| "A Rhapsody Showing Ambition" Feng Yan | 顯志賦 馮衍 |
| Master Feng has virtues of noble character, and thus he doesn't deign to be the common jade, nor does he condescend to be the banal stone. (Note 1) | 馮子以為夫人之德 不碌碌如玉 落落如石 |
| With the rush of wind clouds will rise, sometimes a dragon will take the form of a snake, the Great Way is the path we take to soar, and the Opportune Time is the point we change, thus, how can a man stay constant throughout his life? | 風興雲蒸 一龍一蛇 與道翱翔 與時變化 夫豈守一節哉 |
| "If one was appointed to a position of power, then he should show his full talents; if one were ignored by those in power, then he should hide his abilities"; one's advancement and recession is uncontrollable, and thus one must conform and attune at will. (Note 2) | 用之則行 舍之則臧 進退無主 屈申無常 |
| Thus, they say that, "The existence of a law is not enough to make it the absolute law, for it is the temperament of the times that judges its value; The existence of a rule is not enough to make it the absolute rule, for it is the situation of the ruled that must accommodate it." (Note 3) | 故曰 有法無法 因時為業 有度無度 與物趣舍 |
| "One should seek true fortune in the practice the Way, rather than to seek fame in mundanity; one should ignore the irrelevant rituals, and be unrestrained by the business of mortals. (Note 4) | 常務道德之實 而不求當世之名 闊略杪小之禮 蕩佚人間之事 |
| To walk with my head held high, calmly doing as I pleased." (Note 5) | 正身直行 恬然肆志 |
| Even though he loved such transcendent advice, the Times do not allow him to live it for himself; thus he can only sigh, paining for not living at the right time. | 顧嘗好俶儻之策 時莫能聽用其謀 喟然長嘆 自傷不遭 |
| For a long time he was stuck in this lowly position, and was unable to show his true abilities. | 久棲遲於小官 不得舒其所懷 |
| He thus had to restrain his heart and break his pride, despite his mind being trapped in loneliness and his spirit in sorrow. | 抑心折節 意悽情悲 |
| They say those who are noble would not linger on the profits of a pig or chicken; those who are affluent would not barter for a beggar's single coin. | 夫伐冰之家 不利鷄豚之息 委積之臣 不操市井之利 |
| But even though he served the government and collected its salary for twenty-odd years, his treasury only dwindled, and his residence grew more destitute. | 況歷位食祿二十餘年 而財產益狹 居處益貧 |
| But if a man of virtue has been appointed to rule, then he must act accordingly to the Great Way. | 惟夫君子之仕 行其道也 |
| Those who worry about worldly affairs cannot truly show their virtue, and those who seek only for themselves cannot expect any true accomplishment. | 慮時務者不能興其德 為身求者不能成其功 |
| He had left his home and returned many times, and traveled across the several prefectures. | 去而歸家 復羈旅於州郡 |
| The higher his position became, the poorer his family became. | 身愈據職 家彌窮困 |
| He was never able to escape the torment of hunger, and suffered the calamity of losing his firstborn son. | 卒離飢寒之災 有喪元子之禍 |
| His ancestor was a general that was buried close to the Wei Tomb, in his sorrow of the death of Emperor Yuan, and he converted it into a residence. (Note 6) | 先將軍葬渭陵 哀帝之崩也 營之以為園 |
| Thus he now lived East of Xinfeng, the highlands of Hongmen, between Shouan, where the land is wide, and roads lead in all directions. | 於是以新豐之東 鴻門之上 壽安之中 地埶高敞 四通廣大 |
| To the south he could see Mount Li, to the North he could see the Rivers Jing and Wei, to the East he could see the Yellow River, North of the Dragon Gate, with roads leading to the former Wei, Zhao and Han, (Note 7) to the west he could see the ancient cities of Feng and Hao, the past glories of Zhou and Qin, (Note 8) as a stranger he viewed the ruins, extending his sight out thousands of miles away, to survey the ancient capital, and finalized his decision to live here. | 南望酈山 北屬涇渭 東瞰河華 龍門之陽 三晉之路 西顧鄷鄗 周秦之丘 客觀之墟 通視千里 覽見舊都 遂定塋焉 |
