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The Hardships of the Shu Road
English Poetic Translation
Alas, how steep, how high!
To scale the trails of Shu outranks
The climb to azure sky.
When Cancong and Yufu first ruled the realm of old,
Dim eras passed untold.
For forty-eight millennia down the night,
No footpaths bridged the mountain walls of Qin.
A bird-track peered from Taibai's western height,
Where Emei's summits pierce the thin.
Then mountains cracked and mighty warriors fell,
Before the stone-paved ladders spanned the swell.
Above, the six-dragon chariot wheels about;
Below, the raging torrents churn and shout.
The yellow crane on weary wing must stay;
The scrambling gibbon turns in deep dismay.
How Qingni winds in ninety serpent turns,
Where sheer crags scrape the stars and heaven burns!
We touch the constellation Jing, we gasp for air,
And beat our breasts in absolute despair.
Friend, on this western venture, when return?
The granite teeth of chasm-walls burn.
Through ancient woods the mournful owlets cry,
In mated pairs beneath a widowed sky.
And cuckoos wail beside the midnight moon,
While empty mountains mourn the fading noon.
This road of Shu outranks the azure sky;
It drains the youthful color from the eye.
The jagged peaks miss heaven by an inch;
Old pines hang downward in the granite pinch.
While roaring cataracts and plunging spray
Roll thunder through ten thousand gorges gray.
Since nature frames such perilous abyss,
Why journey, traveler, through a waste like this?
Behold the Sword Gate fort, defiant, steep,
Where single guards the mountain fortress keep;
Should wardens prove untrue or faith depart,
The wolf and jackal seize the human heart.
At dawn avoid the tiger's bloody maw,
At eve the serpent violating law;
They grind their teeth and lap up human gore,
As slaughtered victims stack upon the shore.
Though Brocade City boasts a joyful reign,
Far better flee and turn to home again.
The road of Shu outranks the azure sky;
I lean toward the west and heave a sigh.
To scale the trails of Shu outranks
The climb to azure sky.
When Cancong and Yufu first ruled the realm of old,
Dim eras passed untold.
For forty-eight millennia down the night,
No footpaths bridged the mountain walls of Qin.
A bird-track peered from Taibai's western height,
Where Emei's summits pierce the thin.
Then mountains cracked and mighty warriors fell,
Before the stone-paved ladders spanned the swell.
Above, the six-dragon chariot wheels about;
Below, the raging torrents churn and shout.
The yellow crane on weary wing must stay;
The scrambling gibbon turns in deep dismay.
How Qingni winds in ninety serpent turns,
Where sheer crags scrape the stars and heaven burns!
We touch the constellation Jing, we gasp for air,
And beat our breasts in absolute despair.
Friend, on this western venture, when return?
The granite teeth of chasm-walls burn.
Through ancient woods the mournful owlets cry,
In mated pairs beneath a widowed sky.
And cuckoos wail beside the midnight moon,
While empty mountains mourn the fading noon.
This road of Shu outranks the azure sky;
It drains the youthful color from the eye.
The jagged peaks miss heaven by an inch;
Old pines hang downward in the granite pinch.
While roaring cataracts and plunging spray
Roll thunder through ten thousand gorges gray.
Since nature frames such perilous abyss,
Why journey, traveler, through a waste like this?
Behold the Sword Gate fort, defiant, steep,
Where single guards the mountain fortress keep;
Should wardens prove untrue or faith depart,
The wolf and jackal seize the human heart.
At dawn avoid the tiger's bloody maw,
At eve the serpent violating law;
They grind their teeth and lap up human gore,
As slaughtered victims stack upon the shore.
Though Brocade City boasts a joyful reign,
Far better flee and turn to home again.
The road of Shu outranks the azure sky;
I lean toward the west and heave a sigh.
