One of the most evocative “war poems” i’ve read. Thank you again for this incredible project. I hope all the poems and your commentary are pulled into a bound book one day.
I enjoyed reading the translation and the original. Here is a suggestion: what about translating the poem's title as well? It will provide Western readers with a broader context, especially since you have translated two of Li Bai's Midnight Songs from the Wu Kingdom; the previous one is an autumn song, and this one is a winter song.
You've raised a really good question. I believe, in principle, a translation should push the boundaries of the language it is in. In other words, a translated Chinese poem should sound as Chinese as possible (both linguistically and contextually) even in English. I do not always get to stick to this principle, often due to practical reasons, but I still try to push further.
BS"D Once again, a lovely translation! Some questions: Why do you explain as "lover", not "husband?" How do we know the woman is not his mother? Or maybe she was? Do the characters clarify this? How do we know this was a very early winter?
Wishing you very happy and peaceful holidays! May the new year bring peace and understanding!
Thank you. He may as well be her husband, but definitely not her son. The reason for this is that the poem is a Wu Song of Ziye: the theme has to be about separated lovers.
Thank you for your reply! I thought maybe that was the reason. It seems strange today to read about such maternal concern for a husband or lover. You can see from this poem that the winter cold came on earlier than expected, or perhaps more likely, the soldiers were called up before they had time to prepare. What a life!
Thank you for pointing out the historical origin of the poem's title. However, with the references to the moon and postal schedule for the morning, etc., I think most readers would visualize Ziyege as a nocturnal love song.
Quite likely, and this is why reading pre-modern Chinese literature can be tricky. The writers basically assume that you are well-read. It is not so surprising though since so many people were illiterate and their audience were highly interested.
I just read this poem last night - Ha Jin's translation in his biography of Li Bai!
I should check it out!
another lovely poem. always nice to have the accompanying chinese; the original text always has a different flavor.
Glad to hear it!
An excellent poem which focuses on the importance of sacrifice in the love of another.
I've never thought of it that way, but your reading does have a point.
Merry Christmas, Hyun Woo!
Merry Christmas, Portia!
夜上受降城闻笛
回乐峰前沙似雪，
受降城外月如霜。
不知何处吹芦管，
一夜征人尽望乡
One of the most evocative “war poems” i’ve read. Thank you again for this incredible project. I hope all the poems and your commentary are pulled into a bound book one day.
Thanks! I hope for the same thing too.
I enjoyed reading the translation and the original. Here is a suggestion: what about translating the poem's title as well? It will provide Western readers with a broader context, especially since you have translated two of Li Bai's Midnight Songs from the Wu Kingdom; the previous one is an autumn song, and this one is a winter song.
The title is translated. The translated title is the title of each post/newsletter.
My bad. I noticed the English title only after posting my first comments. I haven't figured out a way to retract the comment. Sorry!
No worries! It's not something you should say sorry for.
Very interesting. Chinese of course doesn't require subjects where English would, so I wonder: Why didn't you translate this with nouns or pronouns:
The courier will depart at dawn.
A woman sews a padded robe through the night,
Her pale hands chilled by the needle.
How can she bear to hold the scissors...
Or:
The courier will depart at dawn.
I sew a padded robe through the night,
My pale hands chilled by the needle.
How can I bear to hold the scissors...
You've raised a really good question. I believe, in principle, a translation should push the boundaries of the language it is in. In other words, a translated Chinese poem should sound as Chinese as possible (both linguistically and contextually) even in English. I do not always get to stick to this principle, often due to practical reasons, but I still try to push further.
BS"D Once again, a lovely translation! Some questions: Why do you explain as "lover", not "husband?" How do we know the woman is not his mother? Or maybe she was? Do the characters clarify this? How do we know this was a very early winter?
Wishing you very happy and peaceful holidays! May the new year bring peace and understanding!
Peter
Thank you. He may as well be her husband, but definitely not her son. The reason for this is that the poem is a Wu Song of Ziye: the theme has to be about separated lovers.
Thank you for your reply! I thought maybe that was the reason. It seems strange today to read about such maternal concern for a husband or lover. You can see from this poem that the winter cold came on earlier than expected, or perhaps more likely, the soldiers were called up before they had time to prepare. What a life!
Happy New Year, Hyun Woo! And a lot of success in your writing. I love the poem! (I think I forgot to thank you for recommending my Substack.)
Thank you, and happy new year!
love it
.....
Ziye means midnight，I'm Chinese
Yes, the characters, 子夜, are the same with the word midnight, but it is a woman's name here.
"《子夜歌》者，女子名子夜，造此聲。"(晋书·乐志)
"《子夜歌》者，有女子名子夜，造此聲。"(宋书·乐志)
Thank you for pointing out the historical origin of the poem's title. However, with the references to the moon and postal schedule for the morning, etc., I think most readers would visualize Ziyege as a nocturnal love song.
Quite likely, and this is why reading pre-modern Chinese literature can be tricky. The writers basically assume that you are well-read. It is not so surprising though since so many people were illiterate and their audience were highly interested.