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dankodesThe fifth instalment of Li Qingzhao’s ci poetry. This book is freely available via De Gruyter's Library of Chinese Humanities in Mandarin and English and via several publication formats, including two open access options (the pdf appears to be better formatted than the ebook). We're reading the poems 3.33 through 3.40, inclusive.
How to Read Chinese Poetry has three chapters on the ci forms Li Qingzhao uses here:
Chapter 12, Ci Poetry: Short Song Lyrics (Xiaoling)
Chapter 13, Ci Poetry: Long Song Lyrics (Manci)
Chapter 14, Ci Poetry: Long Song Lyrics on Objects (Yongwu Ci)
This week, we look at Chapter 14 as recommended additional reading.
Recall from the introduction that everything after 3.35 is relatively likely to be misattributed.
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3.35
南昌生日
微寒應候。
望日邊
六葉堦蓂初秀。
愛景欲挂扶桑 漏殘銀箭 杓回瑶斗。 慶高閎此際
掌上一顆明珠剖。 有令容淑質 歸逢佳偶。 到如今
晝錦滿堂貴胄。
榮耀
文步紫禁
一一金章綠綬。
更值棠棣連陰 虎符熊軾
夾河分守。
況青雲咫尺 朝暮重入承明後。
看彩衣爭獻
蘭羞玉酎。
祝千齡
借指松椿比壽。
To the tune “The Joy of Long Life” Nanchang’s Birthday
There is disagreement among scholars concerning for whom this congratulatory birthday poem was written, some saying the recipient (Lady Nanchang, of the subtitle), was the mother of Han Xiaozhou, Li Qingzhao’s relative and benefactor, and others suggesting that it was the mother of Zhao Mingcheng, Li Qingzhao’s first husband. The opening stanza alludes to the lady’s birth on the dawn of a winter day, her parents’ pride in the newborn child, her good marriage, and her offspring and descendants who now congratulate her on her birthday. The second stanza describes the distin- guished official careers of her sons, the emperor’s favor toward them, and the presents the family offers to their mother and matriarch on her birthday.
A slight chill came with the season. Beside the sun, we saw six leaves of the auspicious step-bush were formed.
The genial winter orb hung in Mulberry Tree, the silver arrow was barely floating in the clepsydra, the handle pivoted on precious Dipper. Blessed, this moment in the towering hall:
a pearl was opened in the palm of the hand. Favored as she was with comely face and gentle nature, in marriage a fine match was made. And now, on this auspicious day,
Morning Brocade Hall is filled with high-ranking descendants.
Honored and glorified, they stride into the Purple Palace one by one wearing golden insignia and green tassels.
What’s more, brothers like sweet-plums stand side by side, their shade intertwining,
tiger seals and carriages with bear-carvings, serving as governors on both sides of the river.
Within inches of azure clouds high aloft, morning and evening they repeatedly ascend the Palace of
Enlightenment. See the colored silks his offspring vie to offer as presents, together with tasty delicacies and jade cups of liquor. They convey wishes for a thousand years,
the longevity of pine tree and fragrant cedar.
Re: 3.35
“the handle pivoted on precious Dipper.” Not that clear—all horoscope stuff, about the day in question?
Re: 3.35
The silver arrow line indicates that dawn is breaking. Clepsydra = water clock and the silver arrow is a thing in the water clock that indicates the exact time.
The dipper line indicates that the handle of the dipper has returned east, and spring has arrived.
Re: 3.35
Re: 3.35
The Baike gloss on the brothers like sweet-plums is that it is a reference to this guy http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Zhou/personsshaogongshi.html, and means the brothers are continually blessed.
Baike notes that the carriages with bear-carvings are reserved for senior / high ranking officials. The tiger seals, we of course know from MDZS.