Year Thu, 2012-03-22 12:00 Translation By Tang Xuanzong (685-762) 唐玄宗 Passing through Shandong:Offering a Sacrifice to Confucius and Sighing 經鄒魯祭孔子而歎之 Master...why were you 夫子何為者 perched like a birdamidst your generation? 栖栖一代中 The soil was the sameas that of your native Zou 地猶鄹氏邑 But your house at once became the Palace of Lu 宅即魯王宮 And sighing for the Phoenix—alas, you were denied. 歎鳳嗟身否 A wounded Unicorn,complaining of a famined road... 傷麟怨道窮 But now I’m lookingat the double columns, and offering 今看兩楹奠 As is proper—and fitting with your dream. 當與夢時同 Notes: 1. Tang Xuanzong is the reigning name of the 7th emperor in the Tang Dynasty. His real name is Li Longji. Emperor Tang Xuanzong is one of the most versatile emperors—he was a music composer, calligrapher, horseman, and archer. He was also well-versed in history and astrology. Further, he was respectful to scholars and officials. 2. Confucius spent his whole life preaching in various kingdoms, yet never had a place to settle down.3. The king of Lu once wanted to destroy Confucius’ land to expand his own palace, but when he heard the music from his house, he was awed and dropped the plan.4. The ancient Chinese believed that if a phoenix arrives, it means the sage is blessed in his life. Confucius once said this to himself, thinking he was born at the wrong time, and thus could not realize his dreams.5. The unicorn is also a legendary animal and a symbol of the millennium. This line quoted another anecdote: Once the King of Lu captured a unicorn. When Confucius heard this news, he said he was at the end of his way. He ended up compiling his classic book, “Spring and Autumn Annals.”6. Before Confucius passed away, he had a dream of himself sitting in between two pillars. Usually, coffins were laid between two pillars. So he knew that his hour had come.7. This poem is full of classical allusions. It is mainly a lament about the vicissitudes of Confucius’ life. Original Chinese Traditional Simplified Pronunciation 唐玄宗 唐玄宗 Táng xuán zōng 經鄒魯祭孔子而歎之 经邹鲁祭孔子而叹之 Jīng zōu lǔ jì kǒng zǐ ér tàn zhī 夫子何為者， 夫子何为者， Fū zǐ hé wéi zhě, 栖栖一代中。 栖栖一代中。 Qī qī yī dài zhōng. 地猶鄹氏邑， 地犹鄹氏邑， De yóu zōu shì yì, 宅即魯王宮。 宅即鲁王宫。 Zhái jí lǔ wáng gōng. 歎鳳嗟身否， 叹凤嗟身否， Tàn fèng jiē shēn pǐ, 傷麟怨道窮。 伤麟怨道穷。 Shāng lín yuàn dào qióng. 今看兩楹奠， 今看两楹奠， Jīn kàn liǎng yíng diàn, 當與夢時同。 当与梦时同。 Dāng yǔ mèng shí tóng. Literal Translation 唐玄宗 Tang Mysterious Ancestor=Tang Xuanzong (685-762)[Tang Xuanzong= This is the reigning name of the 7th emperor in Tang Dynasty. His name is Li Longji.] 經鄒魯祭孔子而歎之 Pass-through/classics Southeast-of-Shandong-Province/Zou Shandong-Province/Lu offer-sacrifice-to/worship Great Offspring and/yet/and-then/but sigh/admire it/him[Great Offspring = Confucius] 夫子何為者， Master scholar/pedant/child/offspring what/why/where/how for/why/do/in-the-capacity-of people-who[Master scholar = Master/teacher], [what for/why= Why Master Confucius is …. (so busy preaching), mentioned in the next line.] 栖栖一代中。 To-perch-like-bird/stay dwell/roost one generation/life/era/replace in/among[Note: Confucius spent his whole life busy preaching in various kingdoms, yet never had a place to settle down.] 地猶鄹氏邑， Place/land/earth/soil/region as-if/like/similar-to/just-like Zou family/clan city/village[Zou’s= Zou was a state in Shandong Province, where Confucius was born.] 宅即魯王宮。 House/residence namely/that-is/promptly/quickly/immediately Lu-kingdom King/Royal Palace[Note: The king of Lu once wanted to destroy Confucius’ land to expand his own palace, but when he heard the music from his house, he awed and dropped the plan.] 歎鳳嗟身否， Sigh/admire male-phoenix/symbol-of-joy sigh/alas body/life clogged/evil/unfortunate/no/not/deny[Note: The ancient Chinese believe if the phoenix arrives, it means the sage is blessed in his life. Confucius once said this to himself, thinking he was born at the wrong time, and thus couldn’t realize his dreams. ] 傷麟怨道窮。 Hurt/injure/wound female-unicorn complain/blame/hatred/enmity/resentment path/way/road end/exhausted/poor/destitute[female-unicorn= unicorn is also a legendary animal and a symbol of millennium. This line quoted another anecdote. Once the king of Lu Kingdom captured a unicorn. When Confucius heard this news, he said he’s at the end of his way. Also, he ended compiling the book, “Spring and Autumn Annals”.] 今看兩楹奠， Today/modern-era look-at/see/examine two pillar a-libation-to-the-dead/pay-respect[Note: It describes the solemn sacrifice offering service.] 當與夢時同。 Should-be/bear/accept/undertake/suitable/adequate/proper with/and dream/vision time/moment/season/era the-same/similar[Note: Before Confucius passed away, he had a dream about himself sitting in between the two pillars. Usually, the coffin was laying between 2 pillars. So he knew that his hour had come.] The literal character-by-character translation and notes were compiled with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China. Rating Select ratingGive it 1/5Give it 2/5Give it 3/5Give it 4/5Give it 5/5 No votes yet Rate