| Now he had retired, as the loyal retainer that must cry in pain viewing the ruins of the lands of his lord, as the filial son that must sigh in sorrow upon entering the old chamber of his father. | 退而幽居 蓋忠臣過故墟而歔欷 孝子入 舊室而哀嘆 |
| Often he remembered his ancestors, who have created greatness before him, and bestowed accomplishments for their posterity; but due to the calamity of the Times, their graves are now overgrown with weed, their fire of offering have died out long ago, and their steles are no longer properly arrayed. | 每念祖考 著盛德於前 垂鴻烈於後 遭時之禍 墳墓蕪穢 春秋蒸嘗 昭穆無列 |
| With his life waning away into old age, he was saddened at his lack of achievement, thus he farmed and herded in the western fields, to raise livestock, to fulfill his filial piety, to construct his ancestral temple, and to sacrifice for his ancestors. | 年衰歲暮 悼無成功 將西田牧肥饒之野 殖生產 修孝道 營宗 廟 廣祭祀 |
| He then began instructing others in the way of virtue, to survey the thoughts of Confucius and Laozi, to live the fortunes of the transcendents. (Note 9) | 然後闔門講習道德 觀覽乎孔老之論 庶幾乎松喬之福 |
| He ascended the slopes, and climbed the plateaus, to allow his spirit to wander the universe, and his eyes to survey the earth. | 上隴阪 陟高岡 遊精宇宙 流目八紘 |
| He observed the mountains and rivers of all of China, and chased the bygones of the ancient days. | 歷觀九州山川之體 追覽上古得失之風 |
| He decried the loss of the Way, and the destruction of the Virtues. | 湣道陵遲 傷德分崩 |
| A man must return to the beginning to understand the end, thus heaven preserved those men to speak of the Way. | 夫睹其終必原其始 故存其人而詠其道 |
| As he arrayed the fields beneath him, he commanded the mountains nearby, with that he began thinking of ascending to above the clouds. (Note 10) | 疆理九野 經營五山 眇然有思陵雲之意 |
| Thus he composed this rhapsody (Note 11) to encourage himself, and named it "Showing Ambition". | 乃作賦自厲 命其篇曰 顯志 |
| What "Showing Ambition" speaks of is his desire to glorify the common decency, and manifest his truly marvelous thoughts. | 顯志者 言光明風化之情 昭章玄 妙之思也 |
| His words are: | 其辭曰 |
| "It is the springtime of a new year, and the flowers have not bloomed still. | 開歲發春兮 百卉含英 |
| It is the morning of conquest, and I hurriedly advanced towards the west. (Note 12) | 甲子之朝兮 汩吾西征 |
| I departed towards Xifeng, and wandered near the ancient capital of Hao. | 發軔新豐兮 裴回鎬京 |
| I sighed as I ascended Feilian, and I sorrowed as I climbed Pingyang. | 陵飛廉而太息兮 登平陽而懷傷 |
| I pained at the hardships of this time of trouble, and I sorrowed at the ever-changing tastes of the world. | 悲時俗之險阨兮 哀好惡之無常 |
| For it discarded the measure in favor of estimation, and it swayed without principle with fate. | 棄衡石而意量兮 隨風波而飛揚 |
| Many crowded towards power and fortune, and it favored sycophants and hated dissidence; | 紛綸流於權利兮 親雷同而妒異 |
| For those who are righteous and favored the ancient ways, how can the current times favor them? | 獨耿介而慕古兮 豈時人之所憙 |
| They profaned the words of the ancient sages, and beatified the ways of the current philosophy, (Note 13) | 沮先聖之成論兮 ⤧名賢之高風 |
| They ignored the beauty of Virtue, and focused on the pleasures of affluence." | 忽道德之珍麗兮 務富貴之樂耽 |
| I wandered along the great Way, and I trod the depths of Confucius's virtue; | 遵大路而裴回兮 履孔德之窈冥 |
| As for those it dazzled the unlearned, how can I ignore it completely? | 固眾夫之所眩兮 孰能觀於無形 |
| To be embroiled in misfortune despite my righteousness, it is not something unknown to my forefathers; | 行勁直以離尤兮 羌前人之所有 |
