To Qiwu Qian Bound Home After Failing In An Examination
- Poetry of Wang Wei

《送綦毋潜落第还乡》

- Last updated: 2024-04-19 00:01:55

To Qiwu Qian Bound Home After Failing In An Examination by Wang Wei
中文原文

圣代无隐者，英灵尽来归。

遂令东山客，不得顾采薇。

既至君门远，孰云吾道非。

江淮度寒食，京洛缝春衣。

置酒临长道，同心与我违。

行当浮桂棹，未几拂荆扉。

远树带行客，孤城当落晖。

吾谋适不用，勿谓知音稀。

English Translation

In a happy reign there should be no hermits;

The wise and able should consult together....

So you, a man of the eastern mountains,

Gave up your life of picking herbs

And came all the way to the Gate of Gold --

But you found your devotion unavailing.

...To spend the Day of No Fire on one of the southern rivers,

You have mended your spring clothes here in these northern cities.

I pour you the farewell wine as you set out from the capital --

Soon I shall be left behind here by my bosomfriend.

In your sail-boat of sweet cinnamon-wood

You will float again toward your own thatch door,

Led along by distant trees

To a sunset shining on a far-away town.

...What though your purpose happened to fail,

Doubt not that some of us can hear high music.

Five-character-quatrain

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Why Chinese poems is so special?
The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
How to read a Chinese poem?
Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.

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