English Rendering
A great wind came forth,
the clouds rose on high.
Now that my might rules all within the seas,
I have returned to my old village.
Where will I find brave men to guard the four corners of my land?
A Great Wind
- Poetry of Liu Bang
《大风歌》
Original Text (中文原文)
大风起兮云飞扬，
威加海内兮归故乡。
安得猛士兮守四方。
Analysis & Context
The Song of the Great Wind is a song composed by Liu Bang in 195 BC when he visited his hometown in Pei County after suppressing Ying Bu's rebellion. He prepared a banquet and invited all his old friends and townsfolk to join him. After some drinks, Liu Bang played the guqin and sang the Song of the Great Wind (大風歌).
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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