English Rendering
Yellow dust raised by the steeds veiled trees like a screen;
The messenger deceived came to deceive the crown.
The Song of Rainbow Cloak over a thousand peaks green
Would not stop till the Central Plain was broken down.
The Spring Palace II
- Poetry of Du Mu
《过华清宫绝句 · 其二》
Original Text (中文原文)
新丰绿树起黄埃，数骑渔阳探使回。
霓裳一曲千峰上，舞破中原始下来。
Analysis & Context
This poem vividly depicts the scenes of extravagance and decadence preceding An Lushan's rebellion during Emperor Xuanzong's reign. An Lushan feigned loyalty while scheming rebellion, yet Emperor Xuanzong indulged him, ignoring warnings from the crown prince and his chancellor. The poem captures the fabricated reports of loyalty from An Lushan and the emperor’s deepening obsession with pleasures, symbolized by music and dance, foreshadowing the catastrophic rebellion.
Reader's Companion
The Essence of the Verse
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.
Reading Between the Lines
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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