The proud Tartar sons are hunting out of the town;
White grass spreads to the sky, wild fire bums up and down.
They ride on the desert when evening clouds hang low;
In autumn days on the vast plain they bend their bow.
Our officers strengthen the defense by daylight;
Our victorious generals cross the river at night.
The swords, bows and bridles mounted with gems and jade
Are awarded generals and their brave cavalcade.
居延城外猎天骄，白草连天野火烧。
暮云空碛时驱马，秋日平原好射雕。
护羌校尉朝乘障，破虏将军夜渡辽。
玉靶角弓珠勒马，汉家将赐霍嫖姚。
Composed in 737 AD during heightened Tang-Tibetan border tensions, this poem reflects Wang Wei's mission as an imperial inspector to the frontier following General Cui Xiyi's defeat at Qinghai. Through vivid military imagery, it captures both the tense atmosphere and the Tang army's composed valor.
Classical Chinese poetry thrives on Concision and Ambiguity. Without tense or number, the words create a timeless space where the reader becomes the co-creator of the poem's meaning.
Look for Contrasts: light and shadow, movement and stillness. Don't just translate the words; feel the Yijing (artistic conception) that lingers long after the last character.
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