A green radiance, tranquil and calm,
A red gown, pink and rosy.
The heart of a flower severed from grief
Will the vividness of Spring befriend her heart?
Wang Wei (c.701-761)
I found this poem on the internet but cannot give full credit yet - partial credit is at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~nooriginalthought/Chinese_Poetry.html#Red_Peony
which contains, among other information, the following
"This poem is a real challenge to translate as the language is very archaic and one must learn the history behind some of the words to fully understand the meaning/nuance the poet meant. For example, the word yen (beauty) on the first line refers to a beauty that glows or shines; I think in English we might use the word radiant. Also, on the first line, the words syan (tranquil) and jing (calm) when used together refer to a woman who is calm and tranquil in her heart. On the second line, red clothes must certainly refer to a woman; for in the East, red is the color of beauty. (some suggest that the original name of Red Square in Moscow comes not from the color red but from beauty. The fact is that in old church slavonic the word for beauty and the word for red share the same root - perhaps that is Chinese influence on Russian?) On the last line we have the word sse (color) which in English could be color, tint, or even hue. This leaves a lot of leeway to the translator. I was tempted to use a metaphor such as a "taste of Spring" or perhaps, the "warmth of Spring;" But, in keeping with the color theme of this poem I have chosen the word "vividness."
Enjoy."
I found this poem on the internet but cannot give full credit yet - partial credit is at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~nooriginalthought/Chinese_Poetry.html#Red_Peony
which contains, among other information, the following
"This poem is a real challenge to translate as the language is very archaic and one must learn the history behind some of the words to fully understand the meaning/nuance the poet meant. For example, the word yen (beauty) on the first line refers to a beauty that glows or shines; I think in English we might use the word radiant. Also, on the first line, the words syan (tranquil) and jing (calm) when used together refer to a woman who is calm and tranquil in her heart. On the second line, red clothes must certainly refer to a woman; for in the East, red is the color of beauty. (some suggest that the original name of Red Square in Moscow comes not from the color red but from beauty. The fact is that in old church slavonic the word for beauty and the word for red share the same root - perhaps that is Chinese influence on Russian?) On the last line we have the word sse (color) which in English could be color, tint, or even hue. This leaves a lot of leeway to the translator. I was tempted to use a metaphor such as a "taste of Spring" or perhaps, the "warmth of Spring;" But, in keeping with the color theme of this poem I have chosen the word "vividness."
Enjoy."
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