English Rendering
For ten long years, a sword I whetted,
Its frosty blade, as yet, untried.
Today, I hold it unsheathed before you;
Of you, to whom was justice denied?
Translator:Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)
The Swordsman
- Poetry of Jia Dao
《剑客 / 述剑》#Aspirations #Yearning
Original Text (中文原文)
十年磨一剑，霜刃未曾试。
今日把示君，谁有不平事？
Analysis & Context
This poem was written by Jia Dao during a period when his political ambitions remained unfulfilled. Through the image of “ten years sharpening a sword,” the poet expresses his desire to showcase his talents. The poem not only displays Jia Dao’s artistic skills in poetry but also implies his lofty aspirations. Using the sword as a metaphor, Jia Dao conveys his persistence toward ideals, ambitions, and his yearning for opportunities. This use of an object to express one’s will creates a distinctive personal style in the poem.
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.
- Evening View of a Snow Scene
- On the Gardens at Xinghua Temple
- At Li Ning’s Quiet Dwelling
- A Letter Sent
- After Finishing a Poem
- The Swordsman
- The Summit Temple
- <Prelude to Water Melody> Sent to Ziyou on Mid-autumn Festival
- Invitation to Wine
- Question and Answer in the Mountains
- Cold sheet
- Coming Home ( Returning Home )
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