Translation:
During the spring of the fourth Qing Li year, Teng Zhi Jing was demoted to oversee the Ba Ling region. In the following year, with an efficient government and a harmonious populace, a hundred things were rebuilt. Thus the Yue Yang Tower was renovated, its former structure was expanded, Tang poetry was carved on its walls, with contemporary poetry on top. I was asked to compose a piece to record this.

I gazed at Ba Ling's majestic landscape, by a lake called Dong Ting. It held the distant mountains, seeming to swallow up the Long River, which was flowing boundlessly, without any limits; the morning was bright and the night was cold, the atmosphere was always changing. This is Yue Yang Tower's great scenery. Others before us had already talked enough about it. Since the north opens to the Wu Gorge, and the south connects with Xiao Xiang River, travelers and poets, many of them gathered here; the sentiments that arise from seeing this, how could they not be different?

If a heavy rain comes in succession, even the moon would not show, the cold wind roared in anger, muddy waves swelled up in the air; the sun and stars conceal their brilliance, mountains and hills hide their forms; tradesmen could not travel, masts get overturned and oars get broken; the twilight being dark, tigers growl and apes call out. Ascending the tower, having left one's country and missing one's hometown, concerned about slander and fearing ridicule, my eyes were filled with desolation, I was feeling extremely sorrowful.

As spring came and the land brightens, the waves are no longer turbulent, above and below there is daylight, a blue color that stretches for ten thousand miles; seagulls soar together, brocaded fishes swim around, iris grew on the shores and orchids on sand-banks, fragrant and green. Or once the mist vanishes into empty air, the bright moon would be visible for a thousand miles, its floating rays flashing like gold, while quiet shadows sink into crevices; fishermen's songs resonate together, how joyful this is! Ascending this tower, the heart is at ease and the spirit feels at peace, favors and insults are forgotten, raising one's cup while a breeze blows, my happiness is boundless. Sigh! I seek to follow the ancients with compassionate hearts, their attitudes are perhaps different from the two I described above. Why? They do not go into ecstasies of delight, nor do they fall into deep despair. Residing in the high courts, they are concerned about the people; while out in the remote parts of society, they are concerned about state affairs. Upon entering office they worry, upon leaving it they also worry. In that case when would they be happy? This would have been their reply: The first concern is the affairs of the world, the last concern is to enjoy oneself! Oh! Without these people, whom would I emulate?

6th year (1046 A.D.) September 15.

岳阳楼记-中文翻译英文
Translated from Chinese to English by HM68.COM

Comments

Name:

Enter Security Code:
Code   

Submit Comment