This poem varies the rhythm quite a lot, mixing 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 character lines and introducing non-standard pauses to change the typical meter. It also has Sao Style (poetry in the style of Li Sao). It takes great literary talent like that of Li Bai to pull this off successfully. The poem is typical of Li Bai’s romantic works, but the theme is unique, being about a dream of a mountain trip.
One allusive note, Sir Xie is a famous poet and hermit from an earlier dynasty.
Translation
By Li Bai (701-762) | 李白 |
Song of Dreaming Travel to Mount Tianmu: A Parting Gift | 夢遊天姥吟 留別 |
Sea travelers tell of Yingzhou, island mountain of the immortals | 海客 談瀛洲 |
But fog and waves, the haze— it’s hard to believe | 煙濤 微茫 信難求 |
Southern people say it’s Tianmu | 越人 語天姥 |
Through clouds and rainbows a blotted sun you might just see... ~~ | 雲霓 明滅 或可睹 |
Tianmu touches the sky across the horizon-line | 天姥 連天 向天橫 |
Its shape surpasses the Five Sacred Mountains and covers the Red City | 勢拔 五嶽 掩赤城 |
Tiantai, a mountain near the Red City, must be a 100,000 feet | 天臺 四萬 八千丈 |
Yet facing Tianmu it’s as if pushed over leaning southeast ~~ | 對此 欲倒 東南傾 |
Longing for it I dream of Yue land home of Tianmu | 我欲 因之 夢吳越 |
One night I fly across the moon, past the Mirror Lake | 一夜 飛渡 鏡湖月 |
The lake, the moon shining—reflecting me | 湖月 照我影 |
Taking me to Shanxi River | 送我 至剡溪 |
Where the Hermit Xie’s abode remains today | 謝公 宿處 今尚在 |
Clear water ripples away peaceful—a monkey cries ~~ | 淥水 蕩漾 清猿啼 |
I put on my feet the climbing clogs of Sir Xie | 腳著 謝公屐 |
And climb the steps that lead to clouds | 身登 青雲梯 |
By cliffs I watch the sun and sea | 半壁 見海日 |
And in the sky I hear the Heavenly Rooster— the crow that all the roosters follow | 空中 聞天雞 |
Thousands of rocks and narrow ravines— a road unknown | 千巖 萬壑 路不定 |
Bewitched by flowers I lean on stone and suddenly—it’s dusk | 迷花 倚石 忽已暝 |
Bears growl Dragons hum and thunder shakes the caves and springs | 熊咆 龍吟 殷巖泉 |
Trembling within the forest, dark and deep... I startle at layers and mountain peaks | 慄深林兮 驚層巔 |
Clouds are dark and black... and lust for rain | 雲青青兮 欲雨 |
The water—placid, calm... gives birth to fog | 水澹澹兮 生煙 |
Lightning, thunder crackling | 列缺霹靂 |
Mountains shattering: | 邱巒崩摧 |
Heavenly Cave, its door of stone, | 洞天石扇 |
The crash of sound while opening | 訇然中開 |
Black and dark yet vast and mighty— the bottom beyond our view | 青冥 浩蕩 不見底 |
Sun and Moon now dazzle the home of gods— a Gold and Silver Tower | 日月 照耀 金銀臺 |
Clothes of rainbows... wind a horse | 霓為衣兮 風為馬 |
These Lords of Clouds... it’s one then another coming down | 雲之君兮 紛紛而來下 |
A Tiger plays the harp... a Phoenix rides his carriage | 虎鼓瑟兮 鸞回車 |
Immortals... number like strands in rope of hemp | 仙之人兮 列如麻 |
