Tang poem · seven-character old-style song唐诗 · 七言古诗（歌行）

guān观gōng公sūn孙dà大niáng娘dì弟zǐ子wǔ舞jiàn剑qì器xíng行

dù杜fǔ甫Du Fu · Tang唐

Watching a Pupil of Lady Gongsun Perform the Sword Dance

xī昔yǒu有jiā佳rén人gōng公sūn孙shì氏

yì一wǔ舞jiàn剑qì器dòng动sì四fāng方

guān观zhě者rú如shān山sè色jǔ沮sàng丧

tiān天dì地wèi为zhī之jiǔ久dī低áng昂

huò㸌rú如yì羿shè射jiǔ九rì日luò落

jiǎo矫rú如qún群dì帝cān骖lóng龙xiáng翔

lái来rú如léi雷tíng霆shōu收zhèn震nù怒

bà罢rú如jiāng江hǎi海níng凝qīng清guāng光

jiàng绛chún唇zhū珠xiù袖liǎng两jì寂mò寞

wǎn晚yǒu有dì弟zǐ子chuán传fēn芬fāng芳

lín临yǐng颍měi美rén人zài在bái白dì帝

miào妙wǔ舞cǐ此qǔ曲shén神yáng扬yáng扬

yǔ与yú余wèn问dá答jì既yǒu有yǐ以

gǎn感shí时fǔ抚shì事zēng增wǎn惋shāng伤

xiān先dì帝shì侍nǚ女bā八qiān千rén人

gōng公sūn孙jiàn剑qì器chū初dì第yī一

wǔ五shí十nián年jiān间sì似fǎn反zhǎng掌

fēng风chén尘hòng澒dòng洞hūn昏wáng王shì室

lí梨yuán园dì弟zǐ子sàn散rú如yān烟

nǚ女yuè乐yú余zī姿yìng映hán寒rì日

jīn金sù粟duī堆nán南mù木yǐ已gǒng拱

qú瞿táng塘shí石chéng城cǎo草xiāo萧sè瑟

dài玳yán筵jí急guǎn管qǔ曲fù复zhōng终

lè乐jí极āi哀lái来yuè月dōng东chū出

lǎo老fū夫bù不zhī知qí其suǒ所wǎng往

zú足jiǎn茧huāng荒shān山zhuǎn转chóu愁jí疾

Underlined words have notes: tap one. The Pinyin button below shows or hides all pinyin. 一 and 不 are marked with the tone you actually say.字下有虚线的，点开有注释。下方的“拼音”按钮可以显示或隐藏全部拼音。“一”“不”标的是实际读出来的变调。

The corpus text differs from the common text in a few places: jiàn qì (sword dance) is miswritten as "sword spirit", wǎn yǒu dì zǐ appears as kuàng yǒu dì zǐ, hòng dòng appears as qīng dòng, lí yuán dì zǐ appears as lí yuán zǐ dì, Qútáng uses an older spelling, and jì mò uses a wrong second character. The common text is used here. The poem also has a prose preface, which is not included here.

语料本个别字和通行本不同：“剑器”误作“剑气”（剑的繁体字转换时也出了错），“晚有弟子”作“况有弟子”，“澒洞”作“倾动”，“梨园弟子”作“梨园子弟”，“瞿塘”作“瞿唐”，“寂寞”作“寂莫”。这里按通行本。原诗前面还有一篇序，这里只收诗的正文。