Classical Chinese & Pinyin
噫籲戲！危乎高哉！蜀道之難難於上青天！蠶叢及魚鳧，開國何茫然。
爾來四萬八千歲，不與秦塞通人煙。
西當太白有鳥道，可以橫絕峨眉巔。
地崩山摧壯士死，然後天梯石棧相鉤連。
上有六龍回日之高標，下有衝波逆折之回川。
黃鶴之飛尚不得過，猨猱欲度愁攀援。
青泥何盤盤，百步九折縈巖巒。
捫參歷井仰脅息，以手撫膺坐長歎。
問君西遊何時還？畏途巉巖不可攀。
但見悲鳥號古木，雄飛雌從繞林間。
又聞子規啼夜月，愁空山，蜀道之難難於上青天，使人聽此凋朱顏。
連峯去天不盈尺，枯松倒掛倚絕壁。
飛湍瀑流爭喧豗，砅厓轉石萬壑雷。
其險也如此，嗟爾遠道之人胡爲乎來哉！劒閣崢嶸而崔嵬，一夫當關，萬夫莫開。
所守或匪親，化爲狼與豺。
朝避猛虎，夕避長蛇。
磨牙吮血，殺人如麻。
錦城雖雲樂，不如早還家。
蜀道之難難於上青天，側身西望長諮嗟。
爾來四萬八千歲，不與秦塞通人煙。
西當太白有鳥道，可以橫絕峨眉巔。
地崩山摧壯士死，然後天梯石棧相鉤連。
上有六龍回日之高標，下有衝波逆折之回川。
黃鶴之飛尚不得過，猨猱欲度愁攀援。
青泥何盤盤，百步九折縈巖巒。
捫參歷井仰脅息，以手撫膺坐長歎。
問君西遊何時還？畏途巉巖不可攀。
但見悲鳥號古木，雄飛雌從繞林間。
又聞子規啼夜月，愁空山，蜀道之難難於上青天，使人聽此凋朱顏。
連峯去天不盈尺，枯松倒掛倚絕壁。
飛湍瀑流爭喧豗，砅厓轉石萬壑雷。
其險也如此，嗟爾遠道之人胡爲乎來哉！劒閣崢嶸而崔嵬，一夫當關，萬夫莫開。
所守或匪親，化爲狼與豺。
朝避猛虎，夕避長蛇。
磨牙吮血，殺人如麻。
錦城雖雲樂，不如早還家。
蜀道之難難於上青天，側身西望長諮嗟。
Philological Direct Translation
Alas! Dangerous and high indeed! The difficulty of the Shu road is harder than ascending the dark blue sky!
Cancong and Yufu, when they founded the state, how dim and vast!
Since then fourty-eight thousand years, did not communicate human smoke with the Qin passes.
West facing Taibai there is a bird path, one can horizontally cross the Emei summits.
Earth collapsed and mountains fractured brave men died, and then heavenly ladders and stone plank roads linked together.
Above are the high markers where six dragons wheel back the sun, below are rushing waves and counter-turning swirling rivers.
Even flying yellow cranes still cannot pass, gibbons desiring to cross worry about climbing and grasping.
Qingni how winding and coiling, a hundred paces nine folds surround rocky peaks.
Touching the stars of Can and passing Jing, one looks up holding the breath, pressing the chest with the hand and sitting in prolonged sighs.
Asking you, western journey, when will you return? Dangerous paths of sheer crags are un-climbable.
Only see mournful birds calling in ancient trees, males flying and females following circling among the forests.
Also hear cuckoos crying at the night moon, sorrowing the empty mountain. The difficulty of the Shu road is harder than ascending the dark blue sky, causing people hearing this to wither their youthful faces.
Linked peaks distant from heaven not filling a foot, withered pines hanging upside down leaning against sheer cliffs.
Flying torrents and plunging streams contend in clamorous roar, crashing against cliffs and turning boulders like ten thousand valleys thundering.
Its danger is like this, oh you traveler from afar, why have you come hither?
Jianjian is steep and towering, one man holding the pass, ten thousand men cannot open it.
Those defending it if not kin, transform into wolves and jackals.
Morning avoiding fierce tigers, evening avoiding long snakes.
Grinding teeth and sucking blood, killing men like hemp.
Although Brocade City is said to be joyful, it is not as good as early returning home.
The difficulty of the Shu road is harder than ascending the dark blue sky, turning the body and looking west with a prolonged sigh.
Cancong and Yufu, when they founded the state, how dim and vast!
Since then fourty-eight thousand years, did not communicate human smoke with the Qin passes.
West facing Taibai there is a bird path, one can horizontally cross the Emei summits.
Earth collapsed and mountains fractured brave men died, and then heavenly ladders and stone plank roads linked together.
Above are the high markers where six dragons wheel back the sun, below are rushing waves and counter-turning swirling rivers.
Even flying yellow cranes still cannot pass, gibbons desiring to cross worry about climbing and grasping.
Qingni how winding and coiling, a hundred paces nine folds surround rocky peaks.
Touching the stars of Can and passing Jing, one looks up holding the breath, pressing the chest with the hand and sitting in prolonged sighs.
Asking you, western journey, when will you return? Dangerous paths of sheer crags are un-climbable.
Only see mournful birds calling in ancient trees, males flying and females following circling among the forests.
Also hear cuckoos crying at the night moon, sorrowing the empty mountain. The difficulty of the Shu road is harder than ascending the dark blue sky, causing people hearing this to wither their youthful faces.
Linked peaks distant from heaven not filling a foot, withered pines hanging upside down leaning against sheer cliffs.
Flying torrents and plunging streams contend in clamorous roar, crashing against cliffs and turning boulders like ten thousand valleys thundering.
Its danger is like this, oh you traveler from afar, why have you come hither?
Jianjian is steep and towering, one man holding the pass, ten thousand men cannot open it.
Those defending it if not kin, transform into wolves and jackals.
Morning avoiding fierce tigers, evening avoiding long snakes.
Grinding teeth and sucking blood, killing men like hemp.
Although Brocade City is said to be joyful, it is not as good as early returning home.
The difficulty of the Shu road is harder than ascending the dark blue sky, turning the body and looking west with a prolonged sigh.