BOOKMARK
To bookmark this poem:
Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or ⌘ + D (Mac).
Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or ⌘ + D (Mac).
Song of Luntai: Seeing Off General Feng on His Western Expedition
English Poetic Translation
At night upon the ramparts horns lament,
While overhead the Wolf Star plunges down.
Last watch dispatch flew fast past Quli gates,
Where chieftains camp beyond the Golden Hills.
Westward from watchtowers smoke and dust loom dark,
Where imperial battalions take their stand.
The general lifts his standard for the march,
And at first dawn the flutes call out the hosts.
Drums beat across four quarters, surging seas of snow,
With shouts that make the northern mountains shake.
An iron fog of war hangs thick with clouds,
Where whitening bones choke up the tangled grass.
The River Jian roars wild with driving snow,
And frozen stones strip iron from the hoof.
Our noble patron tastes the bitter dust of war,
Vowing to sweep the frontier skies in fealty.
Throughout the annals, heroes come and go—
Yet none outshine the glory of today.
While overhead the Wolf Star plunges down.
Last watch dispatch flew fast past Quli gates,
Where chieftains camp beyond the Golden Hills.
Westward from watchtowers smoke and dust loom dark,
Where imperial battalions take their stand.
The general lifts his standard for the march,
And at first dawn the flutes call out the hosts.
Drums beat across four quarters, surging seas of snow,
With shouts that make the northern mountains shake.
An iron fog of war hangs thick with clouds,
Where whitening bones choke up the tangled grass.
The River Jian roars wild with driving snow,
And frozen stones strip iron from the hoof.
Our noble patron tastes the bitter dust of war,
Vowing to sweep the frontier skies in fealty.
Throughout the annals, heroes come and go—
Yet none outshine the glory of today.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
輪臺城頭夜吹角，輪臺城北旄頭落。
羽書昨夜過渠黎，單於已在金山西。
戍樓西望煙塵黑，漢兵屯在輪臺北。
上將擁旄西出徵，平明吹笛大軍行。
四邊伐鼓雪海湧，三軍大呼陰山動。
虜塞兵氣連雲屯，戰場白骨纏草根。
劒河風急雪片闊，沙口石凍馬蹄脫。
亞相勤王甘苦辛，誓將報主靜邊塵。
古來青史誰不見，今見功名勝古人。
羽書昨夜過渠黎，單於已在金山西。
戍樓西望煙塵黑，漢兵屯在輪臺北。
上將擁旄西出徵，平明吹笛大軍行。
四邊伐鼓雪海湧，三軍大呼陰山動。
虜塞兵氣連雲屯，戰場白骨纏草根。
劒河風急雪片闊，沙口石凍馬蹄脫。
亞相勤王甘苦辛，誓將報主靜邊塵。
古來青史誰不見，今見功名勝古人。
Philological Direct Translation
Luntai city walls head night blow horn,
Luntai city north Mao-tou star falls.
Feathered dispatches last night passed Quli,
Chanyu already is at Jinshan west.
Watchtower west gaze smoke dust black,
Han soldiers bivouac in Luntai north.
Superior general grasps banner west out expeditions,
Dawn clear blow flute great army marches.
Four borders beat drums snow sea surges,
Three armies loud shout Yinshan shakes.
Barbarian frontier weapon breath connects cloud gathering,
Battlefield white bones entangle grass roots.
Jian River wind fierce snow flakes wide,
Shakou stones frozen horse hooves detach.
Sub-prime-minister serves king sweet bitter hardships,
Vows will repay sovereign quiet frontier dust.
From antiquity green history who not sees,
Today sees merit fame surpass ancient men.
Luntai city north Mao-tou star falls.
Feathered dispatches last night passed Quli,
Chanyu already is at Jinshan west.
Watchtower west gaze smoke dust black,
Han soldiers bivouac in Luntai north.
Superior general grasps banner west out expeditions,
Dawn clear blow flute great army marches.
Four borders beat drums snow sea surges,
Three armies loud shout Yinshan shakes.
Barbarian frontier weapon breath connects cloud gathering,
Battlefield white bones entangle grass roots.
Jian River wind fierce snow flakes wide,
Shakou stones frozen horse hooves detach.
Sub-prime-minister serves king sweet bitter hardships,
Vows will repay sovereign quiet frontier dust.
From antiquity green history who not sees,
Today sees merit fame surpass ancient men.