Li Bai: One Hundred Forty Years

One Hundred Forty Years

一 百 四 十 年

一 百 四 十 年
国 容 何 赫 然 ！
隐 隐 五 风 楼
峨 峨 横 三 川 。

王 侯 象 星 月
宾 客 如 云 烟。
斗 鸡 金 宫 里
蹴 鞠 瑶 台 边。

举 动 摇 白 日
指 挥 回 青 天。
当 途 何 翕 忽
失 路 长 弃 捐。
独 有 扬 执 戟
闭 关 草 太 玄。

Yi Bai Si Shi Nian

Yi bai si shi nian
Guo rong he he ran!
Yin yin wu feng lou
E e heng san chuan.

Wang hou xiang xing yue
Bin ke ru yun yan.
Dou ji jin gong li
Cu ju yao tai bian.

Ju dong yao bai ri
Zhi hui hui qing tian.
Dang tu he xi hu
Shi lu chang qi juan.
Du you yang zhi ji
Bi guan cao tai xuan.

One Hundred Forty Years

One hundred and forty years
Country contains the unexpected and vibrant!
Partially hidden, five new phoenix buildings and their concubines
Very high and lofty government buildings overlook the three rivers.

Imperial nobility imitate the moon and stars
Guests and visitors come and go like the clouds and mists.
Cockfights staged outside the golden palace
Kick the yarn-ball along the borders of the jade terrace.

All activities going on around the clock
Wave their fingers to bring about blue skies.
Even low level officials ascend and fall off the bureaucratic ladder with speed
When out of favor, thrown away by imperial order.
I alone like Yang Zhiji can go into seclusion
Among wild grasses deeply behind a closed gate.

Notes:

One Hundred Forty Years: At this time, approximately how long the Tang Dynasty had been in existence.

Yang Zhiji: A writer from the Han Dynasty who could work in the palace or go into rural seclusion with equal ease.

Commentary:

Good descriptions of Li Bai’s observations of everyday palace life.