Han Yu: Visit to Princess Taiping in Shan Zhuang

Visit to Princess Taiping in Shan Zhuang

游 太 平 公 主 山 庄

公 主 当 年 欲 占 春
故 将 台 榭 压 城 闉。

欲 知 前 面 花 多 少
直 到 南 山 不 属 人。

You Tai Ping Gong Zhu Shan Zhuang

Gong zhu dang nian yu zhan chun
Gu jiang tai xie ya cheng yin.                                                                                                  Yu zhi qian mian hua duo shao
Zhi dao nan shan shu ren.

Visit to Princess Taiping in Shan Zhuang

In former days the princess desired only the finest
She had terraced pavilions built alongside  the highest barbican.

I Wanted to know if she could count all of her blossoms and flowers
Her lands from here to the southern mountains, now depopulated and ignored.

Notes:

Princess Taiping:  (665-713 AD) Daughter of Empress Wu during the early Tang Dynasty. Later was forced to commit suicide by Emperor Xuanzong.

Barbican: Defensive gate tower along a city or palace wall.