The Works of Li Qingzhao, Ci Poems 3.33 - 3.40

[x_los]

The 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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Comments

3.36, Summoning Relatives on the Third Day Festival

[x_los]

蝶戀花

上巳召親族

永夜厭厭歡意少。
空夢當時
認取長安道。
為報今年春色好。 花光月影宜相照。
隨意杯盤雖草草。
酒美梅酸
恰稱人怀抱。
醉莫插花花莫笑。
可憐春似人將老。

To the tune “Butterfly Loves Flowers”

Summoning Relatives on the Third Day Festival

The long night is oppressive, pleasant thoughts few. In vain I dream of years past,
recognizing the roads of Chang’an.
Spring’s colors this year, I’m told, are lovely.
Bright blossoms and moonlight must be illuminating each other.
Though the cups and plates casually set out are not elaborate,
the richness of the wine and the sourness of plums
are a perfect match for our feelings.
When drunk, don’t put flowers in your hair, and flowers, don’t you laugh.
How sad! Spring is getting old, just like the person.

Re: 3.36, Summoning Relatives on the Third Day Festival

[x_los]

SOMEWHAT LESS SURE OF ATTRIBUTION FROM HERE ON OUT

“When drunk, don’t put flowers in your hair, and flowers, don’t you laugh.” Why not, and why?

Re: 3.36, Summoning Relatives on the Third Day Festival

[douqi]

I've also seen that line rendered as 醉裏插花花莫笑 (that's the version I'm more familiar with tbh) which would come out as 'flowers, don't laugh at me for drunkenly putting flowers into my hair'.

Re: 3.36, Summoning Relatives on the Third Day Festival

[superborb]

Baike's gloss is a very tenuous 北宋苏轼《吉祥寺赏牡丹》：“人老簪花不自羞，花应羞上老人头。”在这里反其意而用之。"When people are old, they aren't shy of putting flowers in their hair, but flowers are shy of being on old people's heads." Here used contrary to the intention of the reference.

I'm not quite sure how to understand this?

Re: 3.36, Summoning Relatives on the Third Day Festival

[superborb]

Baike notes that the sourness of plums indicates that the food is delicious; plum was an essential seasoning in ancient times.

The discussion section says 'spring' is a metaphor for the state, and thus mourning the country's ruin.

Re: 3.36, Summoning Relatives on the Third Day Festival

[x_los]

Man I wasn't going to guess that sourness was a Good Thing (perhaps in part bc I don't like that sour plum drink at all).