—more specifically, obvious in its images, none of which are fresh—but it’s basically competent.

So … he lost his ghost lover, but suffered no other consequence? Huh.

Textual issue: some sources spell Lizhen’s name 丽真 (“beautiful truly”) and others spell it 丽贞 (“beautiful virtuous”). Specifically, my chosen base text for the poems uses the former, but the one for the headnotes uses the latter—so which to choose? I’ve prioritized the poem source before, so I’ve emended the headnote to match the poem.

—L.