| Upon reflection I remain without regret, and thus I settled on my ambition without possibility of change. | 內自省而不慙兮 遂定志而弗改 |
| Happiness is the sages whom I accompanied in their way, but pitiful is the difficulty of my life; (Note 14) | 欣吾黨之唐虞兮 湣吾生之愁勤 |
| Thus I devoted myself to show my spirit, to dispel the worry within my heart. | 聊發憤而揚情兮 將以蕩夫憂心 |
| One cannot reach for those already gone, and one cannot plan for a meeting with those yet to come; | 往者不可攀援兮 來者不可與期 |
| I censured this endless impropriety, but I can find no reason to leave." | 病沒世之不稱兮 願橫逝而無由 |
| "I reached the altar of heaven in my wandering, and I passed Lueyang without return. | 陟雍畤而消搖兮 超略陽而不反" |
| I sorrowed at my life nearing its end, and I grieved at my relations leaving me further behind. | 念人生之不再兮 悲六親之日遠 |
| I climbed the Nine Zong Mountains to witness their jagged height, and I heard the waves of the Rivers Jing and Wei. | 陟九嵕而臨Ḛ嶭兮 聽涇渭之波聲 |
| Tears rolled down my cheek as I surveyed Hongmen, as I cried for my loneliness and early withering. | 顧鴻門而歔欷兮 哀吾孤之早零 |
| I asked for the reason for the pollution of the Way of Heaven, as it has punished my lineage so? | 何天命之不純兮 信吾罪之所生 |
| I hurt for the innocence of honesty and good heart, and that feeling I send to the Abyss along with this hate. | 傷誠善之無辜兮 齊此恨而入冥 |
| I sighed at my short-sighted thoughts, how could I regret my defeat like this? | 嗟我思之不遠兮 豈敗事之可悔 |
| Even in certain death I dare not rest, for I feared that calamity remains still around me. | 雖九死而不眠兮 恐餘殃之有再 |
| My tears flowed like the rain gathering, and sorrow condensed like a cloak of clouds. | 淚汍瀾而雨集兮 氣滂浡而雲披 |
| Rage gathered in my heart until I could no longer release, and my spirit is repressed by the sorrow within." | 心怫鬱而紆結兮 意沈抑而內悲 |
| "I watched the steepness of the Taihang Mountains, and viewed the height of the Hukou pass; | 瞰太行之嵯峨兮 觀壺口之崢嶸 |
| I pained at my ancestral tomb overgrown with weed, and I regretted their steles now in disarray. | 悼丘墓之蕪穢兮 恨昭穆之不榮 |
| As time flies by I grow older, and gradually my life fades away; | 歲忽忽而日邁兮 壽冉冉其不與 |
| I was ashamed that I made no accomplishments, and I returned to my ancestor's plains in solitude. | 恥功業之無成兮 赴原野而窮處 |
| In the olden days Yi Yin served his lord Tang, but only until the age of 70 was he accepted into council. (Note 15) | 昔伊尹之幹湯兮 七十說而乃信 |
| Gao Yao fished at the great Thunder Marsh, and it was Shun's lordship that brought him to power. (Note 16) | 皋陶釣於靁澤兮 賴虞舜而後親 |
| I didn't have the fortune of these two men, and thus I am not in the imperial court despite my talents; | 無二士之遭遇兮 抱忠貞而莫達 |
| Thus I must farm with my wife and son, forsaking my talent and not praise it. (Note 17) | 率妻子而耕耘兮 委厥美而不伐 |
| The Great Hound is repressed and unable to roam, and the Legendary Horse is trapped and unable to gallop; (Note 18) | 韓廬抑而不縱兮 騏驥絆而不試 |
| I alone in high spirits surveyed the distance, and I see what no unlearned can understand. | 獨慷慨而遠覽兮 非庸庸之所識 |
| I belittled Zigong's materialism, and I valued Yanhui's literary desires; | 卑衛賜之阜貨兮 高顏回之所慕 |
| I valued my ancestor's great accomplishments, and thus I finished my life on their path. | 重祖考之洪烈兮 故收功於此路 |
| I followed the Seasons as they changed, and I discerned the transmutation of the elements; (Note 19) | 循四時之代謝兮 分五土之刑德 |
| I identified the creatures that lived in the wilderness, and I researched the inhabitants of the rivers and springs. | 相林麓之所產兮 嘗水泉之所殖 |
| I practiced the original craft of the Agricultural God, and I studied the methodologies of the Ancestral Lord; (Note 20) | 修神農之本業兮 採軒轅之奇策 |
| I pieced together the remaining teachings of the Zhou Sages, and I unearthed the arcana of the Merchant Sage. (Note 21) | 追周棄之遺教兮 軼範蠡之絕跡 |
