Cold Food
Han Hong [Tang Dynasty] Flowers are flying everywhere in the spring city, and the east wind of Cold Food keeps the willows from slanting.
At dusk, candles were passed around the Han Palace, and light smoke dispersed into the house of the Five Marquises.
Perfection
Translation and annotations
Translation
In late spring, catkins are flying and countless reds are falling everywhere in Chang'an City, and the east wind blows the emperor during the Cold Food Festival. Willow trees in the city.
In the evening, candles were sent from the Han Palace to reward princes and ministers, and the light smoke drifted to the homes of the emperor's favorites.
Notes
Spring City: Chang'an City in late spring.
Cold food: In ancient times, during the festival two days before Qingming Festival, fire was prohibited for three days and only cold food was eaten, so it was called cold food.
Yu Liu: Willow of the Royal Garden, willow tree in the imperial city.
Han Palace: This refers to the imperial palace of the Tang Dynasty.
Candles: During the Cold Food Festival, fire is prohibited throughout the world, but the powerful and favored ministers can receive burning candles as a gift from the emperor. "The Record of the Age under the Tang Dynasty" "On Qingming Day, we take the fire of elms and willows and give them to the ministers nearby".
Five Marquises: Wang Tan, Wang Shang, Wang Li, Wang Gen, and Wang Fengshi, the five brothers of Queen Wang who were granted the title of Marquis during the reign of Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty, were all Marquises at the time and received special favor. This generally refers to the ministers who are favored by the emperor.