Even in this world the spirit of a hero
Lives and reigns for thousands of years.
You were the firmest of the pot's three legs;
It was you who maintained the honour of the currency;
You chose a great premier to magnify your kingdom....
And yet you had a son so little like his father
That girls of your country were taken captive
To dance in the palace of the King of Wei.
天地英雄气，千秋尚凛然。
势分三足鼎，业复五铢钱。
得相能开国，生儿不象贤。
凄凉蜀故妓，来舞魏宫前。
Five-character-regular-verse
Composed around 817 AD when Liu Yuxi served as prefect of Kuizhou, this poem was inspired by his visit to the Temple of Shu's Founding Emperor. Written during the Tang Dynasty's decline marked by political corruption and suppression of reformers, the work ostensibly commemorates Liu Bei of Shu Han while subtly critiquing contemporary misrule. Through historical allusion, Liu Yuxi expresses reverence for heroic figures alongside profound condemnation of unworthy successors, creating layered political commentary.
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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