Year
Qu Yuan (343-278 B.C)
[Written after the poet’s capital had fallen to the enemy]
Grasping spears, armor sharp,
Our troops are few and chariots broken;
The enemy’s banners cover like clouds
And arrows fall as soldiers fight.
I walk over the fallen, the left flank dead,
The right flank wounded; and in the dust,
The chariot wheels and mangled horses
Mix with striking drums.
The spirits angry, a hateful fate—
The slaughter done, we flee the field,
Leaving without return
Until the battle is far away.
The enemy carries their bows and lengthy swords,
Beheading the living without warning;
Real men were brave and warlike,
Resolute until the end—and no one could cross.
Bodies dead, spirits gone,
Their souls are now heroic ghosts.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
九歌國殤 | 九歌国殇 | jiǔ gē guó shāng |
操吳戈兮被犀甲， | 操吴戈兮被犀甲， | cāo wú gē xī bèi xī jiǎ ， |
車錯轂兮短兵接； | 车错毂兮短兵接； | chē cuò gǔ xī duǎn bīng jiē ; |
旌蔽日兮敵若雲， | 旌蔽日兮敌若云， | jīng bì rì xī dí ruò yún ， |
矢交墜兮士爭先； | 矢交坠兮士争先； | shǐ jiāo zhuì xī shì zhēng xiān ; |
淩余陣兮躐余行， | 凌余阵兮躐余行， | líng yú zhèn xī liè yú xíng ， |
左驂殪兮右刃傷； | 左骖殪兮右刃伤； | zuǒ cān yì xī yòu rèn shāng ; |
霾兩輪兮縶四馬， | 霾两轮兮絷四马， | mái liǎng lún xī zhí sì mǎ ， |
援玉枹兮擊鳴鼓； | 援玉枹兮击鸣鼓； | yuán yù bāo xī jī míng gǔ ; |
天時懟兮威靈怒， | 天时怼兮威灵怒， | tiān shí duì xī wēi líng nù ， |
嚴殺盡兮棄原野； | 严杀尽兮弃原野； | yán shā jìn xī qì yuán yě ; |
出不入兮往不反， | 出不入兮往不反， | chū bù rù xī wǎng bù fǎn ， |
平原忽兮路遙遠； | 平原忽兮路遥远； | píng yuán hū xī lù yáo yuǎn ; |
帶長劍兮挾秦弓， | 带长剑兮挟秦弓， | dài cháng jiàn xī xié qín gōng ， |
首身離兮心不懲； | 首身离兮心不惩； | shǒu shēn lí xī xīn bù chěng ; |
誠既勇兮又以武， | 诚既勇兮又以武， | chéng jì yǒng xī yòu yǐ wǔ ， |
終剛強兮不可淩； | 终刚强兮不可凌； | zhōng gāng qiáng xī bù kě líng ; |
身既死兮神以靈， | 身既死兮神以灵， | shēn jì sǐ xī shén yǐ líng ， |
子魂魄兮為鬼雄。 | 子魂魄兮为鬼雄。 | zǐ hún pò xī wéi guǐ xióng。 |
Translation Notes
Written by Qu Yuan (343-278 B.C), part of his work, Nine Songs. Qu Yuan was a descendent of the royal family of the Chu state, but was exiled after being slandered by enemies. Later, after he learned that the capital of Chu had been captured by the enemy state of Qin, he committed ritual suicide in a river.
九歌國殤 | Nine Songs National Mourning/War-Dead |
操吳戈兮被犀甲， | Grasp Wu-state spears ah by sharp armor, |
車錯轂兮短兵接； | Carts slips hub-of-wheel ah lacking troops continue/receive; |
旌蔽日兮敵若雲， | Banner covers sun ah enemy like clouds, |
矢交墜兮士爭先； | Arrows mix fall-down ah soldiers fight first; [Fight first = contend for first place, fight to win] |
淩余陣兮躐余行， | Pass-over remaining column-of-troops ah stide-over I/remaining walk, |
左驂殪兮右刃傷； | Left flank dead ah right edge wounded; |
霾兩輪兮縶四馬， | Dust-storm two wheels ah tie-up four horses, |
援玉枹兮擊鳴鼓； | Aid jade drumsticks ah strikes makes-sound drum; |
天時懟兮威靈怒， | Heaven era hates ah powerful spirits angry; [Heaven era = destiny] [Powerful spirits = supernatural spirits] |
嚴殺盡兮棄原野； | Severe kill/slaughter finish ah abandon source open-country/field; [Source open-country = plains, open country] |
出不入兮往不反， | Go-out not enter ah departures not reverse, |
平原忽兮路遙遠； | Even/peaceful source suddenly ah path far-away remote; [Even source = plains, field] |
帶長劍兮挾秦弓， | Carry long sword ah clasp-under-arm Qin-state bow, |
首身離兮心不懲； | Head body separate ah heart not punished/warned; |
誠既勇兮又以武， | True already brave ah and therefore warlike, |
終剛強兮不可淩； | End/finish tough powerful ah no can cross; [Tough powerful = firm, unyielding] |
身既死兮神以靈， | Body already dead ah spirit therefore departed-soul/spirit-world, |
子魂魄兮為鬼雄。 | Child/offspring soul vigor ah becomes ghost hero/mighty. [Soul vigor = soul] |