My Translation
邱為 | |
Seeking the Hermit of Western Mountain, But Not Finding Him | 尋西山隱 者不遇 |
At the mountain top, a lone house, thatched | 絕頂 一茅茨 |
It was thirty miles1 of upward climb | 直上 三十里 |
Knocking at the gate there’s no servant to answer | 扣關 無僮僕 |
Peeping in the room, only the tables and benches exist | 窺室 惟案几 |
He’s not there, possibly driving his wooden wagon | 若非 巾柴車 |
Or maybe fishing in the autumn water | 應是 釣 秋水 |
I came to the wrong place, and we cannot see each other | 差池 不 相見 |
My effort to admire him in vain, prevented | 黽勉 空仰 止 |
But the color of grass that’s fresh with rain | 草色 新雨中 |
The music of pines lining the window of evening | 松聲 晚窗裡 |
All this reaching me, the peaceful, beautiful scenery | 及茲 契幽絕 |
Feeling fulfilled— my ears, my heart are cleansed | 自足 蕩 心耳 |
Although neither host nor guest, as intended | 雖無 賓主 意 |
I was quite contented, purified with tranquility | 頗得 清淨理 |
Thus I had my fill of the place and went down the hill | 興盡 方 下山 |
For what need did I have to wait for him? | 何必 待之子 |
Note
1. A Chinese mile (里 “li”) is about 500 meters.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
邱為 | 邱为 | Qiū Wéi |
尋西山隱者不遇 | 寻西山隐者不遇 | Xún Xī Shān Yǐn Zhě Bù Yù |
絕頂一茅茨， | 绝顶一茅茨， | Jué dǐng // yī máo cí, |
直上三十里； | 直上三十里； | Zhí shàng // sān shí lǐ; |
扣關無僮僕， | 扣关无僮仆， | Kòu guān // wú tóng pú, |
窺室惟案几。 | 窥室惟案几。 | Kuī shì // wéi àn jǐ. |
若非巾柴車？ | 若非巾柴车？ | Ruò fēi // jīn chái chē? |
應是釣秋水。 | 应是钓秋水。 | Yīng shì // diào qiū shuǐ. |
差池不相見， | 差池不相见， | Chā chí // bù xiāng jiàn, |
黽勉空仰止。 | 黾勉空仰止。 | Miǎn miǎn // kōng yǎng zhǐ. |
草色新雨中， | 草色新雨中， | Cǎo sè // xīn yǔ zhòng, |
松聲晚窗裡； | 松声晚窗里； | Sōng shēng // wǎn chuāng li; |
及茲契幽絕， | 及兹契幽绝， | Jí zī // qì yōu jué, |
自足蕩心耳。 | 自足荡心耳。 | Zì zú // dàng xīn ěr. |
雖無賓主意， | 虽无宾主意， | Suī wú // bīn zhǔ yì, |
頗得清淨理。 | 颇得清净理。 | Pō dé // qīng jìng lǐ. |
興盡方下山， | 兴尽方下山， | Xìng jǐn // fāng xià shān, |
何必待之子。 | 何必待之子。 | Hé bì // dài zhī zǐ. |
Literal Translation
邱為 | Hill Because-of [Qiu Wei (701-796)] |
尋西山隱者不遇 | Seek Western Mountain Hidden He-Who Not Meet |
絕頂一茅茨， | Disappear peak entire/one grass thatching |
直上三十里； | Vertical go-up 30 miles |
扣關無僮僕， | Knock gate no boy-page servant |
窺室惟案几。 | Peep room but/only bench table |
若非巾柴車？ | Supposing not drive firewood cart/carry-in-cart [supposing not = were it not, if not for] |
應是釣秋水。 | Must be fishing autumn water |
差池不相見， | Wrong/error pond no mutual see |
黽勉空仰止。 | Strive make-effort in-vain look-up/admire prohibit |
草色新雨中， | Grass color/beauty new rain midst/hit-by |
松聲晚窗裡； | Pine-tree sound/music evening/night window lining |
及茲契幽絕， | Extend/reach here/this pleasant-to-enjoy tranquil scenery |
自足蕩心耳。 | Self attain cleanse heart/mind/soul ear [self attain = self-sufficient, satisfied with oneself] |
雖無賓主意， | Although/even-though no/-less guest host thought [host thought = plan, idea, decision] |
頗得清淨理。 | Quite contented peaceful pure manage/tidy-up [peaceful pure = peaceful, quite, tranquil, purified] |
興盡方下山， | Thrive used-up place/direction under/down mountain [thrive used-up = lost interest, have had enough] |
何必待之子。 | Why must wait him/go-to offspring [why must = there is no need, why should] |
Year:
2011
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