Feb 16, 2006

LISTEN TO THE TEXTLISTEN TO SHIRLEY SINGING THE POEM   

Hi, friends, have you had any experience to send-off a friend to go back to your hometown?

Today, I would like to introduce a little Chinese classical poem by Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) poem Wang Changling (689 - 757) Furong Lou Song Xin Jian -- Sending-off Xin Jian At Lotus Pavilion, just to express the feelings to send a friend to go back the poet’s hometown. This poem is famous for its last two lines -- Luoyang Qinyou Ru Xianwen, yipian bingxin zai yu hu
--If my family, relatives and friends ask something about me, please tell them that my heart is still pure as ice in a jade pot.

We have learned his another poem A Song Of Picking Lotus -- Cai Lian Qu and have known something about his life experience -- Wang Changling was a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations in A.D.727. He had been a little official after to be demoted in Jiang Ning -- today's Nan Jing City. So he was also called Wang Jiang Ning.

This poem was just written when he was an official in Jianning, to express his alone, his personality to keep a cleaning quality no matter what had happened.

I wrote a piece of music to match this poem and hope you enjoy it.


MAINE MEANING OF THE POEM>LISTEN TO SHIRLEY SINGING THE POEM :

A cold rain is covering
the river and Wu last night,
sending-off you at down
and leave myself here
as an alone Chu Mountain.
If my relatives and friends
ask something about me,
let them know that
my heart is still pure
as an ice in a jade pot...

Attach 1: Translation By Hubei Education College:

AT HIBISCUS INN PARTING WITH XIN JIAN

With this cold night-rain hiding the river,
you have come into Wu.
In the level dawn,
all alone,
you will be starting for the mountains of Chu.
Answer, if they ask of me at Loyang:
"One-hearted as ice in a crystal vase."

Attach 2: Translation By Hundred Flower Art Publish House:

Bidding Farewell to Xin Jian at Lotus Pavilion
Cold rains raining the stream last eve, I got in Wu;
Seeing friend off this dawn, I saw forlorn Mount Chu.
In Luoyang should my folks and friends ask after me,
Tell them a heart’s in jade pot, pure as it can be.

NEW WORDS

Note: Please hit any Chinese character that you need helped, to see its Chinese pinyin, pronunciation, meaning and follow me to read it.


CHINESE CHRACTERS AND PRONUNCIATIONLISTEN TO SHIRLEY SINGING THE POEM :

芙蓉楼送辛渐
王昌龄　
     
寒雨连江夜入吴-- Hán yǔ lián jiāng yè rù Wú,
平明送客楚山孤-- pīng míng sòng kè Chǔ shāng gū。
洛阳亲友如相问-- Luòyáng qīnyǒu rú xiāng wèn,
一片冰心在玉壶-- yīpiàn bīngxīn zài yùhú。

That is all for this poem, hope it is helpful to your Chinese learning. :-)

If you have any questions, comments and suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn , or shirleyz004@yahoo.com, You are welcomed to publish your opinions in Forum For Friends as well. :-)   

--Shirley
Written, Translated and Recorded On Sat, 18, 2006