Grieving for My Homeland
by Frank Watson
Qu Yuan (343-278 B.C.)


The Emperor of Heaven has not a pure fate,
For how the meek now tremble at his mistakes.
Subjects leave, scattering, forgetting one another,
Going east with the coming spring.

I left the ancient capital and went afar,
Following the summer river, adrift in loss.
As I left our nation’s gate, I boarded a ferry,
Carrying it all in my bosom—now I explain my travels.

I left the capital of Ying, departing for a tiny village,
Thrust suddenly upon a pitiful wasteland.
With oars as long as willow trees, they carried me,
And I mourned that I would never see my sovereign again.

With hope for the future, I rest on a long catalpa tree,
Tears flowing excessively, like hail,
Passing through the summer in a westward drift,
Looking back on the Emperor’s Gate without seeing it,
Feeling the cicada’s beauty with a wounded heart,
Blind without knowing my place,
Adrift in the winds and waves,
A traveler on the open sea.

Crossing the sun in an archer’s slope,
A stream that branches away but washes back in a flood,
Suddenly soaring but still weak,
A knotted heart in tangles,
Born lame without a reason,
A boat in a downward drift,
From the Dongting Lake to a river below—
Now I ramble far away from the east,
A nomad in spirit but wanting to return.
Will he suddenly forget my wrong?

Behind the summer shore, I think on this western place,
Mourning the ancient capital’s distant sun,
Climbing a massive mound and gazing afar,
Hoping to soothe my grieving heart,
A sad state’s music is lost in the wind,
A sorrowful river divides,
Obstructing the sun from reaching the hill—
Oh, how the southern distance never ends!

I have known it all already—the summer a grave,
The Eastern Gate engulfed in weeds!
Long ago my heart already lost its harmony—
Melancholy, anxiety—both have come
Now that Ying is in the far-off distance.

The summer is a river I cannot wade;
If all were to disappear, I would not believe—
Nine years have come and I have not returned.
Wretched aroma, sweetness cannot pass,
Lame and forlorn, hindered in sadness.

In the capital, advisors pour on their flattery
While the faithful find their position hard to sustain,
And the deeply loyal, who want to progress,
Face envy and are forced to leave.

A sage once walked in defiance,
Clearing the deep mysteries of heaven;
The weak-minded slandered him,
Mistreated him, gave him a false name.
The masses, detesting somber thought,
Followed the beautiful lie,
As with a lady’s ardent sigh;
The crowd stamps on the sunlight,
Passing over it and walking by.

Reasons for chaos:

Long my eye has flowed over this,
Hoping for a change, but when will it come?
Birds fly away from the ancient land
And the fox’s head lies in a grave.

Do not believe my crimes,
And cancel my expulsion,
As the day forgets the night!

