Song of Crush That Enemy Line
- Poetry of Li Yu

《破阵子》

English Rendering

E’er since for forty years, this land: my home, my country;

A realm of a thousand miles of a mountained, rivered terrain.

Grand palatial towers and chambers, rise high to meet the skies;

Jade green leaves on boughs and branches, vines in a misty veil.

When did I know of battle shields and blades?


Now that I’m made a subject, a lord in name, a captive;   

Thinned waist, hoary temples: O how I’m wasting away!

And worst at the shrine on parting day, hurried-worried despite,

Court musicians still remained, just parting songs were played.

O tears I rolled before the palace maids.

Song of Crush That Enemy Line by Li Yu
Song of Crush That Enemy Line by Li Yu

Original Text (中文原文)

四十年来家国,三千里地山河。

凤阁龙楼连霄汉,玉树琼枝作烟萝,几曾识干戈?

一旦归为臣虏,沈腰潘鬓消磨。

最是仓皇辞庙日,教坊犹奏别离歌,垂泪对宫娥。

Analysis & Context

Li Yu (937-978)was the last ruler of the Southern Tang.In 975,his capital fell and he himself was taken captive.In his captivity he wrote many of his best lyrics which represent the highest achievement of the lyric poets of that period.In this lyric we find a sharp contrast between the past in the first stanza and the present in the second.

Translated by Andrew W.F. Wong (Huang Hongfa)

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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