1. "Spring Hope" by Du Fu, a poet of the Tang Dynasty
Original text:
The country is broken by mountains and rivers, and the city is full of spring vegetation.
I am moved to tears by the flowers, and the birds are frightened by the hatred.
The war rages on for three months, and a letter from home is worth ten thousand gold.
The white-headed scratches are shorter, and the lust is overwhelming.
Translation: Chang'an fell, the country was shattered, and only the mountains and rivers remained; spring came, and the sparsely populated Chang'an city was lush with vegetation. Feeling sentimental about state affairs, I can't help but burst into tears, and the chirping of birds frightens my heart, which only adds to the sadness and hatred of separation. The continuous war has continued until now. Letters from home are rare, and one letter is worth ten thousand taels of gold. Wrapped in sadness, I scratched my head and thought. My white hair became shorter and shorter, and I couldn't even insert the hairpin.
2. "Summer Quatrains" by Li Qingzhao, a poet of the Song Dynasty
Original text:
Being a hero in life, he is also a ghost in death.
I still miss Xiang Yu and refuse to cross Jiangdong.
Translation: You should be a hero among men when you are alive, and you should be a hero among ghosts after death. To this day, people still miss Xiang Yu because he refused to live an ignoble existence and returned to Jiangdong.
3. "On the Military March" by Yang Jiong, a poet of the Tang Dynasty
Original text:
The beacon fire shines on Xijing, and I feel uneasy in my heart.
Yazhang bid farewell to Fengque, and the iron cavalry circled Dragon City.
The snow is dark, the flag paintings are withered, and the wind is heavy with the sound of drums.
It is better to be a centurion than a scholar.
Translation: The beacon fire shines on Chang'an, the capital, and injustice arises spontaneously. After bidding farewell to the palace, the general left with his military talisman in hand; the enemy attacked the city, and the elite cavalry was extremely brave. The heavy snow fell, and the military flag was eclipsed; the strong wind roared, mixed with the thumping of war drums. Better to be a centurion than a scholar.
4. "Fifteen Years of Military Expeditions" Han Dynasty: Anonymous
Original text:
Fifteen Years of Military Expeditions, only to return at eighty.
I met a fellow villager. Who is there at home?
Translation: The boy who had just turned fifteen years old went out to fight, and did not return until he was eighty years old. I met a neighbor in the countryside on the road and asked: "Who else is in my family?"
5. "White Horse" Wei and Jin Dynasties: Cao Zhi
Original text:
Compiling the records of strong men by name, and not for personal gain.
Sacrificing one's life to go to the national disaster, seeing death as a sudden return home!
Translation: Now that the name and surname are listed on the warrior roster, personal interests have long been forgotten. He sacrificed his life bravely to relieve the country from danger, and seeing death was like returning to his hometown.