Year
Bathed in orchids, heat and scent,
Colored clothes, falling flowers—
The spirits gather
Chaos
Sparkling bright
Words outright
The sun and moon in equal light
A Dragon sails in heavenly clothes
Swirling in troubled throes
The Spirit descends
In whirling clouds
To see the islands around
Across the seas, now poor,
I long for my lord
Without rest, worried
When all is stressed
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
九歌 雲中君 | 九歌 云中君 | jiǔ gē yún zhōng jūn |
浴蘭湯兮沐芳， | 浴兰汤兮沐芳， | yù lán tāng xī mù fāng ， |
華采衣兮若英； | 华采衣兮若英； | huá cǎi yī xī ruò yīng ; |
靈連蜷兮既留， | 灵连蜷兮既留， | líng lián quán xī jì liú ， |
爛昭昭兮未央； | 烂昭昭兮未央； | làn zhāo zhāo xī wèi yāng ; |
謇將憺兮壽宮， | 謇将憺兮寿宫， | jiǎn jiāng dàn xī shòu gōng ， |
與日月兮齊光； | 与日月兮齐光； | yǔ rì yuè xī qí guāng ; |
龍駕兮帝服， | 龙驾兮帝服， | lóng jià xī dì fú ， |
聊翺遊兮周章； | 聊翱游兮周章； | liáo áo yóu xī zhōu zhāng ; |
靈皇皇兮既降， | 灵皇皇兮既降， | líng huáng huáng xī jì jiàng ， |
猋遠舉兮雲中； | 猋远举兮云中； | biāo yuǎn jǔ xī yún zhōng ; |
覽冀洲兮有余， | 览冀洲兮有余， | lǎn jì zhōu xī yǒu yú ， |
橫四海兮焉窮； | 横四海兮焉穷； | héng sì hǎi xī yān qióng ; |
思夫君兮太息， | 思夫君兮太息， | sī fū jūn xī tài xī ， |
極勞心兮忡忡； | 极劳心兮忡忡； | jí láo xīn xī chōng chōng; |
Translation Notes
九歌 雲中君 | Nine Songs Clouds Midst Lord |
浴蘭湯兮沐芳， | Bathe orchids hot-water xi bath fragrant, |
華采衣兮若英； | Magnificent colored clothes xi like flower-petals; |
靈連蜷兮既留， | Spirits join huddle xi both…and… stop; |
爛昭昭兮未央； | Chaotic bright bright xi not-yet over; |
謇將憺兮壽宮， | Speak-out-boldly going-to peace xi long-life palace, |
與日月兮齊光； | And sun moon xi equal light; |
龍駕兮帝服， | Dragon sail xi emperor/god clothes, |
聊翺遊兮周章； | Just soar wander xi circumference section; [Circumference section = efforts, troubles, pains] |
靈皇皇兮既降， | Spirit royal ruler xi then descend, [Royal ruler = exhuberant, prosperous] |
猋遠舉兮雲中； | Whirlwind distant raise xi clouds midst; |
覽冀洲兮有余， | Look-at hope-for island xi have my; [Have my = have an abundance] |
橫四海兮焉窮； | Across/unexpected/harsh four seas xi thereupon poor; |
思夫君兮太息， | Think man lord xi very rest/cease, |
極勞心兮忡忡； | Utmost labor heart xi sad uneasy; [Labor heart = worry] |