Translation
Chen Zi’ang (661-702) | 陳子昂 |
Song of Climbing a Youzhou Tower | 登幽州臺歌 |
Before me, the ancients have disappeared | 前 不見 古人 |
And ahead of me, I cannot see the ones who will return | 後 不見 來者 |
Feeling the heaven and earth— remote in time and space | 念 天地之 悠悠 |
Alone mournful the tears are dripping down | 獨 愴然 而涕下 |
Notes:
1. Youzhou was the capital of an ancient kindom, Yan. It’s located near Beijing.
2. The poem was composed in 696, when Chen joined Empress Wu Zetian’s troops in a battle agaist some barbarians. The general was the Empress’ relative, who didn’t understand military matters at all. So none of Chen’s suggestions or tactics were adopted. While he was up on the ancient tower, he reflected on similar history and revealed his depression.
Original Chinese
Traditional | Simplified | Pronunciation |
陳子昂 | 陈子昂 | Chén zǐ áng |
登幽州臺歌 | 登幽州台歌 | Dēng yōu zhōu tái gē |
前不見古人， | 前不见古人， | Qián bù jiàn gǔ rén, |
後不見來者； | 后不见来者; | hòu bù jiàn lái zhě; |
念天地之悠悠， | 念天地之悠悠， | Niàn tiān dì zhī yōu yōu, |
獨愴然而涕下。 | 独怆然而涕下。 | dú chuàng rán ér tì xià. |
Literal Translation
陳子昂 | Old/Display Son High-spirits= Chen Zi’ang(661-702) |
登幽州臺歌 | Climb secluded/quiet province tower song |
[secluded province=Youzhou, it was the capital of ancient kindom, Yan. It’s located near Beijing. | |
前不見古人， | Ahead/in-front not see ancient people [not see = not meet, disappeared, missing], [ancient people = the ancients, the late (passed away)] |
後不見來者； | Later/back not see come/return those-who/people |
念天地之悠悠， | Think sky earth its remote remote/far/distant [remote remote = lasting for ages, remote in time and space] |
獨愴然而涕下。 | Alone mournful/grieved/broken-hearted like-this so/and tears down/drip |
[mournful/grieved like-this= a sad look] | |
The notes, character table, and literal translation were prepared with the assistance of Liane Rui of Shanghai, China.
Year:
2012
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