Two Homecoming Couples Written by He Zhizhang
Two Homecoming Couples Written by
One of them
left home when he was young, but the local accent remained unchanged.
When children meet strangers, they smile and ask where the guests come from.
Vernacular translation
I left my hometown when I was young and didn't come back until my twilight years. Although my accent has not changed, the hair on my temples has turned gray.
none of the children in my hometown know me when they see me. They asked me with a smile: Where did this guest come from?
Creative background
He Zhizhang was eighty-six years old when he resigned from the imperial office and returned to his hometown of Yongxing, Yuezhou (now Xiaoshan, Hangzhou, Zhejiang) after three years in Tianbao, Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty (744). It has been more than fifty years since he left his hometown. Life is easy to get old, and the world is vicissitudes. He has infinite feelings in his heart, so he wrote this group of poems.
Extended information
He Zhizhang (about 659-744) was a poet and calligrapher in the Tang Dynasty. Ji Zhen was born in Yongxing, Yuezhou (now Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang) in his later years. He was famous for his poems when he was young. Wu Zetian was awarded the No.1 prize in B in Shengyuan Year (695), and was awarded Dr. Guozi Simen and moved to Dr. Taichang. Later, he served as assistant minister of rites, secretary supervisor and prince guest.
He Zhizhang was broad-minded and uninhibited, and he was a good drinker. He had the reputation of "talking freely about romantic affairs", especially in his later years. Returned home at the age of 86 and died soon. Together with Zhang Ruoxu, Zhang Xu and Bao Rong, they are also called "Four Scholars of Wu Zhong"; With Li Bai and Li Shizhi, it is called "Eight Immortals in Drinking"; Together with Chen Ziang, Lu Zangyong, Song Zhiwen, Wang Shi, Bi Gou, Li Bai, Meng Haoran, Wang Wei, Sima Chengzhen, etc., they are called "Ten Friends of Immortals".
His poems are famous for quatrains. Apart from poems written to worship the gods, his poems written to express his feelings are unique in style, fresh and chic, among which "Chanting Willow" and "Returning to My Hometown" are well-known and have been passed down through the ages. Most of his works are scattered, and 19 of his poems are recorded in Complete Tang Poetry.
Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia: "Homecoming Book"