The Yangzi is the name of the ferry boat. Luoyang is the capital city of the He’nan Province. Guangling is the old name for Yangzhou(揚州) in the Jiangsu Province. He is departing from friends, going to to Luoyang by boat and passing by Guangling, where he hears the echoes of bells being rung.
My Translation
By Wei Yingwu (737-792) | 韋應物 |
Setting Sail on the Yangzi (dedicated to Secretary Yuan) | 初發揚子 寄元大校書 |
Sad, mournful, parting from dear friends | 悽悽 去親愛 |
Drifting, floating, the smoky fog— I enter | 泛泛 入 煙霧 |
Returning, the boat carries me to Luoyang | 歸棹 洛陽人 |
A bell echoes from Guangling trees | 殘鐘 廣陵樹 |
This morning we said our farewells— | 今朝 為此別 |
When and where shall we meet again? | 何處 還相遇 |
Things of the world are waves upon a boat | 世事 波上舟 |
By going with the stream, we live in peace | 沿洄 安得住 |
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
韋應物 | 韦应物 | Wéi Yìng Wù |
初發揚子寄元大校書 | 初发扬子寄元大校书 | Chū fā yángzǐ jì yuán dà jiào shū |
悽悽去親愛， | 凄凄去亲爱， | Qī qī qù qīn'ài, |
泛泛入煙霧； | 泛泛入烟雾; | Fànfàn rù yānwù; |
歸棹洛陽人， | 归棹洛阳人， | Guī zhào luòyáng rén, |
殘鐘廣陵樹。 | 残钟广陵树。 | Cán zhōng guǎnglíng shù. |
今朝為此別， | 今朝为此别， | Jīnzhāo wèi cǐ bié, |
何處還相遇？ | 何处还相遇？ | Hé chù hái xiāng yù ？ |
世事波上舟， | 世事波上舟， | Shìshì bō shàng zhōu, |
沿洄安得住。 | 沿洄安得住。 | Yán huí ān de zhù. |
Literal Notes
韋應物 | Tanned-leather Must Thing [=Wei Yinwu (737-792)] |
初發揚子寄元大校書 | Beginning/first send Scatter Child send Origin Big Proofread Book |
[scatter child = Yangzi, ferry’s name, in Jiangsu Province; origin big = Yuan Da, a person’s name; jiào shū (proofread book)= secretary position in Tang Dynasty, jiào is a variant pronunciation from xiào; beginning/first send = head out] | |
悽悽去親愛， | Sad/mournful sad leave dear love [Sad/mournful sad = a sad look; dear love= good friend] |
泛泛入煙霧； | Vast/float/drift float enter smoke fog [Vast/float/drift float= slowly; smoke fog = smog/mist] |
歸棹洛陽人， | Return oar/boat river light man/person [river light = Luoyang, capital city of He’nan Province] |
殘鐘廣陵樹。 | Ruin/leftover bell Wide Extensive tree [Ruin/leftover bell=bell’s after-sound] [Wide Extensive = Guangling, Old name for Yangzhou(揚州) in Jiangsu Province] |
今朝為此別， | Today morning for this farewell/separate [today morning= now] |
何處還相遇？ | Where place/spot still/again each-other meet [where place/spot = whence, where] |
世事波上舟， | World/mundane thing wave above/on-top boat |
沿洄安得住。 | Along whirlpool/eddy still/calm permit/get stop |
[Along whirlpool/eddy=up stream and down stream] |
Notes and character tables prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.
Year:
2012
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