[updated October 2022]
Pass By Hua Qing Palace: Three Four-Line Poems
过 华 清 宫 绝 句： 三 首
(1)
长 安 回 望 绣 成 堆
山 顶 千 门 次 第 开。
一 骑 红 尘 妃 子 笑
无 人 知 是 荔 枝 来。
(2)
新 丰 绿 树 起 黄 埃
数 骑 渔 阳 探 使 回。
霓 裳 一 曲 千 峰 上
舞 破 中 原 始 下 来。
(3)
万 国 笙 歌 醉 太 平
倚 天 楼 殿 月 分 明。
云 中 乱 拍 禄 山 舞
风 过 重 峦 下 笑 声。
Guo Hua Qing Gong Jue Ju: San Shou
(1)
Chang an hui wang xiu cheng dui
Shan ding qian men ci di kai.
Yi qi hong chen fei zi xiao
Wu ren zhi shi li zhi lai.
(2)
Xin feng lu shu qi huang ai
Shu qi yu yang tan shi hui.
Ni chang yi qu qian feng shang
Wu po zhong yuan shi xia lai.
(3)
Wan guo sheng ge zui tai ping
Yi tian lou dian yue fen ming.
Yun zhong luan pai lu shan wu
Feng bian chong luan xia xiao sheng.
Pass By Hua Qing Palace: Three Four-Line Poems
(1)
From Chang’an gaze into the distance, the hills piled high with multi-colored trees and flowers
Thousand mountain gates, one after another open up to reach the peaks.
Courier horses raise red dust, the imperial consort Yang Guifei smiles
Without some people realizing that they bring her lizi from afar.
(2)
Xinfeng green trees covered with yellow dust
Many of his cavalry return from Yuyang, sent on a reconnaissance mission.
Rainbow Skirt Song with musicians and dancers performing elevated above
Dancing stops, middle of the nation falling to the invaders.
(3)
Whole country was singing and drunk with peace and tranquility
Moons clear and distinct, lit up the heavenly towers and palaces.
An Lushan clapped and danced amid the chaos and clouds
Below the mountains, winds passed by their sounds of laughter.
Notes:
Hua Qing Palace: Famous area east of the capital city of Chang’an noted for its hot springs. Emperors and their retinues would holiday here when the weather turned cold.
Yang Guifei: The favorite concubine of the emperor, she became famous for being the women who helped bring down an empire.
Lizi: Tropical fruit favored by Yang Guifei that had to be transported up to the capital from southern China. It had to be grown well to the south in Guangdong Province.
Xinfeng: A city near the Hua Qing hot springs.
Yuyang: A region where An Lushan was hiding most of his army from Tang spies and military forces.
Rainbow Skirt song: Famous Tang Dynasty production featuring feathered costumes, music, and elegant dance moves of deities on the moon.
Emperor Xuanzong recreated western China folk tunes for the music, his favorite concubine Yang Guifei wore gorgeous costumes and struck beautiful poses, so it is no wonder that it was his favorite cultural pastime. They partied and paid attention to each other as the rebel army of An Lushan awaited to invade and bring down the Tang Dynasty.
Invaders: An Lushan: (703-757) Powerful army general along the northern borders, who after eight to nine years of preparation, lead the invasion and rebellion to overthrown Emperor Xuanzong and his reign. He installed himself as emperor for about 12 months.