| I climbed Mt. Long to look even further, and I was able to see all of China and beyond; | 陟隴山以隃望兮 眇然覽於八荒 |
| As the wind screeched and grew greater, my heart's sorrow followed its trend. | 風波飄其並興兮 情惆悵而增傷 |
| I watched the greatness of the Yellow River and Mount Hua, and I sought out the lost realms of Qin and Jin. | 覽河華之泱漭兮 望秦晉之故國 |
| I raged at the failure of my ancestor Feng Ting's plan, and I angered at the unjust slaying of my ancestor Feng Quji." (Note 22) | 憤馮亭之不遂兮 慍去疾之遭惑 |
| "I wandered the five cardinal mountains to widen my view, and I circled between Jieshi and Dongting; (Note 23) | 流山嶽而周覽兮 徇碣石與洞庭 |
| I floated on the Great Yellow and Yangtze into the Great Sea, and I fought against the current up the Rivers Huai and Ji. | 浮江河而入海兮 泝淮濟而上征 |
| I saw the ancient dwellings of the States Yan and Qi, and I passed by the famed capitals of the States Song and Chu; | 瞻燕齊之舊居兮 歷宋楚之名都 |
| I was saddened at the lack of sacrifice from their descendants, and I pained at them being reduced to ruins. | 哀羣後之不祀兮 痛列國之為墟 |
| As I rushed past all of China rising and falling with the slopes, the roads became curved and difficult to navigate; | 馳中夏而升降兮 路紆軫而多艱 |
| I spread the wisdom of the sages, but my heart raged at the dissent returning to me. | 講聖哲之通論兮 心愊憶而紛紜 |
| The Way of Heaven is one true path, but the rulers all take a different way; | 惟天路之同軌兮 或帝王之異政 |
| The Sage Kings Yao and Shun showed that path brilliantly, and the Great Yu takes the crown amongst peace. | 堯舜煥其蕩蕩兮 禹承平而革命 |
| Night and Day I pondered in seclusion, but I can only live in fear and worry; | 並日夜而幽思兮 終悇憛而洞疑 |
| The beauty of the Sage King Gaoyang's rule is so transcendent, what on earth could possibly speak of it? (Note 24) | 高陽⤧其超遠兮 世孰可以論茲 |
| I interrogated King Qi of Xia in the sweet rain, as I pained for the fall of the ruler's grace, (Note 25) | 訊夏啓於甘澤兮 傷帝典之始傾 |
| I praised the virtue-laden reigns of Kings Cheng and Kang of Zhou, as the notes of "South Wind" rang with my song. (Note 26) | 頌成康之載德兮 詠南風之歌聲 |
| I remember the kindness of the Sage Kings Yao and Shun, and I besought for the friendship of the Sage Lords Ji and Xie; (Note 27) | 思唐虞之晏晏兮 揖稷契與為朋 |
| Their lineages grow and prospered, until their final ascension as Kings Tang of Shang and Wu of Zhou. | 苗裔紛其條暢兮 至湯武而勃興 |
| Even though these great lineages are all beatified now, they suffered calamity at the end of each age; | 昔三後之純粹兮 每季世而窮禍 |
| I prayed for the Xia lineage that ended at Tyrant Jie's grave at Nanchao, as I cried for the Shang lineage that ended at Tyrant Zhou's defeat at Muye. (Note 28) | 弔夏桀於南巢兮 哭殷紂於牧野 |
| I offered to the Great Minister Yiyin at Bojiao, as I sacrificed for the Great Commander Jiang Ziya at Fengzhou, (Note 29) | 詔伊尹於亳郊兮 享呂望於鄷州 |
| Their accomplishments are as brilliant as the sun and moon, and their fame is as well-known as the Three Sage Kings themselves." | 功與日月齊光兮 名與三王爭流 |
| "Yangzhu cried on the open street, and Mozi sobbed into his white silk; | 楊朱號乎衢路兮 墨子泣乎白絲 |
| For they knew that constant influence will eventually alter, and they resented Creation's mishandling of such things. | 知漸染之易性兮 怨造作之弗思 |
| I beatified the greater meaning behind the Poem Guanju, and I decried the collapse of the Regal Way;(Note 30) | 美關雎之識微兮 湣王道之將崩 |
| I promoted the great virtue of King Kang of Zhou, as I collected the tarnished accomplishments of Dukes Huan of Qi and Wen of Jin.(Note 31) | 拔周唐之盛德兮 捃桓文之譎功 |
| I raged at the endless calamities of the Warring States, and I hated ministers of power abusing their authority; | 忿戰國之遘禍兮 憎權臣之擅彊 |
