Sword-dancing chant -Preface

                       By Du Fu, Tang Dynasty  Translated by David Du

It was On the 19th of October, in the second year of Da Li in the Tang Dynasty, and I was at an official’s home,  Yuan Chi’s who served in the Kui state government, I was watching the girl Li Shi Er Niang, who comes from Linying doing her sword dancing, I admired her splendid skill and asked her with whom she learned this skill. She said “I am Aunt Gongsun’s disciple.” I remembered the fifth year of Kai Yun, when I was a little boy,  watching Aunt Gongsun sward dancing “Jian Qi,”or“Hun Tuo,”  at Yan city. Her dance was so fluent, elegantly rising above her head,the first of all in the world. During Xuanzong ‘s first period, from the dancer who lived in the music palace of Yi Chun or Liyuan to others (JI) who lived outside the palace, the person who best understood the dancing skills was only Aunt Gongsun. At that time, she was so pretty with such beautiful dresses.

Right now I have become an old man with grey hair, and her present disciple Aunt Li Shi Er is also no longer a younger woman. Since I understand original source of her dancing skills, of course, her dancing skill seems the  same as her teacher Gongsun’s. I recall the past in the light of the present, and tentatively write this poem, “Sword-dancing chant.” I heard that in the old time, Zhang Xu, who came from the state of Wu,was good at writing grass script, and often watched “Xihe sward dancing” which was performed by Aunt Gongsun. Since then his script skill has progressed, and becomes bold and unconstrainted… an advantage of watching Gongsun’sdancing : boosting people to take a full swing!

In the old time a beautiful girl named Gongsun was very famous,

When she made such sward dancing that set the world on fire.

Huge crowds came to watch her with eyes of

surprise,

as if heaven and earth were all infected by her

ups and downs,so sure.

Her dancing moves were as fast as if Yi shoot the nine Suns,

So vigorous as if the god of haven droves the dragon’s there.

The Opening of the show, the drum sounds as if a thunderbolt 

And cuts out the extremely angry, (toxic, ire.)

Stopping of the show, as if the clear light

Curdle the tide of sea and river that is her pasture.

Right now both have gone. her cherry lips and

Her pearl-embroidered dress- and splendid posture.

Fortunately, from her old period, she had a great disciple

Who could spread her skills in bringing pleasure.

Her disciple is also a pretty girl, but comes from Linying,

Where she created performances at Bai Di castle with great care.

She made wonderful dancing like her master, in the spirit she’d prepare.

She talked to me about the context of sward dancing for a long time, and

I recalled the past and thought of the present; pity and

Sorrow made me too tire.

When the previous Emperor was alive, he had many many female attendants,

But if mentioning sward dancing, the Aunt Gongsun was the first.

Fifty years fly by like turning my hands over, in

Running years of fights

That caused the emperor curt to get so dim, and lack of light.

Previous opera performers were scattered like smoke flying;

Merely Lady Li’s posture remains, covering over winter’s cold sight.

On Mount Jinli, the previous Emperor’s tomb the trees grow up, encircle,

but here, the stone castle near Qutang the autumn grasses looks so

desolate.

Again, the rush’s orchestral music, and twiddling melodies has gone, and

After, enjoying of happiness then the sadness that comes with the moonrise

from the east.

I really don’t know where I should go,

With worries and calluses on my feet,

Walking around the wasted mountain… I hesitate.

Footnote

Aunt Gongsun: a famous palace dancer who lived in the year of Kai Yuan in the Tang Dynasty.

Sward dancing: the name of a dance, one of power by a female dancer in a male soldier’s dress including a sward.

Year of Da Li: A year of Emperor Dai Zong(766-779 AC)

Yan City: currently Yan city in Henan Province.

Yi Chun and Li Yuan: Both places of instruction in palace song and dance.

Yi Shot the nine suns: The ancient Chinese myth. During times of Yao, ten suns appeared in the sky,and

People were suffering from heat and the grass and crops were sun-blistered. Yao knew Yi was very good at archery,

So he sent Yi to shoot the Suns Yi shot off nine of the ten suns; since then the world got on its proper track.

God of heaven drive the dragons: according to the ancient Chinese myth, the god of heaven drove the dragon patrol in the sky, in the morning showing up and at dusk returning to his palace in the sky.

Lin Ying: currently Linying county Luohe city Henan Province.

Mount Jin Li: refers to the Emperor Xuan Zong’s tomb at the north east of Pu city in Shannxi Province.

Stone castle: refers to the Bai Di Castle currently a castle on mount Bai Di to the east of Fengjie City in Sichuan Province. This poem refers to Kuizhou city the last place Du Fu lived in Sichuan Province.

Qu Tang: also called Qu Tang gorge or Kui Gorge,the shortest of China’s three Gorges. Downstream of the ancient village Baidicheng, the Yangtse River passes between Chijia Mountain on the north and the Baiyan Mountain on the south. 

Original article as below:

观公孙大娘弟子舞剑器行

       杜甫（唐）

大历二年十月十九日，夔府别驾元持宅见临颍李十二娘舞剑器，壮其蔚跂。问其所师，曰︰“余公孙大娘弟子也。”开元三载，余尚童稚，记于郾城观公孙氏舞剑器浑脱。浏漓顿挫，独出冠时。自高头宜春梨园二伎坊内人，洎外供奉，晓是舞者，圣文神武皇帝初，公孙一人而已。玉貌锦衣，况余白首！今兹弟子亦匪盛颜。既辨其由来，知波澜莫二。抚事慷慨，聊为《剑器行》。往者吴人张旭善草书书帖，数尝于邺县见公孙大娘舞西河剑器，自此草书长进，豪荡感激。即公孙可知矣！

昔有佳人公孙氏，　一舞剑器动四方。 观者如山色沮丧，　天地为之久低昂。 㸌〈〉如羿射九日落。　矫如群帝骖龙翔。 来如雷霆收震怒，　罢如江海凝青光。 绛唇珠袖两寂寞，　晚有弟子传芬芳。 临颍美人在白帝，　妙舞此曲神扬扬。 与余问答既有以， 感时抚事增惋伤。 先帝侍女八千人，　公孙剑器初第一。 五十年间似反掌　风尘澒〈〉洞昏王室 梨园弟子散如烟，　女乐馀姿映寒日。 金粟堆南木已拱，　瞿塘石城草萧瑟。 玳筵急管曲复终，　乐极哀来月东出。 老夫不知其所往，　足茧荒山转愁疾。