Like many of China’s great classical poets, Wang Wei wrote a lot of his work while in disfavor with the government. Basically he was “disappointed and frustrated” in government service and forced into a demotion away from the capital. However, overall, he had a successful government career, despite the ups and downs, and being captured by rebels and suspected of being a traitor for a while. The last line refers to the classic Book of Songs where many poems and songs celebrate nature.
My Translation
Wang Wei (701-761 AD) | 王維 |
Wei River Farm House | 渭川田家 |
Slanting light shines on the country hills | 斜光 照墟落 |
And through the impoverished alleys the cows and sheep return | 窮巷 牛羊 歸 |
The aged in the field anticipate the shepherd boy | 野老 念 牧童 |
And lean on their canes, awaiting him at the gate of twig | 倚杖 候 荊扉 |
Cocks crow and wheat sprouts luxuriantly | 雉雊 麥苗 秀 |
Silkworms hibernate as the mulberry leaves grow scarce | 蠶眠 桑葉 稀 |
Farmers carry their hoes on their shoulders, and lay them down | 田夫 荷鋤 立 |
Seeing each other they chat, reluctant to go home | 相見 語 依依 |
At once this life prompts envy of a leisurely escape | 即此 羨 閒逸 |
Disappointed and frustrated I sing from the Book of Songs | 悵然 吟 式微 |
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
王維 | 王维 | Wáng Wéi |
渭川田家 | 渭川田家 | Wèi Chuān Tián Jiā |
斜光照墟落， | 斜光照墟落， | Xié guāng // zhào xū luò, |
窮巷牛羊歸。 | 穷巷牛羊归。 | Qióng xiàng // niú yáng guī. |
野老念牧童， | 野老念牧童， | Yě lǎo // niàn mù tóng, |
倚杖候荊扉。 | 倚杖候荆扉。 | Yǐ zhàng // hou jīng fēi. |
雉雊麥苗秀， | 雉雊麦苗秀， | Zhì gòu // mài miáo xiù, |
蠶眠桑葉稀。 | 蚕眠桑叶稀。 | Cán mián // sāng yè xī. |
田夫荷鋤立， | 田夫荷锄立， | Tián fu // hè chú lì, |
相見語依依。 | 相见语依依。 | Xiāng jiàn // yǔ yī yī. |
即此羨閒逸， | 即此羡闲逸， | Jí cǐ // xiàn xián yì, |
悵然吟式微。 | 怅然吟式微。 | Chàn grán // yín shì wēi. |
Literal Translation
王維 | King Preserve [Wang Wei (701-761 AD)] |
渭川田家 | Wei River Farm House |
斜光照墟落， | Slanting light shine hilly-countryside fall [light shine = illumination] |
窮巷牛羊歸。 | Impoverished alleys cow sheep return [cow sheep = cattle & sheep / livestock] |
野老念牧童， | Field aged recall/anticipate shepherd boy |
倚杖候荊扉。 | Lean-on cane await/greet twig gate |
雉雊麥苗秀， | Cocks crow wheat sprouts flowering/luxuriant |
蠶眠桑葉稀。 | Silkworms sleep mulberry-tree leaf scarce [silkworms sleep = hibernation period of silkworms] |
田夫荷鋤立， | Field man carries-on-shoulders hoe lay-down/stand |
相見語依依。 | Mutual see chat rely-on rely-on [mutual see = see each other, meet; rely-on rely-on = to regret leaving, reluctant to part] |
即此羨閒逸， | Promptly/at-once this envy leisure flee/escape |
悵然吟式微。 | Disappointed certainly sing/hum style small [disappointed certainly = disappointed and frustrated; style small = title of a section in the Book of Songs] |
Year:
2011
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