Text based on Tang, Guizhang 唐圭璋 (ed.). Quan Song Ci 全宋詞. Vol 1. Beijing: Zhonghua shu ju, 1965, 303.
Texts are translated into modern English with maximum fidelity to the original text, except where it would impair comprehension or good style. Archaisms are preserved where they do not conflict with the aesthetic of the original text. Creative translation choices are marked and discussed in the critical notes.
The original text of this ci is based on the edition by Tang Guizhang 唐圭璋 (Quan Song Ci 全宋詞. Vol 1. Beijing: Zhonghua shu ju, 1965). Punctuation follows the edition. Since ci poetry rarely includes personal pronouns, and gender-differentiated pronouns did not exist in Classical Chinese of this period, the gender of the speaker as well as their perspective (e.g. first, second or third person) must often be deduced by the translator from context.
Punctuation follows the edition.Published by The Global Medieval Sourcebook.
The Global Medieval Sourcebook is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Chen Shugu was the prefect of Hangzhou, the city where Su Shi was posted.
West Lake is a freshwater lake in the city of Hangzhou.
Refers to Chen Shugu.
The fair ones are the courtesans at the farewell banquet for Shugu.
“Long River” here refers to Qiantang River.
The literal translation is “There is no need to frown the silkworm moth tentacles”. “Silkworm moth tentacles” (蛾) refers to women’s beautiful eyebrows due to their resemblance in shape.
Chen Shugu was the prefect of Hangzhou, the city where Su Shi was posted.
West Lake is a freshwater lake in the city of Hangzhou.
Refers to Chen Shugu.
The fair ones are the courtesans at the farewell banquet for Shugu.
“Long River” here refers to Qiantang River.
The literal translation is “There is no need to frown the silkworm moth tentacles”. “Silkworm moth tentacles” (蛾) refers to women’s beautiful eyebrows due to their resemblance in shape.
Refers to Chen Shugu.
The fair ones are the courtesans at the farewell banquet for Shugu.
“Long River” here refers to Qiantang River.
The literal translation is “There is no need to frown the silkworm moth tentacles”. “Silkworm moth tentacles” (蛾) refers to women’s beautiful eyebrows due to their resemblance in shape.