My soul trembles and spirit shakes | 忽魂悸 以魄動 |
Mad startled jolt and long—I sigh ~~ | 怳驚起 而長嗟 |
But awakened, aware of time— there’s just a pillow mat | 惟覺時 之枕席 |
Missing the earlier fog and rainbow clouds | 失向來 之煙霞 |
Among the world I walk in happiness like this | 世間 行樂 亦如此 |
Since ancient times all things have drifted away, the water flowing east | 古來 萬事 東流水 |
And parting, my friend goes... but when will he return? | 別君去兮 何時還 |
Soon liberated with deers of white and mountain greens | 且放 白鹿 青崖間 |
He must travel sitting astride soon to visit the famous mountain ~~ | 須行 即騎 訪名山 |
Safely able to flatter and bow serving the rich and powerful | 安能 摧眉折腰 事權貴 |
This makes me lack an open-hearted face | 使我 不得 開心顏 |
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
李白 | 李白 | Li bái |
夢遊天姥吟留別 | 梦游天姥吟留别 | Mèng yóu tiān mǔ yín liú bié |
海客談瀛洲， | 海客谈瀛洲， | Hǎi kè tán yíng zhōu, |
煙濤微茫信難求。 | 烟涛微茫信难求。 | Yān tāo wēi máng xìn nán qiú. |
越人語天姥， | 越人语天姥， | Yuè rén yǔ tiān mǔ, |
雲霓明滅或可睹。 | 云霓明灭或可睹。 | Yún ní míng miè huò kě dǔ. |
天姥連天向天橫， | 天姥连天向天横， | Tiān mǔlián tiān xiàng tiān héng, |
勢拔五嶽掩赤城； | 势拔五岳掩赤城; | Shì bá wǔ yuè yǎn chì chéng; |
天臺四萬八千丈， | 天台四万八千丈， | Tiān tái sì wàn bā qiān zhàng, |
對此欲倒東南傾。 | 对此欲倒东南倾。 | Duì cǐ yù dào dōng nán qīng. |
我欲因之夢吳越， | 我欲因之梦吴越， | Wǒ yù yīn zhī mèng wú yuè, |
一夜飛渡鏡湖月。 | 一夜飞渡镜湖月。 | Yí yè fēi dù jìng hú yuè. |
湖月照我影， | 湖月照我影， | Hú yuè zhào wǒ yǐng, |
送我至剡溪； | 送我至剡溪; | Sòng wǒ zhì shàn xī; |
謝公宿處今尚在， | 谢公宿处今尚在， | Xiè gōng sù chù jīn shàng zài, |
淥水蕩漾清猿啼。 | 渌水荡漾清猿啼。 | Lù shuǐ dàng yàng qīng yuán tí. |
腳著謝公屐， | 脚着谢公屐， | Jiǎo zhuó xiè gōng jī, |
身登青雲梯。 | 身登青云梯。 | Shēn dēng qīng yún tī. |
半壁見海日， | 半壁见海日， | Bàn bì jiàn hǎi rì, |
空中聞天雞。 | 空中闻天鸡。 | Kōng zhōng wén tiān jī. |
千巖萬壑路不定， | 千岩万壑路不定， | Qiān yán wàn hè lù bù dìng, |
迷花倚石忽已暝。 | 迷花倚石忽已暝。 | Mí huā yǐ shí hū yǐ míng. |
熊咆龍吟殷巖泉， | 熊咆龙吟殷岩泉， | Xióng páo lóng yín yīn yán quán, |
慄深林兮驚層巔。 | 栗深林兮惊层巅。 | Lì shēn lín xī jīng céng diān. |
雲青青兮欲雨， | 云青青兮欲雨， | Yún qīng qīng xī yù yǔ, |
水澹澹兮生煙。 | 水澹澹兮生烟。 | Shuǐ dàn dàn xī shēng yān. |
列缺霹靂， | 列缺霹雳， | Liè quē pī lì, |
邱巒崩摧， | 邱峦崩摧， | Qiū luán bēng cuī, |
洞天石扇， | 洞天石扇， | Dòng tiān shí shàn, |
訇然中開； | 訇然中开; | Hōng rán zhōng kāi; |
青冥浩蕩不見底， | 青冥浩荡不见底， | Qīng míng hào dàng bù jiàn dǐ, |
日月照耀金銀臺。 | 日月照耀金银台。 | Rì yuè zhào yào jīn yín tái. |
霓為衣兮風為馬， | 霓为衣兮风为马， | Ní wèi yī xī fēng wéi mǎ, |
雲之君兮紛紛而來下； | 云之君兮纷纷而来下; | Yún zhī jūn xī fēn fēn ér lái xià; |
虎鼓瑟兮鸞回車。 | 虎鼓瑟兮鸾回车。 | Hǔ gǔ sè xī luán huí chē. |
仙之人兮列如麻。 | 仙之人兮列如麻。 | Xiān zhī rén xī liè rú má. |
忽魂悸以魄動， | 忽魂悸以魄动， | Hū hún jì yǐ pò dòng, |
怳驚起而長嗟。 | 恍惊起而长嗟。 | Huǎng jīng qǐ ér cháng jiē. |
惟覺時之枕席， | 惟觉时之枕席， | Wéi jué shí zhī zhěn xí, |
失向來之煙霞。 | 失向来之烟霞。 | Shī xiàng lái zhī yān xiá. |
世間行樂亦如此， | 世间行乐亦如此， | Shì jiān xíng lè yì rú cǐ, |
