Watching the Hunt
观 猎
风 劲 角 弓 鸣
将 军 猎 渭 城。
草 枯 鹰 眼 疾
雪 尽 马 蹄 轻。
忽 过 新 丰 市
还 归 细 柳 营。
回 看 射 雕 处
千 里 暮 云 平。
Guan Lie
Feng jing jiao gong ming
Jiang jun lie wei cheng.
Cao ku ying yan ji
Xue jin ma ti qing.
Hu guo xin feng shi
Huan gui xi liu ying.
Hui kan she diao chu
Qian li mu yun ping.
Watching the Hunt
Strong winds, hunting horns sound, and the bow is drawn
Army general hunting near the city of Wei.
Withered grass, his falcon’s eyesight keen
Snow almost melted, his horse’s hooves move lightly and swift.
Suddenly, aware they were close to the city
Return and head back to Xiliu army camp.
Feeling the exhilaration of shooting an eagle
Across the horizon, level sunset clouds.
Notes:
Shooting an eagle: A man of exceptional skill and talent. Perhaps similar to the Swiss legend of William Tell shooting the apple off his son’s head with a bow and arrow, or of Robin Hood of English legend. Contrast the exhilaration of shooting a real eagle with Wang Wei’s Buddhist beliefs of the sanctity of living things.
The last line: Across the horizon and level clouds as opposed to white clouds, the vertical clouds of spirituality.