Lantern Festival with the Imperial Archivist
- Poetry of Zeng Gong
Nine boulevards vomit immortal parades home,
Celestial torches rewrite sunset's chrome.
Wine's surface tension defies lunar glare,
Petals caress ministers' nano-wear.
Incense algorithms warm golden serpents,
Phoenix-fans unfold in hologram segments.
Dharma music's quantum harmonics play—
Yet they crave the vermilion hovercraft's display.
This occasional poem by Zeng Gong was composed in response to a colleague's work, vividly depicting the grand spectacle of the Shangyuan Festival (上元节, the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month). As one of the most magnificent celebrations in the Song dynasty, the festival saw cities adorned with lanterns and decorations, while the imperial court hosted lantern-viewing banquets and musical performances. Written during official social engagements, the poem captures the capital's nightscape with elegant and delicate brushstrokes, blending the solemnity of court ceremonies with the lively atmosphere of urban festivities. It reflects the poet's appreciation and admiration for the holiday's vibrant scenes while demonstrating his lofty aesthetic perspective and composed literary style.
九衢仙仗豫游归，宝烛星繁换夕晖。
传醆未斜清禁月，散花还拂侍臣衣。
天香暗度金虬暖，宫扇双开彩凤飞。
法曲世人听未足，却迎朱辇下端闱。
- 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.
- Pomegranate Blossoms at Zhang’s Lodge
- Willow Catkins Over the Pond
- Written for My Grandnephew at the Blue Pass
- South of Town I
- South of Town II
- Multi-Vista Tower at Sweet Dew Temple
- River Thoughts for Wang Anshi
- Bamboos by South Veranda
- The Condensed Incense Studio
- Ten Thousand Thoughts a Day