The Moon at the Fortified Pass
- Poetry of Li Bai (Li Po)

《关山月》

English Rendering

The bright moon lifts from the Mountain of Heaven

In an infinite haze of cloud and sea,

And the wind, that has come a thousand miles,

Beats at the Jade Pass battlements....

China marches its men down Baideng Road

While Tartar troops peer across blue waters of the bay....

And since not one battle famous in history

Sent all its fighters back again,

The soldiers turn round, looking toward the border,

And think of home, with wistful eyes,

And of those tonight in the upper chambers

Who toss and sigh and cannot rest.

The Moon at the Fortified Pass by Li Bai (Li Po)
The Moon at the Fortified Pass by Li Bai (Li Po)

Original Text (中文原文)

明月出天山,苍茫云海间。

长风几万里,吹度玉门关。

汉下白登道,胡窥青海湾。

由来征战地,不见有人还。

戍客望边色,思归多苦颜。

高楼当此夜,叹息未应闲。

Analysis & Context

Folk-song-styled-verse

This poem was composed during the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, a time when the Tang Dynasty was embroiled in continuous warfare, leading to a gradual decline in national strength. The border wars not only brought suffering to the common people but also kept soldiers stationed far from home for long periods, intensifying their longing for home. Guan Shan Yue (Moon Over the Mountain Pass) is an old Han Dynasty yuefu (folk song) title, belonging to the "Drum and Horn Horizontal Flute Songs," which were often sung by border soldiers. Building on this tradition, Li Bai uses his unique style to depict the brutality of border warfare, critique the militarism of the time, and express deep sympathy for the soldiers and their families.

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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