[updated October 2022]
Send Off Zhang Can, Tomorrow He Will Take the Imperial Test, Close to the Jing River Study Group
送 张 参 明 经 举 兼 向 泾 川 觐 省
十 五 彩 衣 年
承 欢 慈 母 前。
孝 廉 因 岁 貢
怀 橘 向 秦 川。
四 座 推 文 举
中 郎 许 仲 宣。
泛 舟 江 上 别
谁 不 仰 神 仙。
Song Zhang Can Ming Jing Jue Jian Xiang Jing Chuan Jin Xing
Shi wu cai yi nian
Cheng huan ci mu qian.
Xiao lian yin sui gong
Huai ju xiang qin chuan.
Si zuo tui wen ju
Zhong lang xu zhong xuan
Fan zhou jiang shang bie
Shei bu yang shen xian.
Send Off Zhang Can, Tomorrow Will Take the Imperial Test, Close to the Jing River Study Group
Fifteen years old, wore rich and colorful clothes
Indebted to happy and loving parents.
Every year, pay them tribute, this filial piety makes a person honest and upright
Think of the tangerines while near the capital’s palace.
All the people vouch for your advanced literary skills
Even the Central Minister wrote praises for you.
Get on a boat, you depart for downriver
Who cannot summon the celestial beings for your blessings.
Notes:
Jing River: River that is tributary to the Wei River near the capital city of Chang’an (Xi’an), which is then tributary to the Yellow River.
Think of tangerines: Meng and his family also owned large orchards of tangerine trees.