Tao Yuanming: Mid-June, Fire in the Year of the Monkey

Mid-June, Fire in the Year of the Monkey

戊 申 岁 六 月 中 遇 火

草 庐 寄 穷 巷
甘 以 辞 华 轩。
正 复 长 风 急
林 室 顿 烧 燔。

一 宅 无 遗 宇
舫 舟 荫 门 前。
迢 迢 新 秋 夕
亭 亭 月 将 圆。

果 菜 始 复 生
惊 鸟 尚 未 还。
中 宵 伫 遥 念
一 盼 周 九 天。

总 发 抱 孤 介
奄 出 四 十 年。
形 迹 凭 化 往
灵 府 长 独 闲。

贞 刚 自 有 质
玉 石 乃 非 坚。
仰 想 东 户 时
馀 粮 宿 中 田。

鼓 腹 无 所 思
朝 起 暮 归 眠。
既 已 不 遇 兹
且 遂 灌 我 园。

Wu Shen Sui Liu Yue Zhong Yu Huo

Cao lu ji qiong xiang
Gan yi ci hua xuan.
Zheng xia chang feng ji
Lin shi dun shao fan.

Yi zhai wu yi yu
Fang zhou yin men qian.
Tiao tiao xin qiu xi
Ting ting yue jiang yuan.

Guo cai shi fu sheng
Jing niao shang wei huan.
Zhong xiao zhu yao nian
Yi pan zhou jiu tian.

Zong fa bao gu jie
Yan chu xi shi nian.
Xing ji ping hua wang
Ling fu chang du xian.

Zhen gang zi you zhi
Yu shi nai fei jian.
Yang xiang dong hu shi
Yu liang su zhong tian.

Gu fu wu suo si
Zhao qi mu gui mian.
Ji yi bu yu zi
Qie sui guan wo yuan.

Mid-June, Fire in the Year of the Monkey

My wood and thatched hut was located on a poor, narrow street
Curtained carriages could reach me.
Middle of summer strong winds restless
From a forested area, suddenly a fire started.

The whole house was a total loss
Live now on two boats, tied together, under large shade trees.
Long and lonely autumn sunset, gibbous moon
Tall, directly overhead, almost full.

Fruits and vegetables just beginning to emerge
Startled birds have still yet to return.
Middle of the night, longing for distant times
Under a vast and starry sky, one hope.

Cherish being an honest and forthright group of one
All of a sudden forty years have passed.
My life has been full of changes and a following of destiny
But inside my soul’s mansion, I always have one serenity.

Strong loyalty to my qualities and nature
Even jade and stone are not as solid or firm.
Yearn for the Golden Days of peace, virtue, and prosperity
One could store the grains overnight in the fields.

Did not have to worry about starvation and famine
Everyday get up at dawn to work, return home at dark to sleep.
Already know I will never experience these days again
So for now, success will be to water my garden.

Notes:

Year of the Monkey: The year 408 AD.  This fire destroyed the Tao family house of several generations, and virtually all of the contents.  Obviously it changed his life forever.  Thereafter it was a life of struggle, toil, and poverty.

Commentary:

Tao’s line “Strong loyalty to my qualities and nature” is a wonderful insight of self-realization.  This loyalty is expressed throughout his work.