Original Chinese


Traditional
Simplified
Pronunciation



哀郢
哀郢
āi yǐng



皇天之不純命兮，
皇天之不纯命兮，
huáng tiān zhī bù chún mìng xī ，
何百姓之震愆？
何百姓之震愆？
hé bǎi xìng zhī zhèn qiān ？
民離散而相失兮，
民离散而相失兮，
mín lí sàn ér xiāng shī xī ，
方仲春而東遷。
方仲春而东迁。
fāng zhòng chūn ér dōng qiān 。
去故都而就遠兮，
去故都而就远兮，
qù gù dū ér jiù yuǎn xī ，
遵江夏以流亡。
遵江夏以流亡。
zūn jiāng xià yǐ liú wáng 。
出國門而軫懷兮，
出国门而轸怀兮，
chū guó mén ér zhěn huái xī ，
申之吾以行。
申之吾以行。
shēn zhī wú yǐ xíng 。
發郢都而去閭兮，
发郢都而去闾兮，
fā yǐng dū ér qù lǘ xī ，
怊荒忽其焉極！
怊荒忽其焉极！
chāo huāng hū qí yān jí ！
楫齊楊以容與兮，
楫齐杨以容与兮，
jí qí yáng yǐ róng yǔ xī ，
哀見君而不再得。
哀见君而不再得。
āi jiàn jūn ér bù zài dé 。
望長楸而太息兮，
望长楸而太息兮，
wàng cháng qiū ér tài xī xī ，
涕淫淫其若霰，
涕淫淫其若霰，
tì yín yín qí ruò xiàn ，
過夏首而西浮兮，
过夏首而西浮兮，
 guò xià shǒu ér xī fú xī ，
顧龍門而不見，
顾龙门而不见，
gù lóng mén ér bù jiàn ，
心蟬媛而傷懷兮，
心蝉媛而伤怀兮，
xīn chán yuàn ér shāng huái xī ，
眇不知其所，
眇不知其所，
miǎo bù zhī qí suǒ ，
順風波以從流兮，
顺风波以从流兮，
shùn fēng bō yǐ cóng liú xī ，
焉洋洋而為客。
焉洋洋而为客。
yān yáng yáng ér wéi kè 。
淩陽侯之汜濫兮，
凌阳侯之汜滥兮，
líng yáng hóu zhī sì làn xī ，
忽翺翔之焉薄，
忽翱翔之焉薄，
hū áo xiáng zhī yān báo ，
心絓結而不解兮，
心絓结而不解兮，
xīn guà jié ér bù jiě xī ，
思蹇產而不釋。
思蹇产而不释。
sī jiǎn chǎn ér bù shì 。
將運舟而下浮兮，
将运舟而下浮兮，
jiāng yùn zhōu ér xià fú xī ，
上洞庭而下江，
上洞庭而下江，
shàng dòng tíng ér xià jiāng ，
去終古之所居兮，
去终古之所居兮，
qù zhōng gǔ zhī suǒ jū xī ，
今逍遙而來東，
今逍遥而来东，
jīn xiāo yáo ér lái dōng ，
羌靈魂之欲歸兮，
羌灵魂之欲归兮，
qiāng líng hún zhī yù guī xī ，
何須臾之忘反？
何须臾之忘反？
hé xū yú zhī wàng fǎn ？
背夏浦而西思兮，
背夏浦而西思兮，
bèi xià pǔ ér xī sī xī ，
哀故都之日遠，
哀故都之日远，
āi gù dū zhī rì yuǎn ，
登大墳而遠望兮，
登大坟而远望兮，
