Mountain Gate Moon
- Poetry of Bao Junhui

《关山月》
Mountain Gate Moon by Bao Junhui
中文原文( Chinese )

高高秋月明，北照辽阳城。

塞迥光初满，风多晕更生。

征人望乡思，战马闻鼙惊。

朔风悲边草，胡沙暗虏营。

霜凝匣中剑，风惫原上旌。

早晚谒金阙，不闻刁斗声。

English Translation

Brightness of a high, small autumn moon

Shines northwards where the Great Wall meets the sea.

Distant fortress is the first to refill with light

As wind pushes cloud after cloud across the moon.

Marching soldiers gaze ever towards their home.

Warhorses skitter at their own wardrums.

Sadness of north wind lays flat the grasses,

Prisoners all on dark barbarian sands.

Frost covers the scabbards of the weapons.

Winds beat down the banners on the plain.

But, all day, paying our respects here at the palace

The sound of clashing copper mess pots goes unheard.

This poem reads like an imperial official's criticism of the throne. But such a poem is out of place coming from a consort's brush. So one would think it was a private poem. Then how did it become one of Bao Junhui's few poems to survive? And where do the details of a military expedition to the northeast come from? While there would be some camp-women on the march, the emperor would not be there, nor would his consorts. Bao Junhui does not accept the limitations her context and society attempt to place on her.

- Last updated: 2024-10-31 17:35:25
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Why Chinese poems is so special?
The most distinctive features of Chinese poetry are: concision- many poems are only four lines, and few are much longer than eight; ambiguity- number, tense and parts of speech are often undetermined, creating particularly rich interpretative possibilities; and structure- most poems follow quite strict formal patterns which have beauty in themselves as well as highlighting meaningful contrasts.
How to read a Chinese poem?
Like an English poem, but more so. Everything is there for a reason, so try to find that reason. Think about all the possible connotations, and be aware of the different possibilities of number and tense. Look for contrasts: within lines, between the lines of each couplet and between successive couplets. Above all, don't worry about what the poet meant- find your meaning.

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