Wei Yingwu: At Heaven’s Gate, Meditating on the Past

 

[updated 2022]

 

At Heaven’s Gate, Meditating on the Past

 

阊 门 怀 古
独 鸟 下 高 树
遥 知 吴 苑 园。
凄 凉 千 古 事
日 暮 倚 阊 门。
Chang Men Huai Gu

Du niao xia gao shu
Yao zhi wu yuan yuan
Qi liang qian gu shi
Ri mu yi chang men

 

At Heaven’s Gate, Meditating on the Past

Single bird under a tall tree
From far away knows about the Wu enclosed gardens.
Throughout the ages affairs desolate and cold
At sunset lean against the heaven’s gate.

 

Notes:

Wu state and region:  Founded during the Western Zhou Dynasty, it was located at the mouth of the Changjiang (Yangzi River) inside Zhejiang Province.