Chinese Classics Legacy Anthology: New Lyric Odes: Legacy Anthology: New Lyric Odes

Author: Tan Guoqing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-03-01
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To soar high and overshadow the sun, this is something I have yet to witness; a thousand doors and houses, once described by Zhang Heng. On the Jade Terrace of the Zhou King, in the Golden Pavilion of the Han Emperor, jade trees grew with coral branches, and pearl curtains were fastened with hawksbill. Among them were beautiful women. These women, from the noble families of the Five Mountains, were selected for the Imperial Harem; from the good families of the Four Surnames, they were renowned in the Eternal Corridor. There were also beauties from Yingchuan, Xinshi, Hejian, and Guanjin, originally known as delicate maids, once famous for their charming smiles. In the palace of the Chu King, none did not praise their slender waists; in the beauty of Wei, all marveled at their slender hands. They read poetry and upheld rituals, yet were not self-promoting like the Eastern Neighbor; their graceful charm and elegance were unlike Xi Shi, who was taught to be charming. Their new pipa melodies did not need Shi Chong; their konghou harmonies were not related to Cao Zhi. They passed on the art of playing the se from the Yang family and learned the flute from Qin girls. As for being favored in Changle, Empress Chen felt injustice upon learning of it; their painted images of celestial beauties were admired by the concubine as if they were distant.
Like the Eastern Neighbor’s charming smiles, they served as attendants in the changing room; like Xi Shi’s subtle frowns, they were placed in the luxurious tent. Accompanied by the dance of the Saka, they displayed their slender waists in the wind; the couple of Changle, they played new melodies in the measured tunes. Their hair adorned with thin cicada wings, their chignon like a fallen horse’s tail. They flipped gold hairpins, drawing them horizontally across jade trees. The southern capital’s stone dye, double eyebrows on their hair; the northern land’s almond rouge, opened both cheeks.