Evening Read Aloud Fan Zhineng, Author of Lan Peilu, Written of the Central Plains and Times When the People’s Tears Flowed
夜 读 范 致 能 揽 辔 录， 言 中 原 父 老 见 使 者 多 挥 涕 感 其 事， 作 绝 句
公 卿 有 党 排 宗 泽
帷 幄 无 人 用 岳 飞。
遗 老 不 应 知 此 恨
亦 逢 汉 节 解 沾 衣。
Ye Du Fan Zhi Neng Lan Pei Lu, Yan Zhong Yuan Fu Lao Jian Shi Zhe Duo Hui Ti Gan Qi Shi, Zuo Jue Ju
Gong qing you dang pai zong ze
Wei wo wu ren yong yue fei.
Yi lao bu ying zhi ci hen
Yi feng han jie jie zhan yi.
Evening Read Aloud Fan Zhineng, Author of Lan Peilu, Written of the Central Plains and Times When the People’s Tears Flowed
Zong Ze was a senior official inside a military faction
Our army tents without the likes of General Yuefei.
The people still inside nomadic-controlled territory should not have to endure their pains and regrets
Upon seeing the hanjie of Fan Zhineng, tears moistened their clothes with joy.
Notes:
Fan Zhineng: also known as Fan Chengda (1126-1193 AD) Poet and government official during the Southern Song dynasty famous for his “travel records literature”.
Lan Peilu: One of Fan Chengda’s several books of poetry and travelogues. On this trip he went to the north with his “hanjie” to meet and talk with the northern nomads, the Jurchens.
Zong Ze: (1059-1128 AD) Famous Northern Song army general, noted for his loyalty, as well as both strategy and tactics.
General Yuefei: (1103-1142 AD) Southern Song army general who lead the attacks against the Jurchen Jin Dynasty (1115-1234 AD) to the north. Celebrated now as a hero for his patriotism and loyalty.
Hanjie: A wooden staff carved and given to a foreign diplomat in order to present it to the new country’s officials. Like an official seal, it revealed the holder’s nationality, his consular credentials, and perhaps a military rank.
Commentary:
Like ancient Chinese poets across the ages, Lu Yu used historical examples of heroes as metaphors for what is happening now. They did this to stay out of trouble, and therefore to keep and lengthen their lives.