| I annulled the title of the Viscount of Chu at his southern capital of Ying, and I captured Minister Wu of the Zhao Clan at his meeting in Xiuliang.(Note 32) | 黜楚子於南郢兮 執趙武於溴梁 |
| I praised loyalty and trustworthiness that righted the Times, and I hated the trickery that polluted it; | 善忠信之救時兮 惡詐謀之妄作 |
| I visited Shenshu at the borders of the States Chen and Cai, and I captured Xunxi in the outskirts of the states Yu and Guo. (Note 33) | 聘申叔於陳蔡兮 禽荀息於虞虢 |
| I condemned Li Chu's hindrance of Confucius in Lu, and I attacked the ignorance of Zang Cang; (Note 34) | 誅犁鋤之介聖兮 討臧倉之愬知 |
| I mocked Zifan's foolishness at Pengcheng, and I rewarded Guan Zhong with a normal ceremony. (Note 35) | ᢀ子反於彭城兮 爵管仲於夷儀 |
| I decried at the continued spread of the fires of war, and I pained at the growth of belligerency; | 疾兵革之寖滋兮 苦攻伐之萌生 |
| I drowned Sun Tzu in the five lakes, and I beheaded Bai Qi at Changping. (Note 36) | 沈孫武於五湖兮 斬白起於長平 |
| I hated the tricks and stratagems that disrupted the peace of the world, and I decried the School of Diplomacy annihilating the ancient traditions; (Note 37) | 惡叢巧之亂世兮 毒縱橫之敗俗 |
| I exiled Su Qin to the River Huan, and I imprisoned Zhang Yi in the Gui Valley. (Note 38) | 流蘇秦於洹水兮 幽張儀於鬼谷 |
| I saw clearly the weakening of the rule of Virtue, and I saw the strengthening of law and punishment; (Note 39) | 澄德化之陵遲兮 烈刑罰之峭峻 |
| I burned the laws of Shang Yang, and I charred the theories of Han Fei. (Note 40) | 燔商鞅之法術兮 燒韓非之說論 |
| I condemned the tyranny of the First Emperor, and I banished Li Si to the end of the earth; (Note 41) | 誚始皇之跋扈兮 投李斯於四裔 |
| They destroyed the sacred rules of the Sage Kings, and they only caused endless calamity. | 滅先王之法則兮 禍寖淫而弘大 |
| I reinforced the ancient sages towards the center of power, and I corrected the haughtiness and wastefulness of the two Lords; | 援前聖以制中兮 矯二主之驕奢 |
| I invited Nǚ Qi to a feast at the Jiang Terrace, and I hosted Jiao Ju at Zhanghua. (Note 42) | 饁女齊於絳臺兮 饗椒舉於章華 |
| I released the light of virtue all across the land, to dispel the dark winds of a decaying world; | 摛道德之光耀兮 匡衰世之眇風 |
| I praised the Duke Xiang of Song's mercy at Hong Valley, and I beatified Ji Zha at Yanling. (Note 43) | 裦宋襄於泓谷兮 表季劄於延陵 |
| I raised the essence of benevolence and intelligence, to embolden the waves within the disrupted state. | 摭仁智之英華兮 激亂國之末流 |
| I watched the gentlemen of Zheng at the Rivers Zheng and Wei, and I visited Yan Ying at Yingqiu. (Note 44) | 觀鄭僑於溱洧兮 訪晏嬰於營丘 |
| As the sun set and night falls, I grew increasingly annoyed in the city; | 日曀曀其將暮兮 獨於邑而煩惑 |
| In the endless expanse of the Nine Realms, how can I not find North and South? | 夫何九州之博大兮 迷不知路之南北 |
| I mounted a white dragon to rush across the world, and the lush clouds accompanied me on my trip. | 駟素虯而馳騁兮 乘翠雲而相佯 |
| I stopped at the residence of Boyi, and I received enlightenment from Wu Guang. (Note 45) | 就伯夷而折中兮 得務光而愈明 |
| I saw Zigao tending the middle of his fields, and it was him, Bocheng, that calmed my thinking. (Note 46) | 欸子高於中野兮 遇伯成而定慮 |
| I admired the sacredness of their virtue, and it made me unwilling to leave. | 欽真人之德美兮 淹躊躇而弗去 |
| As I lingered around not knowing what to do, I waited for the whirlwind hesitantly; | 意斟愖而不澹兮 俟回風而容與 |
| I sought out the residence of Shan Juan, and I encountered Xu You at Fushu. (Note 47) | 求善卷之所存兮 遇許由於負黍 |
| I stopped my chariot at Qi Yang, and fed my horse at Ying Hu. | 軔吾車於箕陽兮 秣吾馬於潁滸 |
| As I finally heard the sacred words and understood them, I rushed in my desire to return home." | 聞至言而曉領兮 還吾反乎故宇 |
| "As I surveyed the arcana of Heaven and Earth, I controlled the grand plan for everything in creation. | 覽天地之幽奧兮 統萬物之維綱 |
