Written Observations of Qinzhou
秦 州 杂 诗
莽 莽 万 重 山
孤 城 山 谷 间。
无 风 云 出 塞
不 夜 月 临 关。
属 国 归 何 晚？
楼 兰 斩 未 还。
烟 尘 一 长 望
衰 飒 正 摧 颜。
Qin Zhou Za Shi
Mang mang wan chong shan
Gu cheng shan gu jian.
Wu feng yun chu sai
Bu ye yue lin guan.
Shu guo gui he wan?
Lou lan zhan wei huan.
Yan chen yi chang wang
Shuai sa zheng cui yan.
Written Observations of Qinzhou
Vast mountains within thousands of layers of mist
At the bottom of a valley, solitary mountain city walls.
Without wind, clouds leave this strategic border stronghold
Feel closed in with no evening moon.
Where are the remnants of my country this evening?
The ancient city of Lou Lan has yet to be returned.
One long look into the distance of dust and smoke
I am too old to be like Su Wu.
Notes:
Qinzhou: Was an ancient province in southwest Gansu Province.
Lou Lan: An ancient oasis city along the Silk Road in modern day Xinjiang Province. The ruins and artifacts of the area have been extensively unearthed and studied many times over the years.
Su Wu: (140-60 BC) He is considered one of the China’s greatest ambassadors and diplomats. During the Han Dynasty he and others were sent north into the Xiongnu lands to make a peace treaty. Instead, he was captured and imprisoned, held for nineteen years. He was then forced into servitude as a sheep herder. Su used some of his time to gather intelligence by making maps upon the sheepskins. He was subsequently released and returned to China with this intelligence.
Xiongnu: Tribal confederation and empire in modern day Mongolia.