This poem was written by Wang Wei for his friend, Qiwu Qian, who failed the imperial examination, which was an extremely difficult examination required to become a government official. The first part of the poem is saying that in an era of good leadership, the worthy people should attempt to serve society in government (seek the peak) and not remain isolated. He alludes to a famous hermit who lived in isolation when he references the East Mountain hermit.
The next part talks about the time Qiwu Qian stayed in the capital, from spring to spring. The Golden Gate is where the Emperor chose the new officials; saying it is was too far implies he failed his exam. Finally, it talks about the farewell feast and his return home, and gives encouragement that he should still feel like he has friends despite failing the examination.
The next part talks about the time Qiwu Qian stayed in the capital, from spring to spring. The Golden Gate is where the Emperor chose the new officials; saying it is was too far implies he failed his exam. Finally, it talks about the farewell feast and his return home, and gives encouragement that he should still feel like he has friends despite failing the examination.
My Translation
By Wang Wei (701-761 AD) | 王維 |
Seeing Off Qiwu Qian After Failing the Exam and Returning Home | 送綦毋潛 落第還鄉 |
In a sagely era one must not be hidden | 聖代 無隱者 |
Worthy souls must go and seek the peak | 英靈 盡 來歸 |
The East Mountain’s hermits too like you must obey this command | 遂令 東山 客 |
And give up tending their herbs | 不得 顧採 薇 |
*** | |
You’ve already reached the Golden Gate, but it was too far | 既至 金門 遠 |
Who says you're not capable of this path? | 孰雲 吾道非 |
At the Yangzi River of spring last you went to the Festival of Cold Food | 江淮 度寒食 |
And at the Yellow River now you mend this spring’s clothes | 京洛 縫 春衣 |
*** | |
I make a feast by Chang’an Road | 置酒 長安道 |
And we’re of the same mind, together as we part | 衕心 與我違 |
You’ll undertake your travel, sailing in a boat of cassia | 行當 浮桂棹 |
And before long you’ll brush away the bramble by your door | 未幾 拂荊 扉 |
The distant trees will line your travels | 遠樹 帶行客 |
And the falling sun will light the lonely towns | 孤城 當落暉 |
Your plan was impeded and following of no use | 吾謀 適 不用 |
But you must not feel that your friends are few | 勿謂 知音 稀 |
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
王維 | 王维 | Wáng Wéi |
送綦毋潛 落第還鄉 | 送綦毋潜 落第还乡 | Sòng qí wú qián luò dì huán xiāng |
聖代無隱者， | 圣代无隐者， | Shèng dài // wú yǐn zhě, |
英靈盡來歸， | 英灵尽来归， | Yīng líng // jǐn lái guī, |
遂令東山客， | 遂令东山客， | Suì lìng // dōng shān kè, |
不得顧採薇。 | 不得顾采薇。 | Bù dé // gù cǎi wēi. |
既至金門遠， | 既至金门远， | Jì zhì // jīn mén yuǎn, |
孰雲吾道非？ | 孰云吾道非？ | Shú yún // wú dào fēi? |
江淮度寒食， | 江淮度寒食， | Jiāng huái // dù hán shí, |
京洛縫春衣。 | 京洛缝春衣。 | Jīng luò // fèng chūn yī. |
置酒長安道， | 置酒长安道， | Zhì jiǔ // cháng ān dào, |
衕心與我違； | 同心与我违； | Tóng xīn // yǔ wǒ wéi; |
行當浮桂棹， | 行当浮桂棹， | Háng dang // fú guì zhào, |
未幾拂荊扉。 | 未几拂荆扉。 | Wèi jǐ // fú jīng fēi. |
遠樹帶行客， | 远树带行客， | Yuǎn shù // dài xíng kè, |
孤城當落暉。 | 孤城当落晖。 | Gū chéng // dāng luò huī. |
吾謀適不用， | 吾谋适不用， | Wú móu // shì bù yòng, |
勿謂知音稀？ | 勿谓知音稀？ | Wù wèi // zhī yīn xī? |
Literal Translation
王維 | King Preserve [Wang Wei (701-761 AD)] |
送綦毋潛 落第還鄉 | See-off gray not hidden fall grade still village [gray not hidden = Qiwu Qian; fall grade = fail an exam; still village = return home] |
聖代無隱者， | Sage era not hidden one-who-is |
英靈盡來歸， | Brave soul finished come return |
遂令東山客， | Satisfy cause east mountain traveler |
不得顧採薇。 | Not obtain look-after pluck fern [not obtain = must not] |
既至金門遠， | Already reach golden gate far |
孰雲吾道非？ | Who say impede path oppose? |
江淮度寒食， | Yangzi river event cold meal [event cold meal = Cold Food Festival] |
京洛縫春衣。 | Capital river mend spring clothes |
置酒長安道， | Lay-out wine long peaceful road [long peaceful road = Chang’an Road] |
衕心與我違； | Same heart/mind together-with our parting |
行當浮桂棹， | Travel undertake float cassia boat |
未幾拂荊扉。 | Not-yet few brush-away thorns door [not-yet few = soon, before long] |
遠樹帶行客， | Distant tree girdle travel traveler |
孤城當落暉。 | Lonely town just-at fall sunshine |
吾謀適不用， | Impede plan follow no use [no use = need not] |
勿謂知音稀？ | Must-not sense perceive sound sparse [perceive sound = intimate friend, soul mate] |
Year:
2011
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