| I had understood the transformation of Yin and Yang, and I have shown the radiance of the Five Elements. | 究陰陽之變化兮 昭五德之精光 |
| As the Green Dragon rose from the sea, I kept the White Tiger in the Gold Mountain. | 躍青龍於滄海兮 豢白虎於金山 |
| I carved my residence into the ancient stones, and with its height and sunshine I began my transcendence. | 鑿巖石而為室兮 託高陽以養仙 |
| The divine sparrow flew above the infinite heights, as the great turtle nested in the abyss; | 神雀翔於鴻崖兮 玄武潛於嬰冥 |
| As I stood on the red pagoda to survey my surroundings, I collected the essence of the Lingzhi. | 伏朱樓而四望兮 采三秀之華英 |
| As I inherited the behavior of my ancient sages, I showed the accomplishment of the long past, | 篡前修之誇節兮 曜往昔之光勳 |
| I wore the finest raiment of the seasons, and I radiated the aura of Qu Yuan. (Note 48) | 披綺季之麗服兮 揚屈原之靈芬 |
| I wore the tallest crown, and I had the longest belt; | 高吾冠之岌岌兮 長吾佩之洋洋 |
| I drank the essence of the six essences, and I tasted the blossoms of the five Lizhi." (Note 49) | 飲六醴之清液兮 食五芝之茂英 |
| "Raise that orange sixfold fence, and build the home of sweet grass; (Note 50) | 揵六枳而為籬兮 築蕙若而為室 |
| Sow those fragrant flowers in the courtyard, and array the gardens with wild ginger. (Note 51) | 播蘭芷於中庭兮 列杜衡於外術 |
| Gather the lily along with the parsley, and collect the magnolia along with the wood-orchid; (Note 52) | 攢射幹雜蘼蕪兮 搆木蘭與新夷 |
| Shining brightly in its everlasting radiance, and perfuming fragrantly in its spreading beauty; | 光扈扈而煬燿兮 紛鬱鬱而暢美 |
| That beautiful light has been scattered, and I became confused and self-depreciating; | 華芳曄其發越兮 時恍忽而莫貴 |
| It was not because of my rocky life, but rather I pitied the withering of virtues. | 非惜身之埳軻兮 憐眾美之憔悴 |
| I allowed my spirit to wander in the cosmos, and I resisted the lure of the mysterious marvels; | 遊精神於大宅兮 抗玄妙之常操 |
| I stayed in serenity to nurture my ambition, and it is my real happiness. | 處清靜以養志兮 實吾心之所樂 |
| It was that tall mountain that reached heaven, and it was that deep wood that grows lush; (Note 53) | 山峨峨而造天兮 林冥冥而暢茂 |
| Peaks survey the panoramic to search for its peers, and deers cry to search for its mate. (Note 54) | 巒回翔索其羣兮 鹿哀鳴而求其友 |
| I recited the arcane words to scatter my thoughts, and I searched for the sages to calm my spirit. | 誦古今以散思兮 覽聖賢以自鎮 |
| I commended Confucius for knowing his own fate, and I extolled Laozi for his value of the unknown. | 嘉孔丘之知命兮 大老聃之貴玄 |
| I wondered for the more valued between Virtue and Way, and I pondered for the dearer between my life and my fame. | 德與道其孰寳兮 名與身其孰親 |
| I stayed near the slopes of a valley to seek solitude, and I guarded that solitude to collect my soul. | 陂山谷而閒處兮 守寂寞而存神 |
| Just like Zhuangzi preferring his fishing rod, and not the positions of great power that was offered. | 夫莊周之釣魚兮 辭卿相之顯位 |
| With Yulingzizhong's resolve to garden, I thus traced the paths of the transcendent. | 於陵子之灌園兮 似至人之髣髴 |
| For those who transcended via the route of poverty, it was the ultimate understanding that guided their way; | 蓋隱約而得道兮 羌窮悟而入術 |
| They were thus able to leave the abyss of mundanity, and gain the virtues of the greats before them. (Note 55) | 離塵垢之窈冥兮 配喬松之妙節 |
| But as to what my ambitions truly wished for, it was truly different from the common desire. | 惟吾志之所庶兮 固與俗其不同 |
| It was truly transcendent and high-reaching, and I wish for you to see its entirety." | 既俶儻而高引兮 願觀其從容 |
2. This is a quote from the Analects, chapter 7.
3. This is a quote from the Shiji, Chapter 130.
4. The choice of word "fortune" here is to parallel with the "fame", as the original Chinese has a parallel of "名" and "實".
