Returning Home

In my third lesson two weeks ago, Master Lui gave me the piece Returning Home (歸去來辭). The lyrics of this guqin melody are written by Tao YuanMing 陶淵明 (365–427 AD). When an arrogant official was sent by the provincial government to his home district, Tao, who then served as magistrate, was required to meet him. Seeing the inequities of political life, he said, “For five pecks of rice, I cannot bow at the waist.” With that, he resigned his official’s seal and returned home.

Lyrics and my condensed paraphrase below:

歸去來兮,田園將蕪,胡不歸?
既自以心為形役,奚惆悵而獨悲。
悟已往之不諫,知來者之可追。
實迷途其未遠,覺今是而昨非。
舟遙遙以輕颺,風飄飄而吹衣。
問征夫以前路,恨晨光之熹微。
乃瞻衡宇。
載欣載奔,僮僕歡迎,
稚子候門 ;三徑就荒,
松菊猶存,摧幼入室,有酒盈尊。
引壺觴以自酌,眄庭柯以怡顏。
倚南窗以寄傲,審容膝之易安。
園日涉以成趣,門雖設而常關。
策扶老以流憩,時矯首而遐觀。
雲無心以出岫,鳥倦飛而知還。
景翳翳以將入,撫孤松而盤桓。
歸去來兮!請息交以絕遊。
世與我而相違,復駕言兮焉求?
悅親戚之情話,樂琴、書以消憂。
農人告余以春及,將有事於西疇。
或命巾車,或棹孤舟。
既窈窈以尋壑,亦崎嶇而經丘。
木欣欣以向榮,泉涓涓而始流。
善萬物之得時,感吾生之行休。
已矣乎!寓形宇內,復幾時?
曷不委心任去留?
胡為胡?遑遑欲何之?
當貴非吾願,帝鄉不可期。
懷良辰以孤往,或植杖而耘耔。
登東皋以舒嘯,臨清流而賦詩。
聊乘化以歸盡。樂夫天命﹕復奚疑?

Returning home.
My fields, choked with weeds,
How can I not return home?
The past cannot be changed;
The future holds possibilities.
A light breeze rocks my boat;
The wind swirls my clothing.
I ask another traveler about the road,
While the morning light is still dim.
Then, I see my home.
I am welcomed at the gate.
The pines and chrysanthemums still remain.
I stroll in the garden with contentment.
The clouds float by the mountain peaks.
Tired of flying, the birds also return home.
What is there to gain anyways?
I just cherish quiet morning walks along clear streams,
Composing poetry.
Why doubt the ways of Heaven?

2 Comments:

  1. 《歸去來兮辭》, 一首很好的辭賦。
    加上古琴伴奏,意境更深!
    前一段片子,燭光昏暗,好像更能襯托出
    陶潛心裡的困鎖,他對家的相思……

    這一段,以大自然秀麗景色為背景,
    也能配合陶某喜歡農村生活的情趣
    自己對勞動的感受。

    陶某詩文辭賦的風格淡雅自然,優美含蓄,
    一反當時的追求形式、內容空洞的文風,
    對後世文學有很大的影響。

    安息日來臨的前夕,
    有如斯幽雅高尚情操文字
    與扣人心弦音樂的洗滌,
    真的是於我心有戚戚焉!

  2. My grandfather’s favourite poem.

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