dēng dà fén ér yuǎn wàng xī ，
聊以舒吾憂心，
聊以舒吾忧心，
liáo yǐ shū wú yōu xīn ，
哀州土之平樂兮，
哀州土之平乐兮，
āi zhōu tǔ zhī píng lè xī ，
悲江介之遺風，
悲江介之遗风，
bēi jiāng jiè zhī yí fēng ，
當陵陽之焉至兮，
当陵阳之焉至兮，
dāng líng yáng zhī yān zhì xī ，
渺南渡之焉如？
淼南渡之焉如？
miǎo nán dù zhī yān rú ？
曾不知夏之為丘兮，
曾不知夏之为丘兮，
zēng bù zhī xià zhī wéi qiū xī ，
孰兩東門之可蕪！
孰两东门之可芜！
shú liǎng dōng mén zhī kě wú ！
心不怡之長久兮，
心不怡之长久兮，
xīn bù yí zhī cháng jiǔ xī ，
憂與愁其相接，
忧与愁其相接，
yōu yǔ chóu qí xiāng jiē ，
惟郢路之遼遠兮，
惟郢路之辽远兮，
wéi yǐng lù zhī liáo yuǎn xī ，
江與夏之不可涉。
江与夏之不可涉。
jiāng yǔ xià zhī bù kě shè 。
忽若去不信兮，
忽若去不信兮，
hū ruò qù bù xìn xī ，
至今九年而不復。
至今九年而不复。
zhì jīn jiǔ nián ér bù fù 。
慘郁郁而不通兮，
惨郁郁而不通兮，
cǎn yù yù ér bù tōng xī ，
蹇侘傺而含戚。
蹇侘傺而含戚。
jiǎn chà chì ér hán qī 。
外承歡之汋約兮，
外承欢之汋约兮，
wài chéng huān zhī zhuó yuē xī ，
諶荏弱而維持，
谌荏弱而维持，
chén rěn ruò ér wéi chí ，
忠湛湛而願進兮，
忠湛湛而愿进兮，
zhōng zhàn zhàn ér yuàn jìn xī ，
妒被離而鄣之。
妒被离而鄣之。
dù bèi lí ér zhāng zhī 。
堯舜之抗行兮，
尧舜之抗行兮，
yáo shùn zhī kàng xíng xī ，
嘹杳杳而薄天，
嘹杳杳而薄天，
liáo yǎo yǎo ér báo tiān ，
眾讒人之嫉妒兮，
众谗人之嫉妒兮，
zhòng chán rén zhī jī dù xī ，
被以不慈之偽名，
被以不慈之伪名，
bèi yǐ bù cí zhī wěi míng ，
憎慍論之修美兮，
憎愠论之修美兮，
zēng yùn lùn zhī xiū měi xī ，
好夫人之慷慨。
好夫人之慷慨。
hǎo fū rén zhī kāng kǎi 。
眾蹀而日進兮，
众蹀而日进兮，
zhòng dié ér rì jìn xī ，
美超遠而逾邁。
美超远而逾迈。
měi chāo yuǎn ér yú mài 。
亂曰：
乱曰：
luàn yuē ：
曼余目以流觀兮，
曼余目以流观兮，
màn yú mù yǐ liú guān xī ，
冀一反之何時？
冀一反之何时？
jì yī fǎn zhī hé shí ？
鳥飛反故鄉兮，
鸟飞反故乡兮，
niǎo fēi fǎn gù xiāng xī ，
狐死必首丘。
狐死必首丘。
hú sǐ bì shǒu qiū 。
信非吾罪而棄逐兮，
信非吾罪而弃逐兮，
xìn fēi wú zuì ér qì zhú xī ，
何日夜而忘之！
何日夜而忘之！
hé rì yè ér wàng zhī ！


