Year
In this poem, Liu Zonguan talks about his humiliation in being assigned as an official to a barbarian region (part of the tassled group, as officials wore caps with tassles). Ironically, it turns out to be good fortune as he enjoys living in nature.
Translation
By Liu Zongyuan (773-819) | 柳宗元 |
Dwelling by a Creek | 溪居 |
A long, long time among the tassled group: so tiring | 久為 簪組 累 |
Such fortune was this: my disgrace to be among the southern barbarians | 幸此 南夷 謫 |
At leisure, near the farms and orchards, my neighbors | 閑依 農圃 鄰 |
Sometimes resembling a traveler through the mountains, the forest | 偶似 山林 客 |
Plowing at daybreak, turning over the grass and dew | 曉耕 翻露草 |
I row at night to the sounds of the creek and stones | 夜榜 響 溪石 |
Coming and going, meeting no one— | 來往 不逢人 |
For a long time, I sing Clear Jade Sky | 長歌 楚天碧 |
Notes:
1. This poem was composed when he was relegated/downgraded to Yongzhou (in Hu’nan Province). Yongzhou’s gonverning office is in Yuxi (Dull creek). This explains the subject.
2. 1st verse, zān zǔ(簪組) refers to tassles of the official hat. Ancient Chinese official hats all have tassles.
3. Last verse, Liu was relegated to Yongzhou. In history, this place once belonged to Chu Kingdom.
4. In the history, Chinese considered minority groups to be barbarians because those areas were much less developed back then. So being an official in those areas was considered a humilation. Liu explains his discontent implicitly in this poem.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
柳宗元 | 柳宗元 | Liǔ zōng yuán |
溪居 | 溪居 | Xī jū |
久為簪組累， | 久为簪组累， | Jiǔ wèi zān zǔ lèi, |
幸此南夷謫。 | 幸此南夷谪。 | Xìng cǐ nán yí zhé. |
閑依農圃鄰， | 闲依农圃邻， | Xián yī nóng pǔ lín, |
偶似山林客。 | 偶似山林客。 | Ǒu shì shān lín kè. |
曉耕翻露草， | 晓耕翻露草， | Xiǎo gēng fān lù cǎo, |
夜榜響溪石， | 夜榜响溪石， | Yè bàng xiǎng xī shí, |
來往不逢人， | 来往不逢人， | Lái wǎng bù féng rén, |
長歌楚天碧。 | 长歌楚天碧。 | Cháng gē chǔ tiān bì. |
Literal Notes
柳宗元 | Willow Ancestor Primary=[Liu Zongyuan(773-819) |
溪居 | Stream/creek reside |
久為簪組累， | Long for hairpin group tired/cumbersome [hairpin group= being a government official] |
幸此南夷謫。 | Lucky/fortunate this south barbarian relegate/official’s disgrace |
閑依農圃鄰， | Leisure near-to farm garden/orchard neighbor/adjacent |
偶似山林客。 | Accidentally/occasionally resemble/like mountain forest/woods guest |
曉耕翻露草， | Dawn/morning plow turn-over dew grass |
夜榜響溪石， | Night oar sound creek stone |
來往不逢人， | Come go no/not meet/encounter people |
長歌楚天碧。 | Long song/sing Clear Sky jade/bluish |
[Clear Sky = Chu Kindom] |