古來萬事東流水。 | 古来万事东流水。 | Gǔ lái wàn shì dōng liú shuǐ. |
別君去兮何時還？ | 别君去兮何时还？ | Bié jūn qù xī hé shí huán? |
且放白鹿青崖間。 | 且放白鹿青崖间。 | Qiě fàng bái lù qīng yá jiān. |
須行即騎訪名山， | 须行即骑访名山， | Xū xíng jí qí fǎng míng shān, |
安能摧眉折腰事權貴， | 安能摧眉折腰事权贵， | Ān néng cuī méi zhé yāo shì quán guì, |
使我不得開心顏？ | 使我不得开心颜？ | Shǐ wǒ bù dé kāi xīn yán? |
Literal Translation
李白 | Plum White= Li Bai(701-762) |
夢遊天姥吟留別 | Dream travel Sky Grandma hum stay/stop/halt farewell/part/separate [Sky Grandma= Tianmu Mountain] [hum= Yin, a poem genre] |
海客談瀛洲， | Sea guest/traveler talk Ying/sea/ocean Continent/island [Sea guest= people travel on the sea], [Yin Continent= Yingzhou, one of the three holy mountains, near Pohai Sea, legendary home of the immortals] |
煙濤微茫信難求。 | Fog/mist large-waves tiny/trifling obscure/vast/boundless at-will/at-random/truly/trust/believe difficult to-seek/look-for/request/demand [Fog large-waves = the sea view is blocked by the fog] |
越人語天姥， | Surpass/exceed people saying Tian Mu [Surpass People= Yuezhou people, now it’s Zhejiang Province.] |
雲霓明滅或可睹。 | Cloud rainbow clear/bright/brilliant put-out/extinguish/wipe-out may able to-see/look-at/gaze [Cloud rainbow= clouds], [clear put-out= either overt or covert] |
天姥連天向天橫， | Tian Mu connect/link/join sky/heaven toward sky transverse/across/horizontal [connect sky = reaching the sky, for days on end] |
勢拔五嶽掩赤城； | Tendency/power/force/sign exceed/surpass/uproot/pull-out/stand-out(above-sea) Five Mountains cover/conceal Red City [Tendency/power= mountain shape], [Five Mountains= Wuyue, the five sacred mountains in China], [Red City= Mt. Tiantai, the soil there is red. It faces towards Mt. Tianmu.] |
天臺四萬八千丈， | Sky Terrace four wan(10-thousand) eight thousand zhang(10-feet) [Sky Terrace= Mt. Tiantai], [zhang(10-feet)= Zhang and feet are Chinese length unit, it’s different from US feet.] [48 thousand Zhang= exaggeration] |
對此欲倒東南傾。 | Facing/opposing this/these desire/intend/long-for fall/fall-over/lie-down/take-turns east south lean/incline/overflow/pour-out [meaning: when Mt.Tiantai faces the even higher Mt. Tianmu, it seems leaning towards southeast, and thus shorter.] |
我欲因之夢吳越， | I long/desire because-of this dream Wu Yue/exceed/the-more... [Wu Yue=focused on Yue, Mt. Tianmu is in Yuezhou.] [Meaning: I long for Mt.Tianmu in the daytime so it appear in my dream in the night.] |
一夜飛渡鏡湖月。 | One night fly across Mirror Lake moon [Mirror Lake= in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province] |
湖月照我影， | Lake moon shine/illuminate my shadow/reflection |
送我至剡溪； | Send/take me to/reach Shan Stream [Shan Stream= Shanxi River, in Zhejiang] |
謝公宿處今尚在， | Thanks Gentleman residence/lodging place today still here [Thanks Gentleman=Xie Lingyun, Sir Xie, a famous poet in Jin Dynasty. His poem mentioned he traveled in Mt. Tianmu and stayed in an inn near Shanxi River.] |
