English Rendering
His golden arrow is tipped with hawk's feathers,
His embroidered silk flag has a tail like a swallow.
One man, arising, gives a new order
To the answering shout of a thousand tents.
Border-songs I
- Poetry of Lu Lun
《塞下曲 · 其一》
Original Text (中文原文)
鹫翎金仆姑，燕尾绣蝥弧。
独立扬新令，千营共一呼。
Analysis & Context
Folk-song-styled-verse
Composed against the backdrop of frontier warfare, this opening poem of the series establishes the heroic tone with concise yet majestic depictions of a general issuing commands. Through the general's imposing presence, military display, and unified orders, it manifests formidable discipline and awe-inspiring might, while capturing the unique beauty of frontier life and battlefield grandeur.
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.
- A Night-mooring at Wuchang
- A Farewell To Li Duan
- Border-songs IV
- Border-songs III
- Border-songs II
- Border-songs I
- 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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