Comments for 森林 TREESWOODSFORESTS

Comment on The Phoenix Bird Tower by Frank Doonan

Frank Doonan — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:47:25 +0000

I like this translation, but avoid using Phoenix for the mythical bird of China called the Fenghuang in Chinese, because the western Phoenix bears little or no cultural or descriptive comparison to the Oriental Fenghuang. I tend to use the word ‘Fenghuang,’ and foot note it explaining its meaning in the Chinese or Oriental context.

Comment on Jade Steps Lament by Frank Doonan

Frank Doonan — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:36:35 +0000

I would like to add some comments as to the cultural symbolism used in this poem. ‘

Jade steps’ do not refer to steps made of jade, crystal or marble. The phrase refers to the stature of the person in the poem. In this case the person is of the royal family like the Empress or Princess.

The ‘crystal curtain’ is not likely a real ‘crystal curtain,’ but refers symbolically to the clouds or fog that may obscure the moon. They drift away, move or bid adieu, revealing the moon in the clear autumn sky.

Comment on Sparrow’s Ladle by shunyadragon

shunyadragon — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 11:03:33 +0000

My work is not just translation. It involves a more detailed study of jade and cultural articles carved from jade and jade-like stones.

This is part of a study on items carved for archery and symbols worn when reaching maturity for men. The Sparrow’s Ladle is a Milkweed species that has pods shaped like the prong, a claw or canine tooth-shaped pendant, 佩觽 pèixī. The leaves of the Sparrow’s Ladle are often curled into a shape resembling the 韘 shè, the archer’s thumb ring. This poem has distinct sarcastic tone about the overstatement of the claims of a young man trying to impress a lady in courtship, apparently the author. The prong is worn by men when they come of marriageable age. The archer’s thumb ring is a symbol of status and achievement of the skills of archery. The 佩韘pèishè is an ornate pendent carved in the style of the archer’s thumb ring. It’s worn as a pendent and not on the thumb. Using a reference to a pendent instead of a thumb ring may be an added touch of sarcasm, because the archer’s thumb ring pendent is too ornate to be useful as a thumb ring. These articles will be made of fine jade, jade-like stone, ivory or bone depending on the status of the person in society.

Comment on The Beautiful Xi Shi by admin

admin — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 07:46:43 +0000

Xi Shi was one of the four ancient beauties of China, born in 506 BC and believed to have lived during the end of Spring and Autumn Period in Zhuji. Xi Shi was said to be so beautiful that when she leaned over a balcony to look at the fish in the pond, the fish would be so mesmerized that they forgot to swim and gradually sunk from the surface. The birds would forget to fly and fall from the sky. The moon would fade, and flowers would close their petals in shame.

Comment on A Song of Pure Happiness II by admin

admin — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:44:44 +0000

Wu Mountain was where the maidens and fairies lived, and in a dream a fairly declared that she existed as “morning-cloud and evening-rain upon the hills of Wu,” implying a meaning of passionate love.

Comment on The Girl of Ba Speaks by admin

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:03:57 +0000

Ba is the eastern region of Sichuan, traversed by the swift flowing Yangtze river.

Comment on Moon at Night in Ch’ang-an by A. S. Kline

A. S. Kline — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 11:50:00 +0000

Note: The poet is in the occupied capital. The past glory is already distant in time. His wife and children are in Fu-chou in the north-east. Those who are parted are linked to each other through watching the same moon.

Comment on The Poet is Detained in a Nanking Wine-Shop on the Eve of Starting on a Journey by admin

admin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 08:37:53 +0000

[1] – Wine made from grain is fermented for several weeks in tubs and then strained or “pressed” through cloths. It is not red, like wine from grapes, but either a shade of yellow or pure white. Wines made from grapes, plums, apples, pears, lichis, and roses, are sometimes used, but are not nearly so strong as the decoctions from grains.

Comment on The Inlaid Harp by admin

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:40:42 +0000

[1] – The philosopher Master Chuang (Chuang Tzu or Chuang Sheng) had a dream that he was a butterfly; upon waking, it was unclear to him whether he was a man who had a dream of being a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming he was a man.

[2] – Chinese folklore states that the legendary ruler of Shu, Emperor Wang (Zhou dynasty) was turned into a cuckoo upon his death. He returns every year to his people, in late spring; to remind them to plant their crops.

[3] – It was believed that when the moon was full, pearls would appear, but when the moon waned, the oysters would become empty. There is also a story about a mermaid who, on leaving her human host, asked for a jade plate. On this she shed tears, which turned into pearls.

Comment on Far away twinkles the Herd-boy Star by admin

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:57:37 +0000

Accomplished translator of Chinese and Japanese literature and poetry, Burton Watson, in a note to his translation of this poem explains that the “Han River” is the Milky Way. Also, this poem “concerns the legend of the Herdboy and the Weaving Maiden, constellations that correspond roughly to Aquila (Herdboy) and Vega and the Lyre (Weaving Maiden). The Weaving Maiden, daughter of the Emperor of Heaven and an expert at weaving, married the Herdboy, but after her marriage she neglected her weaving. To punish her, her father placed the couple on opposite sides of the River of Heaven… They are permitted to meet only once a year, on the night of the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, when sympathetic magpies form a bridge for them over the stream of starts.”

Qixi Festival 七夕节 ;literally “The Night of Sevens”, also known as Magpie Festival, falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month on the Chinese calendar.