Read Aloud “ Put the Blame On Me Imperial Edict”: Three Poems: Three Poems (#3)
读 “罪 已 诏”： 三 首
(3)
只 道 六 朝 窄
渠 犹 数 百 春。
国 家 祖 宗 泽
天 地 发 生 仁。
历 服 端 传 远
君 王 但 侧 身。
楚 人 要 能 惧
周 命 正 维 新。
Du “Zui Yi Zhao”: San Shou
(3)
Zhi dao liu chao zhai
Qu you shu bai chun.
Guo jia zu zong ze
Tian di fa sheng ren.
Li fu duan chuan yuan
Jun wang dan ce shen.
Chu ren yao neng ju
Zhou ming zheng wei xin.
Read Aloud “ Put the Blame On Me Imperial Edict”: Three Poems: Three Poems (#3)
(3)
The series of six nation states in Jiangnan, a place narrow and cramped
But they were clever enough to easily survive intact for a hundred springs.
This ancestral nation has had households and clans shine benevolence
It is the way of heaven and earth to facilitate the emergence of a compassionate humanity.
If we can pass on these traits and experiences, the nation will prosper
Then the leaders will spend their lives sleeping well.
Chu nation and its people were always frightened of their neighbors and prepared for war
Zhou Dynasty was a model for us to start a new way of thinking.
Notes:
[These poems were written in 1163 AD after a new emperor, Song Xiaozong came to the throne. Being inexperienced, his forces lost a major battle against the northern nomads. As a consequence, the empire lost a lot of land, gold, silk, and pretty ladies. The “Zui Yi Zhao” is the emperor’s written apology to the country. Throughout the poem, Wang suggested that it is best not to do things that will require an apology.]