雲海上有夕陽紅 Upon the sea of clouds floats a red setting sun,
不刻沉沒人間夢 Too soon, sinking into the depths of mortal dreams
These two lines were inspired after seeing a photo of the red setting sun as if it was floating on a sea of clouds. Unfortunately, I could not find the photo again...
I could not complete the next two lines. After doodling with my brush calligraphy, lines began to form when the word Yoshiwara, 吉原 came into my mind and then "floating world"…
日落浮世燈火始 As the sun sets into the floating world, lights go up
客到暄嘩語歡時 Approaching guests - 'tis the time for cackling joys
I could not complete the next two lines. After doodling with my brush calligraphy, lines began to form when the word Yoshiwara, 吉原 came into my mind and then "floating world"…
日落浮世燈火始 As the sun sets into the floating world, lights go up
客到暄嘩語歡時 Approaching guests - 'tis the time for cackling joys
歌舞琵琶三味綫 Songs and dances of the biwa and the shamisen
五更早來破夢綺 Too soon the fifth watch comes intruding into sweet sweet dreams.
I find that mixing Japanese elements in a Chinese poem is a bit odd and changes are made by changing the Japanese red-light district into its Chinese equivalent, the biwa into the pipa and the shamisen into the willow moon lute.
After three days of polishing...
1日落秦淮燈火始 When the sun sets upon the red-light district, lights go up,
2客到暄嘩笑語時 As guests arrive, it’s time of cackling joys.
3歌曲琵琶千杯少 Lute music and songs with endless cups, are not enough,
4五更銀盡別瑤池 By the fifth watch, the silver’s gone, paradise lost.
5莫怨仙子 無人味 Begrudged not the fairies without compassion,
6只怪凡夫愛物綺 But blame ye mortals love things beautiful.
7天庭何公地休平 How can heaven be just when the earth’s not level?
8自古萬象就如此 Since time immemorial, things are things as be.
五更早來破夢綺 Too soon the fifth watch comes intruding into sweet sweet dreams.
I find that mixing Japanese elements in a Chinese poem is a bit odd and changes are made by changing the Japanese red-light district into its Chinese equivalent, the biwa into the pipa and the shamisen into the willow moon lute.
After three days of polishing...
1日落秦淮燈火始 When the sun sets upon the red-light district, lights go up,
2客到暄嘩笑語時 As guests arrive, it’s time of cackling joys.
3歌曲琵琶千杯少 Lute music and songs with endless cups, are not enough,
4五更銀盡別瑤池 By the fifth watch, the silver’s gone, paradise lost.
5莫怨仙子 無人味 Begrudged not the fairies without compassion,
6只怪凡夫愛物綺 But blame ye mortals love things beautiful.
7天庭何公地休平 How can heaven be just when the earth’s not level?
8自古萬象就如此 Since time immemorial, things are things as be.
1. 秦淮 – the red-light district of ancient China
2. The smiles of the mama-san
4. Day breaks on the fifth watch. A Chinese hour is equivalent to two western hours. Midnight is the third watch. “Silver” can mean the silvery light of the moon and if so, “By the fifth watch, the silvery moon is gone and paradise lost. However, from the context, silver a currency is more appropriate.
7. Reality of being human.
Wednesday, September 11, 2019
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