Wang Wei: Go Out Beyond the Border

 

[updated September 2022]

 

Go Out Beyond the Border

 

出 塞 作
居 延 城 外 猎 天 骄
白 草 连 天 野 火 烧。
暮 云 空 碛 时 驱 马
秋 日 平 原 好 射 雕。
护 羌 校 尉 朝 乘 障
破 虏 将 军 夜 渡 辽。
玉 靶 角 弓 珠 勒 马
汉 家 将 赐 霍 嫖 姚。
Chu Sai Zuo

Ju yan cheng wai lie tian jiao
Bai cao lian tian ye huo shao.
Mu yun kong qi shi qu ma
Qiu ri ping yuan hao she diao.

Hu qiang xiao wei zhao cheng zhang
Po lu jiang jun ye du liao.
Yu ba jiao gong zhu le ma
Han jia jiang ci huo piao yao.

 

Go Out Beyond the Border

Juyan city wall, hunting for Mongolian leaders
Parched white grasses, wildfires continually burn.
Vast sunset clouds, good season to ride hard and fast
Autumn days on the flatlands, like the days of she diao.

Guard the junior field officer, dawn engagement at the big wall
Emperor gave him this rank for a past heroic deed of a successful night time raid.
Bow of inlaid jade and gold, with pearl embellished reins
Will be conferred upon his Han family, this former sergeant Huo.

 

Notes:

Juyan: A northern frontier city outpost.

She diao: A contest to shoot the biggest bird.