Wang Wei: Host Monk Qian At a Buddhist Pagoda

 

Host Monk Qian At a Buddhist Pagoda

 

千 塔 主 人
逆 旅 逢 佳 节
征 帆 未 可 钱。
窗 临 汴 河 水
门 渡 楚 人 船。
鸡 犬 散 墟 落
桑 榆 荫 远 田。
所 居 人 不 见
枕 席 生 云 烟。
Qian Ta Zhu Ren

Ni lu feng jia jie
Zheng fan wei ke qian.
Chuang lin bian he shui
Men du chu ren chuan.

Ji quan san xu luo
Sang yu yun yuan tian.
Suo ju ren bu jian
Zhen xi sheng yun yan.

 

Host Monk Qian at a Buddhist Pagoda

While traveling up river, came across a village during festival time
Not able to continue this long journey by sail.
My window overlooks the river water at Kaifeng
See the boats of Chu people moving along.

Scattered chickens and hunting dogs in this humble place
Mulberry and elm trees shade the distant fields.
No people seen at his residence
I can visualize him resting on a bed of auspicious and mythological clouds.

 

Notes:

Chu people: Present day provinces of Hunan and Hebei

Auspicious and mythological clouds: Much like the clouds that Sun Wukong rode to Paradise during his journey to the west in the famous novel and story Journey to the West.