On the auspicious day jia-zi , the emperor, carrying a white gui scepter and a black bi jade, paid a visit to the Royal Mother of the West To her he offered as presents one hundred pieces of embroidered silk and three hundred pieces of wu fabric. After bowing many times, the Royal Mother accepted the presents.
On yi-chou , the next day, the emperor invited the Royal Mother to a banquet on Emerald Pond. During the occasion she sang extempore:
Hills and mountains come into view
As fleecy clouds ascend the sky.
Far and wide, divided by waters and ranges
Our countries separately lie.
Should long life preserve thee,
Come again. To this the emperor responded:
When I to east return
To millions bringing order and peace;
When they enjoy prosperity and ease
To thee shall I return;
From this day count three years
To this country again shall I come.
The emperor then rode on Xi Mountain and on the rocks engraved a record of this visit. He planted a memorial tree of sophora and named the place Mountain of the Royal Mother of the West.
From here the emperor took his way back to the east He was sad and distressed as he thought of his people at home and expressed his sorrow by composing the following poem:
In the distant west she rules,
Happily on the wide, wide plain,
Accompanied by tigers and leopards,
Sleeping with crows and jackdaws
The Heavenly decree changes not,
A son of Heaven I am made.
But the will of Heaven I follow not,
Leaving my people in distress.
Tears suddenly fill my eyes
When the parting music is sounding,
And my heart is filled with sadness
As I think of my millions, hoping for my return
On the day ding-wei , the emperor took a drink at Hot Mountain and went out fowling the next day, mou-shen . The following day, he drank at the bank of the Ru River and gave orders to the six divisions of soldiers to gather together.
In this region there were forests, marshy swamps and ponds full of water, and there were also smooth plains and high plateaux where big birds scattered their feathers. Now the six divisions of soldiers had concentrated in this wide region where it is said the emperor stayed for three months.
On yi-chou , the next day, the emperor invited the Royal Mother to a banquet on Emerald Pond. During the occasion she sang extempore:
Hills and mountains come into view
As fleecy clouds ascend the sky.
Far and wide, divided by waters and ranges
Our countries separately lie.
Should long life preserve thee,
Come again. To this the emperor responded:
When I to east return
To millions bringing order and peace;
When they enjoy prosperity and ease
To thee shall I return;
From this day count three years
To this country again shall I come.
The emperor then rode on Xi Mountain and on the rocks engraved a record of this visit. He planted a memorial tree of sophora and named the place Mountain of the Royal Mother of the West.
From here the emperor took his way back to the east He was sad and distressed as he thought of his people at home and expressed his sorrow by composing the following poem:
In the distant west she rules,
Happily on the wide, wide plain,
Accompanied by tigers and leopards,
Sleeping with crows and jackdaws
The Heavenly decree changes not,
A son of Heaven I am made.
But the will of Heaven I follow not,
Leaving my people in distress.
Tears suddenly fill my eyes
When the parting music is sounding,
And my heart is filled with sadness
As I think of my millions, hoping for my return
On the day ding-wei , the emperor took a drink at Hot Mountain and went out fowling the next day, mou-shen . The following day, he drank at the bank of the Ru River and gave orders to the six divisions of soldiers to gather together.
In this region there were forests, marshy swamps and ponds full of water, and there were also smooth plains and high plateaux where big birds scattered their feathers. Now the six divisions of soldiers had concentrated in this wide region where it is said the emperor stayed for three months.