Translation Notes


The poet contributed many of the poems in the Chu Ci (Songs of the South). He was a descendent of the royal Chu clan and served under King Huai of Chu (reigned 328-289 B.C.), advocating an anti-Qin alliance in the years before the Qin state conquered all of China. He was exiled for much of his career due to political rivals slandering him. This poem is a complaint about the exile and seems to be written to persuade the emperor to change his mind and return him to the capital.

哀郢
Grieving Ying
[Ying was the capital of the ancient Chu state]


皇天之不純命兮，
Emperor heaven ’s not pure fate [exclamatory],
何百姓之震愆？
How hundred clan ’s tremble transgressions?
[Hundred clan = common people]
民離散而相失兮，
Subjects leave scatter and each-other neglect [exclamatory],
[Leave scatter = scatter about]
方仲春而東遷。
Region go-between spring and-then eastward move.
去故都而就遠兮，
Depart old capital and go-to distance [exclamatory],
[Old capital = former capital]
遵江夏以流亡。
Follow river summer thereby drift loss.
[Drift loss = forced into exile]
出國門而軫懷兮，
Go-out nation gate and cross-board-at-rear-of-carriage carry-in-bosom [exclamatory],
[Go-out nation = to leave the country]
申之吾以行。
Explain them my therefore travel
發郢都而去閭兮，
Send-out Ying capital and-then depart village [exclamatory],
怊荒忽其焉極！
Sorrowful wasteland suddenly that thereupon furthest!
楫齊楊以容與兮，
Oar of-equal-length willow figure with [exclamatory],
哀見君而不再得。
Mournful see sovereign and-then not again allowed.
望長楸而太息兮，
Hope long Catalpa-tree and-then big rest [exclamatory],
涕淫淫其若霰，
Tears excessive obscene its similar-to hail,
過夏首而西浮兮，
Pass-through summer first and-then westward drift [exclamatory],
顧龍門而不見，
Look-back dragon/emperor gate and-then not see/meet,
心蟬媛而傷懷兮，
Heart cicada beauty and wound bosom [exclamatory],
[Wound bosom = full of sorrow]
眇不知其所，
Blind not know his place,
順風波以從流兮，
Follow wind waves thereby through drift [exclamatory],
[Wind waves = disturbance]
焉洋洋而為客。
Then ocean sea and become traveler.
[Ocean sea = vast]
淩陽侯之汜濫兮，
Cross sun target-in-archery ’s stream-which-leaves-the-main-branch-then-later-returns flood [exclamatory],
忽翺翔之焉薄，
Suddenly soar glide ’s thereupon weak,
心絓結而不解兮，
Heart hindered knotted and not loosened [exclamatory],
[Not loosened = puzzled, not understand]
思蹇產而不釋。
Think lame/unfortunate given-birth and not explained
將運舟而下浮兮，
Will transport boat and downward drift [exclamatory],
上洞庭而下江，
On-top Dong/cave Ting/courtyard and beneath river/Jiang
[Dong Ting = Lake Dong Ting]
去終古之所居兮，
Leave finally old ’s place live [exclamatory],
[Place live = dwelling]
今逍遙而來東，
Now ramble far-away and come east,
[Ramble far-away = free and unfettered]
羌靈魂之欲歸兮，
Qiang spirit soul ’s desire return [exclamatory]
[Qiang = an ancient nomadic group in the north of China]
何須臾之忘反？
What have-to moment them forget reverse?
[Have-to moment = in a flash]
背夏浦而西思兮，
Behind summer shore but westward think [exclamatory],
哀故都之日遠，
Pitiful ancient capital ’s sun distant,
登大墳而遠望兮，
Climb great mound and-then distance look-at [exclamatory],
[Distance look-at = gaze afar]
聊以舒吾憂心，
Somewhat thereby open-up my grieving heart,
[Grieving heart = concerned]
哀州土之平樂兮，
Sad state soil ’s peaceful happy/music [exclamatory]
悲江介之遺風，
Sorrow river lies-between ’s lost wind,
當陵陽之焉至兮，
Obstructing hill light/sun it thereupon reach [exclamatory],
渺南渡之焉如？
Endlessly-long southward cross it where like?
曾不知夏之為丘兮，
Already not know summer it becomes grave [exclamatory]
孰兩東門之可蕪！
What both eastern gate ’s may overgrown-with-weeds!
心不怡之長久兮，
Heart no harmony its long long-time-ago [exclamatory],
[Long long-time-ago = long time]
憂與愁其相接，
Melancholy with anxiety its mutual receive,
[Mutual receive = merge with, interlocking]
惟郢路之遼遠兮，
But Ying path its far distant [exclamatory].
江與夏之不可涉。
River with summer it not able wade-across.
忽若去不信兮，
Suddenly if go-away no believe [exclamatory]
至今九年而不復。
Reached now nine years and not returned.
[Reached now = so far, until this day]
慘郁郁而不通兮，
Wretched sweet-smelling aroma/elegant and not pass-through [exclamatory],
蹇侘傺而含戚。
Lame forlorn hindered and contain sadness.
外承歡之汋約兮，
Outside succeed happy it pours agreement [exclamatory],
[Succeed happy = cater to somebody to make him/her happy]
諶荏弱而維持，
Faithful pliable delicate and preserve sustain,
忠湛湛而願進兮，
Loyal/honest deep profound and want make-progress [exclamatory],
妒被離而鄣之。
Jealous passive-indicator/by leaving and Zhang ’s.
堯舜之抗行兮，
Yao Shun ’s defiant walk [exclamatory],
[Yao Shun was a legendary ancient emperor and sage around 2200 B.C.]
嘹杳杳而薄天，
Clear-sound/cry-of-cranes dark obscure mysterious and weak heaven,
[Dark obscure = deep and somber]
眾讒人之嫉妒兮，
Masses slander man ’s be-jealous-of envious [exclamatory],
被以不慈之偽名，
Passive-indicator/by therefore not kind his false name,
憎慍論之修美兮，
Detest indignant opinion ’s decorate/embellish beautiful [exclamatory],
好夫人之慷慨。
Easy-to/good man person ’s ardent sigh.
[Man person = lady]
眾蹀而日進兮，
Crowd dances/tramps-on and sun enters [exclamatory],
美超遠而逾邁。
Pleasing jump-over distance and-then passes-over passes-by.
亂曰：
Chaos reason/history:
曼余目以流觀兮，
Long my eye thereby flows see [exclamatory],
冀一反之何時？
Hope-for a reversal its what time?
[Reversal its = on the other hand, conversely]
[What time = when]
鳥飛反故鄉兮，
Bird fly opposite ancient country [exclamatory],
狐死必首丘。
Fox dies must head grave.
信非吾罪而棄逐兮，
Believe not my crime and throw-away expel [exclamatory],
何日夜而忘之！
How day night and forget it!

All writings and translations are Copyright © by Frank Watson, also writing as "Blue Flute" (2011-2014).
Year: 
2013