5. I put these in quotes because the following lines decry his lack of recognition, which is not consistent with the earlier "not to seek fame" part. Thus, even though there's no precedent text that uses these lines to my knowledge, it feels like Feng Xi is still quoting something rather than saying his own thoughts.
6. The Emperor Yuan is buried at the Wei Tomb, but the original work doesn't mention Emperor Yuan explicitly.
7. I chose "Wei, Zhao and Han" instead of "Three Jin's" because the former is more easily accepted as place names.
8. Feng and Hao are two capitals of the Zhou Dynasty, so instead of the "hills" of Zhou and Qin, I chose the "past glories" to represent the feeling of loss.
9. I have taken "松喬" here, which refers to 赤松子and 王子喬 to be a generalized "Taoist immortals/transcendents" meaning here. I chose "Transcendent" over "Immortal" because most Taoist Transcendents actually do have a finite (albeit long) lifespan.
10. At this part he begins to act like an emperor, using words like 疆理 and 經營, as well as the parallelism 九五, which is another Imperial sign, it becomes clear that he began to slip into illusions of grandeur, which is the source of this rhapsody.
11. I believe the term "Rhapsody" is the most accurate here, as a piece of imagination.
12. The first phrase seemingly refers to the battle of Muye, where King Wu of Zhou conquered the Shang. This is seemingly supported by his quoting of Qu Yuan's "Summoning of Spirits", as the word "attack" (征) also appears. Thus, I decided to incorporate that second meaning more openly into this phrase.
13. I took "名賢" to mean "current philosophy", which is in opposing parallel to "ancient sages". This kind of parallel is also preserved in the next line, which led to this choice.
14. The only explanation for 吾黨which makes sense in the context is "our way/methods", rather than "our neighbors/comrades". This also parallels with 吾生
15. Yi Yin was King Tang of Shang's prime minister.
16. Gao Yao is the ancient Emperor Shun's minister of justice.
17. 委厥美is a quote from the Li Sao, which Steven Owens chose to mean "forsaking (its) beauty", and thus instead of "lumbering" for 伐, I took it to mean "self-praise", and thus instead of "beauty", I believe he's referring to his talent or virtue, which he clearly values more in context.
18. 韓廬 is a reference to the Zhan Guo Ce, Chapter 3 of Qi,where it explains as "韓子盧者 天下之疾犬也", meaning some kind of great hound. This is in parallel to 騏驥, a mighty horse.
19. While "五土" doesn't necessarily mean "the five elements", both its parallelism to "四時" and the usage of "刑德" which in the context of elements means 相生相剋 supports that meaning. I chose "transmutation" because in the west there's no real parallel to the Chinese concept of 五行相生相剋, and "transmutation" is the closest.
20. I chose "Ancestral Lord" here to represent the Yellow Emperor, since he does not have an easily identifiable godhood, and I need it to parallel with Yandi's role as the god of agriculture and medicine.
21. I replaced Fan Li with his title of "Merchant Sage" in parallel to "Zhou Teachings".
22. I believe "Quji" here refers specifically to the Qin Prime Minister 馮去疾. Along with 馮亭, who premeditated the exchange of land that led to the Battle of Changping, both of these people have the surname Feng, the same as the author, so it is presumed that he sees them as ancestors.
23. Since Jieshi is hundreds of miles away from Lake Dongting, I took this phrase to mean that he thought he wandered through all of China.
24. This echo's Qu Yuan's Li Sao, where Qu Yuan heaps praise on his ancestor the Emperor Gaoyang.
25. I took 訢here to mean "interrogation" in the Western Zhou sense, to parallel with "praise" in the next verse.
26. South Wind is said to be written by Shun.
27. I used "Sage Lords" since while both Ji and Xie are sagely figures of ancient china, neither are actual Kings.
28. Both 弔 and 哭 suggest that Feng Yan was crying in a funeral context, not for the actual tyrants themselves but the end of their sagely lineage.
29. I took "詔" to mean "招魂", or soul summoning, here, to parallel the "sacrifice to" in the second half.
30. Guanju is the first poem of the Classic of Poetry, which was said to signify Zhou thought.
31. Wang Xianqian believes the 周唐 here actually is a mistake in transcribing 周康, or King Kang of Zhou. The "tarnished accomplishment" I believe is a judgment call on hegemony, which is ultimately against the teachings of the Zhou Rites.
