Du Mu: Yangzhou: Three Poems: No.1

 

[updated October 2022]

 

Yangzhou: Three Poems: No.1

 

(1)
扬 州:三 首
炀 帝 雷 塘 土
迷 藏 有 旧 楼。
谁 家 唱 水 调
明 月 满 扬 州。
骏 马 宜 闲 出
千 金 好 暗 游。
喧 阗 醉 年 少
半 脱 紫 茸 裘。
Yang Zhou: San Shou

(1)

Yang di lei tang tu
Mi zang you jiu lou.
Shei jia chang shui tiao
Ming yue man yang zhou.

Jun ma yi xian chu
Qian jin hao an you
Xuan tian zui nian shao
Ban tuo zi rong qiu.

 

Yangzhou: Three Poems: No.1

Emperor Di built strong earthen levees
His ancient buildings form a maze like some Buddhist sutras.
Some families sing the local water songs.
Bright full moon is over Yangzhou.

Leisurely their fine horses arrive
It takes a thousand in fine gold to see the female singers.
Young men noisy and drunk
Half remove their fancy fur coats.

 

Notes:

Emperor Di: Also known as Huangdi, the Yellow Emperor (r. 2698-2596 BC).

Yangzhou: Wealthy city from the ancient salt trade, located in Jiangsu Province.