淥水蕩漾清猿啼。 | Clear water move/wash-away/pond/pool ripple/overflow/tossed-by-waves clear/pure/clean/peaceful monkey cry/weep/howl [move ripple= popple] |
腳著謝公屐， | Feet wear Xie Gentleman Clogs/shoes [Xie Gentleman clogs/shoes= Xie designed a special type of wooden clogs, easier to keep balance when climbing. So it’s Xie’s Clogs.] |
身登青雲梯。 | Body/self climb green cloud ladder/stairs [green cloud = clear sky, fig. high official positions], [green cloud ladder= it refers to the steep stone steps] |
半壁見海日， | Half cliff/walls/partition see/watch sea sun [sea sun= sunrise from the sea] [Meaning: At one(east) side of the cliff, people can watch the sunrise.] |
空中聞天雞。 | Sky middle/in hear/famous sky rooster [sky middle = in the sky, in the air], [sky rooster= Legend has it once the Sky(Holy) Rooster crows, all the roosters will follow.] |
千巖萬壑路不定， | Thousand rocks/cliff/precipice/cave wan(10-thousand) narrow-ravine/gully/bed-of-torrent road/path/journey not stable [not stable = indeterminate, indefinite] |
迷花倚石忽已暝。 | Attract/bewitch/charm/crazy-about flowers leaning-on rock/stone suddenly already dusk |
熊咆龍吟殷巖泉， | Bear growl/roar dragon hum/sing roll-of-thunder/shake/many/great/abundant/flourishing rocks/cliff/precipice springs |
慄深林兮驚層巔。 | Quiver/tremble/shiver/shudder/afraid deep/dark forest Xi/[exclamatory pause] surprise/startle layer/stratum peak/mountain-top/summit [Xi= an ancient particle to show pause between phrases.] |
雲青青兮欲雨， | Cloud green/youth green/black Xi/[pause] desire/want-to/lust-for rain |
水澹澹兮生煙。 | Green/water placid/quiet/calm placid/quiet/tranquil Xi/[pause] create/grow/give-birth-to fog [placid/quite placid/quite= it describes the river is dancing gently.] |
列缺霹靂， | Row/line gap thunderclap/crashing-thunder thunderclap [Row gap=lightening], [thunder and lightening] |
邱巒崩摧， | Hill/mounds mountain-ranges/pointed-mountain collapse/rupture/split-apart destroy/break/shatter |
洞天石扇， | Cave/ravine sky stone/rock fan/door-panel [Cave sky= holy spirits’ residence, means there’s another world(sky) inside the cave; paradise; heavenly place; fairyland], [stone fan= stone door, entrace] |
訇然中開； | Crash-sound then/afterwards/thus middle open/begin |
青冥浩蕩不見底， | Bluish-green/black deep/black/dark/gloomy grand/numerous/vast vast/pond/pool/wash-away/cleanse not see bottom [bluish-green deep= the blue sky], [grand vast = vast and mighty, broad and powerful] |
日月照耀金銀臺。 | Sun moon shine glitter/sparkle/dazzle/glory Gold Silver Tower/Platform [Gold Silver Tower = the place deities live] |
霓為衣兮風為馬， | Rainbow as clothes Xi wind as horses |
