Year
Anonymous
Wartime efforts are pure
For the three hundred that depart to heaven,
Grasping a lonely cloud by the sides,
Becoming one with the sky.
For the golden child, the mountains
And water make a treacherous path;
And as a snake studies the bird in his cage,
So power flows from heaven.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
三秦民謠 | 三秦民谣 | sān qín mín yáo |
武功太白， | 武功太白， | wǔ gōng tài bái ， |
去天三百。 | 去天三百。 | qù tiān sān bǎi 。 |
孤雲兩角， | 孤云两角， | gū yún liǎng jiǎo ， |
去天一握。 | 去天一握。 | qù tiān yī wò 。 |
山水險阻， | 山水险阻， | shān shuǐ xiǎn zǔ ， |
黃金子午。 | 黄金子午。 | huáng jīn zǐ wǔ 。 |
蛇盤鳥櫳， | 蛇盘鸟栊， | shé pán niǎo lóng ， |
勢與天通。 | 势与天通。 | shì yǔ tiān tōng 。 |
Translation Notes
This poem describes the wars that united China under the control of the Qin state in 221 B.C.
三秦民謠 | Three Qin-state people song [Qin-state (221-207 B.C.) first unified China under a single emperor] [People song = ballad] |
武功太白， | Warlike achievement very pure [Warlike achievement = martial art or military achievement] |
去天三百。 | Depart sky three hundred |
孤雲兩角， | Lone cloud two sides |
去天一握。 | Depart sky one take-by-hand |
山水險阻， | Mountain water narrow-pass oppose [Mountain water = landscape] [Narrow-pass oppose = dangerous and difficult path] |
黃金子午。 | Yellow gold/Jin child noon [Yellow gold = gold] |
蛇盤鳥櫳， | Snake examines bird cage |
勢與天通。 | Power with heaven passes-through |