[updated October 2022]
Imperial Legal Advisor Zheng Guan
郑 瓘 协 律
广 文 遗 韵 留 樗 散
鸡 犬 图 书 共 一 船。
自 说 江 湖 不 归 事
阻 风 中 酒 过 年 年。
Zheng Guan Xie Lu
Guang wen yi yun liu chun san
Ji quan tu shu gong yi chuan.
Zi shui jiang hu bu gui shi
Zu feng zhong jiu guo nian nian.
Imperial Legal Advisor Zheng Guan
Zheng Guangwen lost his freedom when the Tree of Heaven was scattered
He was exiled in one boat with his chickens and hunting dogs, along with some of his paintings and books.
Naturally from then on, he was persuaded to live among rivers and lakes, never again to return to the palace
With the winds blocked, the boat stopped for wine, and so it went year after year.
Notes:
Zheng Guan: Du Mu met this friend and was told a story about his grandfather, Zheng Guanwen.
Zheng Guanwen: A palace favorite during the reign of Tang Dynasty emperor Xuanzong. (r. 713-756). He was famous for his paintings and poetry. After the rebellion of An Lushan, Zheng worked for the new government to save his life. Years later, as the rebels had to abandon the capital, Zheng also had to get out of town.
Tree of Heaven: A rapidly growing deciduous tree native to northeast and central China. It is considered as an invasive specie of tree. Metaphor for the invasions by An Lushan and his armies.
An Lushan: (703-757 AD) Tang Dynasty army general famous for uniting northern nomad forces against Emperor Xuanzong. His army invaded and conquered the Tang capitals of Luoyang and Chang’an, bringing Tang imperial power to a temporary end.