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Text based on Tang, Guizhang 唐圭璋 (ed.). Quan Song Ci 全宋詞. Vol 1. Beijing: Zhonghua shu ju, 1965, .

阮郎歸 | To the tune “Ruan Returns”

Source Information

阮郎歸 | To the tune “Ruan Returns”

by Yan Jidao

Text Source:

Text based on Tang, Guizhang 唐圭璋 (ed.). Quan Song Ci 全宋詞. Vol 1. Beijing: Zhonghua shu ju, 1965, 34.

Responsibility Statement:
  • Text based on Tang, Guizhang 唐圭璋 (ed.). Quan Song Ci 全宋詞. Vol 1. Beijing: Zhonghua shu ju, 1965,
  • Translation by Qian Jia
  • Notes by Dante Zhu
  • Encoded in TEI P5 XML by Dante Zhu
Editorial Principles:

Transcriptions and translations are encoded in XML conforming to TEI (P5) guidelines. The original-language text is contained within <lem> tags and translations within <rdg> tags.

Texts are translated into modern American 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. Scribal errors and 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.

Publication Details:

Published by The Global Medieval Sourcebook.

The Global Medieval Sourcebook is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Transcription
阮郎歸 To the tune “Ruan Returns”
天邊金掌露成霜。 The dew on the Metal Palm
c
Critical note:

The Metal Palm was erected on a terrace of the Han imperial palace by Emperor Wu of Han (157 BCE – 87 BCE) in order to catch the dew from Heaven. He believed that drinking the dew mixed with small pieces of jade could help him achieve immortality. As the Metal Palm was built in the capital of Han, Chang’an, the term is used as a symbol for the capital city, and so expresses in coded fashion that the speaker is located in the present-day capital, Kaifeng.

at the edge of the sky has turned into frost.
雲隨雁字長。 The clouds stretch out along with the flock of wild geese.
綠杯紅袖趁重陽。 Green cups
c
Critical note:

Refers to cups of wine.

and red sleeves
c
Critical note:

Refers to female singers.

on the Double Ninth
c
Critical note:

See Introduction for a discussion of The Double Ninth Festival.

;
人情似故鄉。 the custom here is the same as in my hometown.
5
蘭佩紫， The orchid pendant is purple
菊簪黃。 and the chrysanthemum hairpin is yellow.
殷勤理舊狂。 I desperately adopt my past wildness,
欲將沈醉換悲涼。 intending to replace sorrow and despair with total drunkenness.
清歌莫斷腸。 May the pure sound of singing stop breaking my heart.
Translation
阮郎歸 To the tune “Ruan Returns”
天邊金掌露成霜。 The dew on the Metal Palm
c
Critical note:

The Metal Palm was erected on a terrace of the Han imperial palace by Emperor Wu of Han (157 BCE – 87 BCE) in order to catch the dew from Heaven. He believed that drinking the dew mixed with small pieces of jade could help him achieve immortality. As the Metal Palm was built in the capital of Han, Chang’an, the term is used as a symbol for the capital city, and so expresses in coded fashion that the speaker is located in the present-day capital, Kaifeng.

at the edge of the sky has turned into frost.
雲隨雁字長。 The clouds stretch out along with the flock of wild geese.
綠杯紅袖趁重陽。 Green cups
c
Critical note:

Refers to cups of wine.

and red sleeves
c
Critical note:

Refers to female singers.

on the Double Ninth
c
Critical note:

See Introduction for a discussion of The Double Ninth Festival.

;
人情似故鄉。 the custom here is the same as in my hometown.
5
蘭佩紫， The orchid pendant is purple
菊簪黃。 and the chrysanthemum hairpin is yellow.
殷勤理舊狂。 I desperately adopt my past wildness,
欲將沈醉換悲涼。 intending to replace sorrow and despair with total drunkenness.
清歌莫斷腸。 May the pure sound of singing stop breaking my heart.
Critical Notes
Translation
Line number 1
Critical note:

The Metal Palm was erected on a terrace of the Han imperial palace by Emperor Wu of Han (157 BCE – 87 BCE) in order to catch the dew from Heaven. He believed that drinking the dew mixed with small pieces of jade could help him achieve immortality. As the Metal Palm was built in the capital of Han, Chang’an, the term is used as a symbol for the capital city, and so expresses in coded fashion that the speaker is located in the present-day capital, Kaifeng.

Translation
Line number 3
Critical note:

Refers to cups of wine.

Translation
Line number 3
Critical note:

Refers to female singers.

Translation
Line number 3
Critical note:

See Introduction for a discussion of The Double Ninth Festival.

Sorry, but there are no notes associated with any currently displayed witness.