[updated October 2022]
Going Past the Yi Bridge to Xiapi City, Thinking of Zhang Zifang
经 下 祁 圯 桥 怀 张 子 房
子 房 未 虎 啸
破 产 不 为 家。
沧 海 得 壮 士
椎 秦 博 浪 沙。
报 韩 虽 不 成
天 地 皆 震 动。
潜 匿 游 下 邳
岂 日 非 智 勇。
我 来 圯 桥 上
怀 古 钦 英 风。
唯 见 碧 流 水
曾 无 黄 石 公。
叹 息 此 人 去
萧 条 徐 泗 空。
Jing Xia Pi Yi Qiao Huai Zhang Zi Fang
Zi fang wei hu xiao
Po chan bu wei jia.
Cang hai dei zhuang shi
Zhui qin bo lang sha.
Bao han sui bu cheng
Tian di jie zhen dong.
Qian ni you xia pi
Qi ri fei zhi yong?
Wo lai yi qiao shang
Huai gu qin ying feng.
Wei jian bi liu shui
Ceng wu huang shi gong.
Tan xi ci ren qu
Xiao tiao xu si kong.
Going Past the Yi Bridge to Xiapi City, Thinking of Zhang Zifang
Zifang not yet roars like a tiger
Breaking up and liquidating his wealth not for the benefit of his family.
Scour the deep blue seas to find the strongest warrior heroes
He hurled a weapon at the Qin king at Bo Langsha.
Although not successful at killing him, his fame spread
Heaven and Earth was completely astonished.
He then had to travel and hide in Xiapi
Isn’t it true he is still wise and brave?
Now I have arrived at the Yi Bridge
Still think of and admire his style and nerve.
Look down, see into the clear, rushing water
Wonder how come I cannot meet Huang Shigong.
Heave a sigh, all these people have departed
Looking around, only see the desolate and empty.
Notes:
Xiapi City: Located in Jiangsu Province, it was the site of a major battle in 198-199 AD at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Bo Langsha: Battle site near Xiapi in 218 BC during the Qin Dynasty.
Yi Bridge: Located in Xiapi City
Huang Shigong: Semi-mythological Daoist hermit who appeared between the Qin and Han Dynasties (ca. 206 BC) in the Xiapi area. Famous for his military strategies known as “The Three Strategies of Huang Shigong”.