Apropos of nothing, here's one for the big man

Li Qi lauds a hero of his time

A painting by contemporary classical Chinese artist Zeng Fan, showing the kind of impressive features that Li Qi ascribes to Cheng Zhangfu. Image: eldreds.com

For Chen Zhangfu
Li Qi

The south wind blows the barley gold in May,
The date’s in flower, parasol leaves spread.
The hills behind observe us trail away,
Our horses nicker, sensing home ahead.
Duke Chen! You’re generous, principled and wise,
With dragon whiskers, forehead high and proud,
Your belly holds a library vast in size,
A man who won’t be swept aside or cowed.
So come, buy village wine at that east gate,
To make our hearts and worries feather-light.
We’ll lie, too drunk to notice that it’s late,
Just watching exiled clouds, unblemished white.
Now river waves are lapping darkened skies,
Too late and dark to cross, so here we’ll stay.
This Luoyang traveller breathes impatient sighs;
You, old Zheng rover, won’t reach home today.
These woods are full of people close to you,
You’re out of office; now, what will you do?

李颀  送陈章甫
四月南风大麦黄，枣花未落桐叶长。
青山朝别暮还见，嘶马出门思旧乡。
陈侯立身何坦荡，虬须虎眉仍大颡。
腹中贮书一万卷，不肯低头在草莽。
东门酤酒饮我曹，心轻万事如鸿毛。
醉卧不知白日暮，有时空望孤云高。
长河浪头连天黑，津口停舟渡不得。
郑国游人未及家，洛阳行子空叹息。
闻道故林相识多，罢官昨日今如何。

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Oops, little late here. No reason for sharing this particular poem today, I was just searching through my previous translations for something else and found it, and thought this one turned out really well. I hope you enjoy it!

There’s a bit of background for this one. Li Qi (unknown-757) lived during the long peace of Emperor Xuanzong’s high Tang. It’s unlikely that he was truly interested in revolt. But like everyone, he’d seen his share of injustice: good and capable men who were denied office and thrown out of the civil service. There was always the possibility that they might not stand for it any longer.

Chen Zhangfu was one of the most respected men of his time, written about by poets and historians. And yet here he was, fired, trailing back to his hometown in disgrace. Travelling alongside him, Li Qi wondered, what was next for a man like this?

Parasol leaves: Leaves of the Chinese parasol tree.

Dragon whiskers, forehead high and proud: Tang Dynasty standards of male beauty were pretty different. I don’t think even the beardiest of 21st century hipsters would quite go for the high, bulging forehead, wild eyebrows, and Dali-gone-wild facial hair that represent the greatest Confucian men.

Exiled clouds: A classic reference to white clouds as a symbol of refusing the emperor’s coin.