雲之君兮紛紛而來下； | Cloud Zhi/’s ruler/lord Xi one-after-other/numerous/disordered/tangled numerous/disordered/tangled one-after-another/and come down [Cloud Zhi ruler/lord= the Lord who controls the clouds; Zhi means “of ” in reverse order. So it’s Lord of Clouds, not clouds of the Lord. ] |
虎鼓瑟兮鸞回車。 | Tiger play/drum/beat/strike Se/harp Xi mythical-bird/phoenix ride/turn-around/return carriage [Se= ancient string instrument, similar to the harp] [mythical-bird= Luan, related to phoenix] |
仙之人兮列如麻。 | Daoist-Immortal Zhi/’s people Xi row/list/line/arranged as hemp-rope [Immortal Zhi people= immortals] [row/list as hemp-rope= idiom, means numerous] |
忽魂悸以魄動， | Suddenly/neglect/overlook soul tremble/fearful/apprehensive/palpitate so/therefore soul/vigor/body shake/move [Note: Hun Po is a phrase, means soul, it can also be used sepately as Hun and Po.] |
怳驚起而長嗟。 | Moreover/wild/mad/flurried surprise/frightened/startled jolt/get-up/rise-up and-then long sigh |
惟覺時之枕席， | Only/nevertheless/but/however feel/wake-up-from-sleep/aware the-time Zhi/’s pillow mat [the-time Zhi pillow mat= by the time when Li woke up, he only saw his pillow and sleeping mat.] |
失向來之煙霞。 | Lose/neglect/mistake/miss earlier come Zhi fog/mist rainbow/rosy-cloud [earlier come = always (previously)], [fog rainbow = haze], [Meaning: the earlier mist and rainbows in the dream is gone.] |
世間行樂亦如此， | Mundane/world space/among practice/walk/move happy/glad/enjoyable also/likewise like this [mundane space = world, earth], [practice happy= spree, enjoy life], [like this = in this way, so] |
古來萬事東流水。 | Ancient/old/classic come wan(10-thousand) thing east flow/drift water [ancient come = since ancient times, it has always been the case], [10,000 things = all things], [east flow water= idiom, the past is gone like the flowing river. ] |
別君去兮何時還？ | Farewell/separate gentleman leave/depart/go-away Xi what/where time/season return/still/yet/also/besides [gentleman= Jun, a respectful way to address people, here refers to Li’s friend], [what time = when] |
且放白鹿青崖間。 | Just/moreover/also/will-soon/about-to let-go/free/liberate white/pure deer green mountain/cliff/precipice among [white deer = holy spirits ride white deer] |
須行即騎訪名山， | Need/must/moment travel/go/move instantly/promptly/quickly/immediately/approach/come-near ride/sit-astride visit famous mountain |
安能摧眉折腰事權貴， | How/peaceful/tranquil/quiet can/be-able-to repress/break eyebrow lower/break-off/bend back/waist serve power noble/rich [repress eyebrow lower back/waist= idiom, flatter and bow to the people], [power noble/rich= the people in power and own fortune] |
使我不得開心顏？ | Make/cause me not have open hearted face/expression [open hearted= happy, smiling] |
The notes, character table, and literal translation were prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.
Year:
2012
Reviews
No reviews yet.