Line by line逐句翻译

昔有佳人公孙氏Long ago there was a beauty, Lady Gongsun;从前有位美人叫公孙大娘，
一舞剑器动四方when she danced the sword dance, she stirred the whole land.她一跳剑器舞，就震动了四面八方。
观者如山色沮丧Crowds as big as mountains watched, their faces pale with wonder;看的人像山一样多，个个看得脸色都变了，
天地为之久低昂heaven and earth seemed to rise and fall with her for a long time.天和地好像也跟着她久久地起伏。
㸌如羿射九日落Her sword flashed like Hou Yi shooting down nine suns;剑光闪闪，像后羿射落九个太阳，
矫如群帝骖龙翔she moved like gods flying through the sky on dragons.身姿矫健，像众天神驾着龙飞翔。
来如雷霆收震怒She began like thunder that roars and suddenly holds back;开始时像雷霆在发怒后突然收住，
罢如江海凝清光she ended like a river and sea gone calm, shining with clear light.结束时像江海平静下来，泛着清光。
绛唇珠袖两寂寞Her red lips and pearl sleeves are gone now,她的红唇和珠袖都已不在了，
晚有弟子传芬芳but late in life she had a pupil who carried on her art.好在晚年还有弟子把技艺传了下来。
临颍美人在白帝The beauty from Linying is here in Baidi,临颍来的美人在白帝城，
妙舞此曲神扬扬and she dances this piece with soaring spirit.跳起这支舞来神采飞扬。
与余问答既有以I asked and she answered, and I learned where her art came from;我和她一问一答，知道了她舞艺的来历，
感时抚事增惋伤thinking of the times and the past, I grew all the sadder.感慨时代、回想往事，更加叹惜悲伤。
先帝侍女八千人The late emperor once had eight thousand palace women,当年先帝宫中有八千名侍女，
公孙剑器初第一and Lady Gongsun's sword dance was the best of all.公孙大娘的剑器舞，当时排第一。
五十年间似反掌Fifty years have passed as fast as turning a hand;五十年过去，快得像翻一下手掌，
风尘澒洞昏王室the dust of war filled the land and darkened the royal house.战乱的风尘弥漫天下，皇室也衰落了。
梨园弟子散如烟The Pear Garden performers scattered like smoke;梨园里的艺人像烟一样四散了，
女乐余姿映寒日only this dancer's art remains, lit by the cold sun.只剩下这位女艺人的舞姿，映着寒冷的阳光。
金粟堆南木已拱The trees on the late emperor's tomb are already thick as an embrace;先帝陵墓上的树，已经长到合抱那么粗了；
瞿塘石城草萧瑟in the stone town by Qutang Gorge, the grass is bleak.瞿塘峡边的石城里，野草一片凄凉。
玳筵急管曲复终At the fine feast the fast music ends once more;华美的宴席上，急促的乐曲又结束了，
乐极哀来月东出joy reaches its peak, sorrow comes, and the moon rises in the east.快乐到了头，悲哀就来了，月亮从东边升起。
老夫不知其所往This old man does not know where to go;我这个老头子不知道该往哪里去，
足茧荒山转愁疾on callused feet in the wild hills, he walks on, more and more troubled.拖着长了老茧的脚，在荒山里越走越愁。

