[updated September 2022]
September Ninth at the Qixia Pagoda: (Western River Moon)
重 阳 栖 霞 楼 作: 西 江 月
点 点 楼 头 细 雨
重 重 江 外 平 湖。
当 年 戏 会 东 徐
今 日 凄 凉 南 浦。
莫 恨 黄 花 未 叶
且 教 红 粉 相 扶。
酒 阑 不 必 茱 萸
俯 仰 人 间 今 古。
Chong Yang Qi Xia Lou Zuo: (Xi Jiang Yue)
Dian dian lou tou xi yu
Zhong zhong jiang wai ping hu.
Dang nian xi yi hui dong xu
Jin ri qi liang nan pu.
Mo hen huang hua wei ye
Qie jiao hong fen xiang fu.
Jiu lan bu bi zhu yu
Fu yang ren jian jin gu.
September Ninth, at the Qixia Pagoda: (Western River Moon)
Small raindrops, gentle rain down the sides of the tower
Soft ripples move away into the level lake.
Year before last in the east, had fun meeting a friend Mr. Xu
Today is a dreary and desolate place to say our farewells.
Do not hate the fact that the yellow flowers have yet to bloom
For a while call the dancing girls around to help us say good-bye.
When the wine draws to an end, do not need to see the cornel flowers
Turn one’s head, people and time quickly fly away.
Notes:
Qixia Pagoda: Located near the Buddhist temple on Mt. Qixia, and the city of Nanjing. The temple was built in 489, while the Buddha’s Relics Stupa (Pagoda) is a five-story octagonal shaped structure built later in 601 AD.