32. The "Viscount of Chu" refers to the Kings of Chu, who all have overstepped their authority by declaring themselves King. Minister Wu of Zhao refers to Zhao Wu, the head of the Zhao Clan, that usurped power in the Jin State in the Spring and Autumn. Xiuliang is the beginning of the Zhaos completely eclipsing the Jin Dukes.
33. Shenshu refers to Shenshu Zhan, who saved his friend from certain death, Xunxi is a Minister of Jin that used trickery to conquer the States of Guo and Yu.
34. Li Chu (which should be written as 犁鉏) is a minister of Lu that prevented Confucius from taking power, Zang Cang prevented Duke Ping of Lu from meeting Mencius.
35. Zifan was a general of Chu who caused his king to lose an eye, Guan Zhong is a respected minister of Qi that helped his lord achieve hegemony.
36. Sun Tzu is the famed author of the Art of War, and the five lakes is an allegory to the state of Wu which he served. Bai Qi is the Qin General that won the Battle of Changping and was said to have slew over 400,000 prisoners, and his inclusion here has twofold meaning, both as a symbol of the excesses of war, and for revenge for Feng Yan's ancestor Feng Ting, whose plan of giving Shangdang to Zhao caused and was ultimately ruined by Bai Qi winning the Battle of Changping.
37. The School of Diplomacy favored diplomatic tactics that were part of a grand strategy of either allying the six weaker states of the Warring States, or having them individually ally with Qin. This school was often considered by Confuscianists to be tricksters and shameless people.
38. Su Qin and Zhang Yi were traditionally the two major factions of the School of Diplomacy, where Su Qin favors the Vertical, or allying the six weaker states against the Qin, and Zhang Yi favored the Horizontal, or having each state ally individualy with Qin. Gui Valley was the legendary location where both of them were educated by the Master of Gui Valley, but Zhang Yi's plan was seem as a response to Su Qin's, so Feng Yan figures he can stop both if he just exiled Su Qin and thus keeping Zhang Yi in the valley forever.
39. Here he attacks legalism, another traditional enemy of Confuscianism.
40. Shang Yang and Han Fei are among the most famous of legalists.
41. The First Emperor, Qin Shihuang, and his Prime Minister Li Si were also famous legalists.
42. Jiao Ju is a man famous for his strong bond with friends far away.
43. Duke Xiang of Song was known for his mercifulness, and Ji Zha was famous for giving up his right to the Wu Throne.
44. Zheng and Wei is a poem in the Classic of Poetry, under the Airs of Zheng. Yan Ying is a famous Prime Minister of Qi known for his righteousness and quick wit.
45. Boyi and Wuguang both forsook the throne that was offered to them, and was considered sagely for doing so.
46. Bocheng Zigao was another man who abdicated his throne when he felt that the Way of Heaven had fallen.
47. Both Shan Juan and Xu You rejected an offer to be king, and was considered sagely for knowing their place.
48. The original is "aroma". This is likely a reference to Qu Yuan liking himself to a flower in his own works.
49. The "Six Essences" (六氣) are the six weather patterns recognized in ancient China, and I took it to mean essentially the same as "essence of heaven and earth".
50. Orange here is the Trifoliate Orange (Poncirus trifoliata), the sweet grass refers to both the Hui Cao (Lysimachia foenumgraecum Hance) and the Pollia japonica. I generalized it to "sweet grass" here to preserve the parallelism between 六柑 and 蕙若, even though the former is one plant and the latter is two.
51. Fragrant Flowers here refer to the Orchid and Angelica dahurica, again two plants in parallel with the one plant in the gardens, the Asarum forbesii. This plant's genus, Asarum, is that of "Wild Ginger". All of these plants appear frequently in the Chuci, but unfortunately the implications cannot be imparted into English verse.
52. The "lily" is specifically the leopard lily (Iris domestica), 蘼蕪on the other hand is Ligusticum wallichii Franch, having no common English name with it, its genus, or tribe. Its family is commonly known as carrot or parsley, but here 蘼蕪 is an herb, while carrot isn't, so parsley is chosen. Both 木蘭 and 新夷 refer to the same plant, but there is again a parallel structure here, so I've chosen to name 新夷 "wood-orchid", as it could be the bud of a Magnolia liliiflora.
53. 造here I took in the context of 造訪, because of the parallel structure with 暢茂
54. Since 巒 has to be parallel with 鹿 here, I took the 囬翔 to mean "look all around" rather than the usual meaning of a bird circling.
55. 喬松appears again here, but because the context was already talking about transcendents, I generalized it to "greaters before".
No comments:
Post a Comment