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Martial poetry
Topic Started: Mar 3 2011, 11:54 AM (349 Views)
ghostexorcist
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Tudi (徒弟)
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Although wuxia-related, I decided to post this here because the following poem was written in honor of historical Chinese Knights-errant. It is my favorite martial poem. Some may have seen it already as I added to the author's Wikipedia entry years ago. If not, enjoy:

The Swordsman

For ten years I have been polishing this sword;
Its frosty edge has never been put to the test.
Now I am holding it and showing it to you, sir:
Is there anyone suffering from injustice?

- Jia Dao (779–843)

According to Prof. James J.Y. Liu, the poem "seems...to sum up the spirit of knight errantry in four lines." (Liu, James J.Y. The Chinese Knight Errant. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1967, p. 68) This poem actually starts off a lengthy wuxia story I wrote for a creative writing class. Once I expand it a little, I would like to submit it to the journal.
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JohnD
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Xian (仙)
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That's my favorite martial poem as well. So it was you who added it. Seems like I've read a lot of your work on Wikipedia.
Kunlun Journal of Chinese Historical Fiction
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ghostexorcist
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Tudi (徒弟)
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here are a few more...

Two Songs of Knights-errant

I.

The knight-errant loves a secluded place:
Be built a chamber behind a desolated hill.
He went hunting but found few animals,
He spread a net but caught no birds.
The year is ending, bring hunger and cold;
Heroically he sings, beating time with his foot.
Poverty stirs up a brave knight's spirit:
How can he cherish bitterness in his heart?
Sitting alone, he strokes his precious sword, *
Now fast, now gently, as if playing a lute.
He ploughs the fields on the slope of a dry ravine,
But his reals seeds are sown wt the tip of the sword.
He reaps his harvest among narrow paths:
One blow is worth a thousand pieces of gold.
He takes his rest among bears' dens,
And roams in a forest full of tigers and leopards.
His person lies beyond law and order,
He lives freely without any restraint.

* In the original text one word is missing from this line. I have tentatively filled the gap with 'strokes.' (Liu, p. 58)

II.

The brave lads indulge in heady chivalry,
Their fame overwhelms unruly youths.
They wreak vengeance on behalf of friends
And kill people by the market-place.
Curved knives clang in their hands,
Or swords with edges sharp as autumn frost.
From their waists jut whit halberds,
In their hands, white-headed spears.
These they wield as fast as lighting flashes,
Or whirl around as fleeting beams of light.
A hand-to-hand fight decides the issue;
One across another, corpses lie.
They'd rather die and become heroic ghosts
Than enter prison with its encircling walls.
In life, they make friends with noble men;
In death, their chivalrous bones smell sweet *
Their bodies perish, their hearts do not repent;
Their brave spirit spreads everywhere.

- Zhang Hua (232-300)

*Compare James Shirley's 'Only the actions of the just/ Smell sweet and blossom in the dust.' (Liu, p. 59)

Making Friends Among the Young Bloods

A fine piebald horse with a golden halter,
A curved knife worn on a brocade belt.
Displeasure incurred over a cup of wine
Led to a feud fought with glittering blades.
When suddenly soldiers came in hot pursuit,
He left for a distant land, carrying his sword.
Having left his home for thirty years,
He now once more returns to the old hills.
He ascends a peak overlooking the fortresses,
And gazes at the imperial city, in and out.
The nine roads lie as smooth as water, *
The double palace gates rise like clouds.
The palace is full of generals and ministers,
Lining the road stand princes and lords.
At noon the market-place is crowded and busy,
Carriages and horse pass like a running stream.
As bells strike, men dine from rows of vessels;
Driving out, they seek the company of friends.
'What is this that I alone am doing,
Frustrated and beset with a hundred cares?'

- Bao Zhao (c. 420-460)

* There were nine main roads in the city of Ch'ang-an (Liu, p. 60)

You can almost imagine the wonderful stories that could be created from these! I smell another writing prompt. I've got several more that I will transcribe later.
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ghostexorcist
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Tudi (徒弟)
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Song of the Knight-errant

The man from Zhao wears a tasselled hat,
And a curved knife as bright as frost or snow.
His silver saddle shines on his white steed
On which he rides as fast as a shooting star.
He would kill a man every ten paces
And go on for a thousand miles without stop.
After the event, he dusts his clothes and leaves,
To hide in secret his person and his name.

- Li Bai (701-762)

"The first line is derived from the philosophical work, the [Zhuangzi]: "The Crown Prince of [Zhao] said, "All the swordsmen that the King has seen have dishevelled hair and wear hats with rough tassels." So are lines 5 and 6, which are taken almost verbatim from the [Zhuangzi]. However, in the original passage the speaker is boasting that his sword is so sharp and strong that even if one killed a man every ten paces with it, after travelling a thousand miles it would still be as good as new, while in the present poem [Li Bai] means that the knight-errant would kill a man every ten paces during a thousand-mile journey without other to stop. Thus, the emphasis in the original passage is on the durability of the sword, and in the poem, on the daring an ruthlessness of the man." (Liu, p. 64)

Song of the Precious Sword

A recluse lies pillowed on his precious sword,
Which makes a cracking noise during the night.
They say a sword can turn into a dragon;
He almost fears it will raise wind and thunder,
Or else, indignant at the barbarians roaming unchecked,
It wishes to go on a long expedition.
He takes some wine and pours a libation to the sword:
'A rare treasure should hide its light and form.
It is not that no one appreciates you;
When the time comes, you will be free.
There is more than enough room in the sheath,
Why do you cry and complain of injustice?'

- Lu Yu (1125-1210)
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JohnD
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Xian (仙)
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Thanks for posting these. You wouldn't happen to have the Chinese for the Li Bai poem would you?
Kunlun Journal of Chinese Historical Fiction
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ghostexorcist
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Tudi (徒弟)
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JohnD
Mar 4 2011, 02:26 PM
Thanks for posting these. You wouldn't happen to have the Chinese for the Li Bai poem would you?
I don't have the Chinese for any of them. The translations all come from Prof. Liu's book. I looked it up, and the sword bits from the Zhuangzi come from chapter 30 entitled "Discoursing on swords." I'm sure you could find the Chinese online, locate the similar passage from the poem, and then type that with Li Bai's name into a search engine.
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