江城子 · 密州出猎 Hunting Outside Mizhou

江城子 · 密州出猎

原作：【宋】苏轼

老夫聊发少年狂，

左牵黄，右擎苍，

锦帽貂裘，千骑卷平冈。

为报倾城随太守，

亲射虎，看孙郎。

酒酣胸胆尚开张，

鬓微霜，又何妨？

持节云中，何日遣冯唐？

会挽雕弓如满月，

西北望，射天狼。

Hunting Outside Mizhou

-to the tune of Jiangchengzi

Chinese original: Su Shi ( 11th Century)

English old version: G. Osing, J. Min & H. Huang(1991)

English new version: Julia Min (2023)

This old boy's truly young at heart and mind,

A retriever by left hand, a falcon on the right.

In coats of fur and hats of brocade we ride,

Thousands of hoofbeats swept the hills in sight.

Like Sun Quan, the great archer, I’d shoot a tiger,

To reward the town for following me to the site.

My old heart is fearless again, fired with wine.

Does it matter that frost crowns my temples high?

When will Feng Tang arrive with a tally in hand

To order this governor who’s ready to fight?

Like the round moon, I’d tighten the bow;

To the northwest, I’d shoot Sirius down!

Notes:

1. Another title of this ci poem is “On Hunting.”“Mizhou” in the title is in today’s Jucheng County, Shandong Province.

2. 'this old boy': referring to himself at the time when he was forty years old.

3. 'Sun Quan': refers to Sun Quan of the Three Kingdoms Period, who was famous for hunting on horseback, especially for his driving off a tiger by throwing his empty weapon in its face in a famous episode in folklore. Like his father, Sun Quan was considered one of the best archers at the time.

4. 'Feng Tang': the governor of Yunzhong (under Emperor Wen of Han) who defeated an invasion by the Huns. When asked to report the tally of enemies killed, the governor exaggerated the number by six and was disgraced and sentenced to heavy punishment,

including the loss of his governorship. Feng Tang, who interceded on behalf of the governor for the return of his post, arranged for a second, true tally to be brought forth, and the episode became famous for dramatising honesty in government. An tally was an order issued by the emperor to generals and envoys. A tally to Yunzhong would be one for the Yunzhong Prefecture in the Han Dynasty, a county in Inner Mongolia today.

5. 'Sirius': the brightest star in the northwest sky from where our poet had the event. It is used here as a symbol for the invaders, mainly the Mongols.

For Appreciation:

As governor of Mizhou (Nov. 1074 – Nov. 1076), Su Shi and his friends went hunting after their festive tour to a sacrificial ceremony. It is one of the poet's most heroic and vigorous ci poems, with the theme being inspiringly patriotic and dramatically bold and ambitious. Readers might also notice the poet's light-hearted pleasure in his success in public leadership, which reveals, both in reality and spirit, his optimistic enthusiasm for a dedicated official career serving the people.

The first stanza again focuses on the event, while the second stanza reflects on the day’s theme, offering his hindsight. The poetic vibe connects with a heroic tone that was seen as a challenge to the elegant and graceful style of the existing sentimental ci school. Alternatively, you could argue that Su Shi deliberately filled this gap with a heroic style, which was badly needed during the constant threats from the Huns and the Jin at the western and northern borders. The contrasting styles created a perfect balance of yin and yang, enriching the world of ci poetry and establishing it as a more independent and complete literary form, further distinguished from purely poetic works in literature.

Another piece in the same style is his “Meditating on the Past at the Red Cliff” ( 《念奴娇 . 赤壁怀古》), which is included in this selection, along with recital and analysis. Enjoy!

Reference:

1. Blooming Alone in Winter by Gordon Osing, Julia Min, and Huang Haipeng, published by the People's Publication House Henan Province in 1990 (《寒心未肯随春态》戈登.奥赛茵，闵晓红，黄海鹏) (“Hunting Outside Mizhou"-- "This old boy's truly young at heart at the sight:/My left hand's led by a retriever, a falcon rides my right./In coats of fur and hats of silk brocade we ride, / Thousands of hoofbeats over a low bridge./The whole town's turned-out to follow its governor, watching./When I shot my tiger, the people surely saw heroic Sun Chuan.// Fired with the wine, my old heart became fearless once again. /What does it matter if, truth to tell, frost covers my temples./When will honest Feng Tang come with the tally that saves the governor?/I will pull the bow tight and round as the moon when it is fullest./Northwest I aim; I shoot the invading Tianlang Star.")

2. Other versions for your reference（许渊冲） http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_1534238f70102xgt4.html

Pinyin and word-for-word translation:

jiāng chéng zǐ . mì zhōu chū liè - to the tune of Jiangchengzi (outside Mizhou hunting)

lǎo fū liáo fā shǎo nián kuáng - old man is being in youth's exuberate spirit;

zuǒ qiān huáng ，yòu qíng cāng - left hand lead yellow hunting dog, right hold eagle;

jǐn mào diāo qiú - silk brocade cap marten coat,

qiān qí juàn píng gāng - thousand horses sweep smooth the ridge;

wéi bào qīng chéng suí tài shǒu - to thank the whole city follow the governor;

qīn shè hǔ ，kàn sūn láng - myself shoot tiger, let people see Sun Chuan;

jiǔ hān xiōng dǎn shàng kāi zhāng - heated wine with breast bravery still open;

bìn wēi shuāng ，yòu hé fáng ？- temples slightly frosty, what does it matter;

chí jiē yún zhōng - hold a tally to Yunzhong;

hé rì qiǎn féng táng ？- what day send Feng Tang;

huì wǎn diāo gōng rú mǎn yuè - would draw carved bow like a full moon;

xī běi wàng ，shè tiān láng - northwest looking shoot Sirius Star;

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