Classic Poem

East the ocean, west the Himalaya,
dwelling for great monarchs!
Southern barges, northern horses
throng the royal capital.
The great man of this period
descended from heaven above;
over ten thousand miles — standard axles and script:
no precedent in the past.
Ch'in and Han were powerful,
but tyrannical and cruel;
Chin and T'ang were beautiful,
but lacked a noble scheme.
Weaving heaven and earth together,
far-reaching in its rules;
generations of godlike grandsons
will venerate your Sagely Plan.