Words字词注释

佳人jiā rén: jiā rén: a beautiful woman.佳人：美丽的女子。
公孙氏gōng sūn shì: Gōngsūn shì: Lady Gongsun, the most famous dancer at the court of Emperor Xuanzong.公孙氏：公孙大娘，唐玄宗时宫中最有名的舞蹈家。
剑器jiàn qì: jiàn qì: the name of a Tang dance. Dancers held a sword or ribbons and moved with great force.剑器：唐代一种舞蹈的名字，舞者手持剑或彩带，动作刚健有力。
动四方dòng sì fāng: dòng sì fāng: stirred the whole land.动四方：震动了各地。
观者如山guān zhě rú shān: guān zhě rú shān: the crowd was as big as a mountain.观者如山：看的人多得像山一样。
色沮丧sè jǔ sàng: sè jǔ sàng: their faces turned pale; they were stunned.色沮丧：脸色都变了，看呆了。
低昂dī áng: dī áng: now low, now high.低昂：一会儿低，一会儿高。
㸌huò: huò: flashing with light.㸌：光芒闪烁的样子。
羿射九日落yì shè jiǔ rì luò: Yì shè jiǔ rì luò: in a myth there were ten suns, and the archer Hou Yi shot down nine.羿射九日落：神话里天上有十个太阳，后羿射下了九个。
矫jiǎo: jiǎo: strong and nimble.矫：矫健，动作有力又灵活。
群帝骖龙翔qún dì cān lóng xiáng: qún dì cān lóng xiáng: many gods flying through the sky in dragon-drawn chariots. Cān means to drive.群帝骖龙翔：众多天神驾着龙在空中飞。骖，驾车。
雷霆收震怒léi tíng shōu zhèn nù: léi tíng shōu zhèn nù: like thunder holding back its roar; the dance began with great force, then stopped short.雷霆收震怒：像雷声停住了怒吼，说舞开始时气势逼人又戛然收住。
罢bà: bà: to stop, to finish.罢：停下，结束。
凝清光níng qīng guāng: níng qīng guāng: the river and sea grow still and shine with clear light.凝清光：江海平静下来，泛着清亮的波光。
绛唇珠袖jiàng chún zhū xiù: jiàng chún zhū xiù: red lips and pearl-trimmed sleeves, standing for Lady Gongsun's beauty and dancing.绛唇珠袖：红红的嘴唇和缀着珠子的衣袖，代指公孙大娘的美貌和舞姿。
两寂寞liǎng jì mò: liǎng jì mò: both are gone, meaning Lady Gongsun has died.两寂寞：都已经没有了，说公孙大娘已经去世。
传芬芳chuán fēn fāng: chuán fēn fāng: passing on the fine art.传芬芳：把美好的技艺传了下来。
临颍美人lín yǐng měi rén: Línyǐng měi rén: the beauty from Linying (in today's Henan), Li Twelfth Lady, Lady Gongsun's pupil.临颍美人：临颍（今属河南）来的美人，指公孙大娘的弟子李十二娘。
白帝bái dì: Báidì: Baidi Town, in Kuizhou (today's Fengjie, Chongqing).白帝：白帝城，在夔州（今重庆奉节）。
神扬扬shén yáng yáng: shén yáng yáng: full of spirit.神扬扬：神采飞扬。
既有以jì yǒu yǐ: jì yǒu yǐ: now I knew where her art came from. Yǐ means the cause.既有以：知道了她舞艺的来历。以，原因、来由。
感时抚事gǎn shí fǔ shì: gǎn shí fǔ shì: moved by how the times changed, thinking back on the past.感时抚事：感慨时代变化，回想往事。
惋伤wǎn shāng: wǎn shāng: sorrow and regret.惋伤：叹惜和悲伤。
先帝xiān dì: xiān dì: the late emperor, here Emperor Xuanzong.先帝：已经去世的皇帝，指唐玄宗。
初第一chū dì yī: chū dì yī: back then she was the best.初第一：当初排在第一。
似反掌sì fǎn zhǎng: sì fǎn zhǎng: as quick as turning over a hand.似反掌：像翻一下手掌那么快。
风尘澒洞fēng chén hòng dòng: fēng chén hòng dòng: the dust of war filled the land, meaning the An Lushan Rebellion.风尘澒洞：战乱的烟尘弥漫天下，指安史之乱。
昏王室hūn wáng shì: hūn wáng shì: darkened the royal house.昏王室：让唐朝皇室陷入昏暗、衰落。
梨园弟子lí yuán dì zǐ: lí yuán dì zǐ: the musicians and dancers Emperor Xuanzong trained in the Pear Garden.梨园弟子：唐玄宗在梨园训练的乐工和舞者。
余姿yú zī: yú zī: the dancing that remains, meaning Li Twelfth Lady.余姿：留下来的舞姿，指李十二娘。
金粟堆jīn sù duī: Jīnsù duī: Jinsu Mountain, where Emperor Xuanzong is buried, in today's Pucheng, Shaanxi.金粟堆：金粟山，唐玄宗的陵墓在那里，在今陕西蒲城。
木已拱mù yǐ gǒng: mù yǐ gǒng: the trees by the tomb are already as thick as two arms can reach around, meaning he died years ago.木已拱：墓前的树已经长到两手合抱那么粗了，说人已去世多年。
瞿塘石城qú táng shí chéng: Qútáng shí chéng: the stone town by Qutang Gorge, meaning Kuizhou.瞿塘石城：瞿塘峡边的石头城，指夔州城。
萧瑟xiāo sè: xiāo sè: bleak and lonely.萧瑟：冷落、凄凉。
玳筵dài yán: dài yán: a fine feast decorated with tortoiseshell. Dài mào is a sea turtle with a beautiful shell.玳筵：用玳瑁装饰的华美宴席。玳瑁是一种海龟，壳很漂亮。
急管jí guǎn: jí guǎn: fast pipe music.急管：节奏急促的管乐声。
乐极哀来lè jí āi lái: lè jí āi lái: when joy reaches its peak, sorrow comes.乐极哀来：快乐到了极点，悲哀就来了。
老夫lǎo fū: lǎo fū: this old man, Du Fu speaking of himself.老夫：老头子，杜甫自称。
足茧zú jiǎn: zú jiǎn: calluses on the feet.足茧：脚上磨出了老茧。
转愁疾zhuǎn chóu jí: zhuǎn chóu jí: growing more troubled, he walks faster. Another reading: he worries that he walks too fast.转愁疾：心里越来越愁，走路反而急了起来。一说是愁自己走得太快。

