This is another one of Zhang Jiuling’s (673 – 740 AD) lamentations, with the red orange tree (cinnabar) symbolizing him and the peaches and plums symbolizing his political enemies. He was exiled far away while his political enemies enjoyed court favor.
Translation
By Zhang Jiuling | 張九齡 |
Lamentation 4 | 感遇其四 |
South of the river there is a tree of red oranges | 江南 有 丹橘 |
Passing through the winter with leaves of green | 經冬 猶綠林 |
How is this? The earth’s spirit is warm | 豈伊 地氣暖 |
Holding the year’s cold heart | 自有 歲 寒心 |
It may thereby be a good offering for honored guests | 可以 薦 嘉客 |
But how it’s impeded by the heavy distance | 奈何 阻 重深 |
One’s fortune is on only a thing received | 運命 惟 所遇 |
A cycle that cannot be sought | 循環 不可 尋 |
But this speech is to no avail when they cultivate the peaches and plums | 徒言 樹 桃李 |
And this red orange tree— how is it not of good shade? | 此木 豈無 陰 |
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
張九齡 | 张九龄 | Zhāng Jiǔlíng |
感遇其四 | 感遇其四 | Gǎn yù qí sì |
江南有丹橘， | 江南有丹橘， | Jiāng nán yǒu dān jú, |
經冬猶綠林； | 经冬犹绿林。 | Jīng dōng yóu lǜ |
豈伊地氣暖？ | 岂伊地气暖， | Qǐ yī dì qì nuǎn, |
自有歲寒心。 | 自有岁寒心。 | Zì yǒu suì hán xīn. |
可以薦嘉客， | 可以荐嘉客， | Kě yǐ jiàn jiā kè, |
奈何阻重深？ | 奈何阻重深。 | Nài hé zǔ zhòng shēn. |
運命惟所遇， | 运命惟所遇， | Yùn mìng wéi suǒ yù, |
循環不可尋。 | 循环不可寻。 | Xún huán bù kě xún. |
徒言樹桃李， | 徒言树桃李， | Tú yán shù táo lǐ, |
此木豈無陰？ | 此木岂无阴？ | Cǐ mù qǐ wú yīn? |
Literal
張九齡 | Stretch Nine Years [Zhang Jiuling (673 – 740 AD)] |
感遇其四 | feel encounter that four [Lamentation #4] |
江南有丹橘， | River south has red orange [river south = sunny south] |
經冬猶綠林； | Pass-through winter as green forest |
豈伊地氣暖？ | How? this earth spirit warm |
自有歲寒心。 | From have year cold heart [from have = to have, cold heart = disappointment] |
可以薦嘉客， | May thereby offer auspicious guest |
奈何阻重深？ | But how impede serious far |
運命惟所遇， | Fortune destiny only that-which receives [fortune destiny = one’s fortune] |
循環不可尋。 | Obey ring not can seek [obey ring = cycle/loop, not can = cannot] |
徒言樹桃李， | To-no-avail speech cultivate peach plum |
此木豈無陰？ | These trees how? not shady |
Year:
2011
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