How to read it读音

为wèi: Wèi zhī means because of it, so it is read wèi.“为之”是“因为它”，读 wèi。
㸌huò: This character is read huò and describes a flashing light.㸌读 huò，形容光芒闪烁。
曲qǔ: Cǐ qǔ means this piece of music or dance, so it is read qǔ.“此曲”指乐曲、舞曲，读 qǔ。
似sì: Sì fǎn zhǎng means like turning over a hand, so it is read sì.“似反掌”是“像翻手掌”，读 sì。
澒hòng: Hòng dòng is read this way and means spreading everywhere.“澒洞”读 hòng dòng，形容弥漫无边。
乐yuè: Nǚ yuè means women musicians and dancers, so it is read yuè.“女乐”指唱歌跳舞的女艺人，读 yuè。
曲qǔ: Qǔ fù zhōng means the music ends again, so it is read qǔ.“曲复终”是乐曲又结束了，读 qǔ。
乐lè: Lè jí means joy at its highest, so it is read lè.“乐极”是快乐到了极点，读 lè。

Background创作背景

In a preface, Du Fu says that on the nineteenth day of the tenth month of 767, at the home of an official named Yuan Chi in Kuizhou, he watched Li Twelfth Lady from Linying perform the sword dance and found it magnificent. When he asked, she told him she was Lady Gongsun's pupil. Du Fu remembered seeing Lady Gongsun dance at Yancheng in 715, when he was a small boy. Fifty years had passed. The Tang had gone through the An Lushan Rebellion, Emperor Xuanzong was dead, and Du Fu himself was old and drifting in Kuizhou. So he wrote this poem. The preface also says that the great calligrapher Zhang Xu improved his cursive writing after watching Lady Gongsun dance.

杜甫在诗前的序里说：大历二年（767年）十月十九日，他在夔州别驾元持家里，看到临颍人李十二娘跳剑器舞，觉得非常壮美。一问才知道，她是公孙大娘的弟子。杜甫想起开元三年（715年）自己还是个小孩时，在郾城看过公孙大娘跳舞。五十年过去，唐朝经历了安史之乱，玄宗已死，杜甫自己也老了，漂泊在夔州，于是写下了这首诗。序里还说，大书法家张旭看了公孙大娘的舞，草书大有长进。

The poet作者

Du Fu (712–770) was a great Tang poet, called the Sage of Poetry. As a child he lived in the rich years of the Kaiyuan era. In old age he lived through the An Lushan Rebellion and wandered from place to place. His poems often tie his own life to the rise and fall of the country, so they are called a history in verse. This poem is about one dance, and also about fifty whole years of history.

杜甫（712—770），唐代大诗人，被称为“诗圣”。他小时候正赶上开元盛世，晚年却经历了安史之乱，到处漂泊。他的诗常常把个人的遭遇和国家的兴衰连在一起，所以被称为“诗史”。这首诗写一场舞，也写了整整五十年的历史。

The mood意境

The first eight lines show Lady Gongsun's dance long ago. Du Fu uses one picture after another. Her sword flashes like falling suns, she moves like flying dragons, she begins like thunder and ends like a calm sea. As you read, you can almost see the blade flashing and the crowd holding its breath. Then the scene changes. The beauty is gone, and only her pupil still dances. From one dance, Du Fu thinks of fifty years of change. The emperor has died, the Pear Garden performers have scattered, and the land has been torn by war. At the end the feast is over, the moon rises, and the old poet drags his tired feet into the wild hills. The livelier the start, the lonelier the end. That is "when joy peaks, sorrow comes": inside one dance lies the rise and fall of a whole age.

诗的前八句写公孙大娘当年的舞。杜甫用了一连串比喻：剑光像射落的太阳，身姿像飞龙，开始像雷霆，结束像平静的江海。读的时候，好像能看到剑光一闪一闪，人群屏住了呼吸。接着画面一转，美人已经不在，只有弟子还在跳。由一支舞，杜甫想到了五十年的变化：皇帝去世了，梨园的人散了，天下经历了大乱。最后宴会散了，月亮升起，老诗人拖着疲惫的脚走进荒山。前面越热闹，后面越冷清。这就是“乐极哀来”，一场舞里藏着一个时代的盛衰。