Send Monks to Japan is the work of Qian Qi, a poet in the Tang Dynasty. The writer of this poem bid farewell to the Japanese monks, expressed his respect for the Japanese monks' fearless spirit, and praised the holiness of Japanese monks' character and the nobility of their way. The writing of the poem is very special, the poem is beautiful, the rhyme is harmonious, and every sentence uses Buddhist terminology, which is full of religious color.
Send monks to Japan
Qian Qi
you were foreordained to find the source and now, tracing your way as in a dream.
there where the sea floats up the sky, you wane from the world in your fragile boat.
the water and the moon are as calm as your faith, fishes and dragons follow your chanting.
and the eye still watches beyond the horizon, the holy light of your single lantern.
Interpretation of Poetry
With the chance to live in China, the journey is like wandering in a dream. Coming from the vast sea in the distance is like floating in the sky. When you go, you will leave briskly in Fa Zhou. The moon in the water is connected with the quiet realm. The ichthyosaurs in the sea also come to listen to your chanting. I love this Buddha lamp most. I am far away from Wan Li, but my eyes are still bright.
Translation
You can come to China at any time if you have the chance;
it was foggy all the way, and the ship seemed to sail in a dream.
the sky and the sea are ups and downs, and the boat sails to the distant margin;
beyond the common customs, you will naturally feel the lightness of Fa Zhou.
the mood is calm and quiet, and everything is as unreal as water and moon;
ichthyosaurs in the sea will also come out to listen to your chanting.
The loveliest thing is that there is a Buddha lamp that illuminates the heart.
when sailing in Wan Li, you will always have bright eyes.
Explanation of words
Shangguo: refers to the Tang Dynasty.
floating in the sky: boats float in the sky.
Zen silence: the quiet and calm state of mind when Buddhism realizes Taoism.
(1) Shangguo: In the Spring and Autumn Period, the Central Plains was called Shangguo, which here refers to China (Tang Dynasty). Suiyuan: Buddhist language, with its chance.
(2) origin: refers to coming to China from Japan.
(3) floating in the sky: boats float in the sky. Describe that the sea is wide and the sky seems to be floating on the sea. One is "floating clouds". The sea: that is, the sea, which is turquoise because of its depth, hence the name.
(4) death: leaving the world, here refers to leaving China. Fa Zhou: refers to a ship protected by Buddhism. Fa Zhou is light: It means that due to the brilliant Buddhism, returning home by boat will be smooth all the way.
(5) Shuiyue: Buddhist term, which means that a monk is pure and beautiful, and everything is as illusory as the moon in the water. Zen silence: a quiet and calm state of mind when Buddhism realizes Taoism.
[6] Brahma voice: the voice of chanting Buddhist scriptures.
(7) Only pity: favorite; The most pitiful. Yi Deng: In Buddhist terms, it is a metaphor for wisdom. Lamp: pun, using boat lamp as a metaphor for Zen lamp.
Background:
The Tang Dynasty was a powerful country. Japan sent many Tang envoys to China, and many monks came together to learn culture and skills and seek Buddhism, which greatly promoted the cultural exchange between China and Japan. This poem was presented by the author to a monk who was about to return to China, when the poet was in Chang 'an.
Appreciation
There were frequent international contacts with Japan in the Tang Dynasty. Many Japanese came to China to study or be officials, and there were many chapters in the Tang Dynasty to send gifts to the Japanese. The poet sent a Japanese monk back to China, praising the monk's spirit of courageously realizing his ideals despite difficulties and dangers. Because he wrote about monks, he used many Buddhist terms.
The poem started abruptly. It was supposed to be a farewell, but instead of writing it, it was written from the road. "If you dream of traveling" shows the tired and trance state of sailing by boat for a long time, so as to set off the hardships on the way back to China and open the middle two links. Zhuan Lian wrote about the confused scene when sailing at sea. The distance of the "floating sky"-like sea route and the width of the sea surface imply the care and consideration for the monks' long-distance bumps. "Fa Zhou" fastens the status of a monk, but also contains the meaning of boating in a sea of people and going with the fate. The savings are ethereal and rich in meaning. Neck-linked monks still do not forget to practice dharma in the sea, meditate under the moon and recite scriptures in the boat. "Shuiyue" is a metaphor for Zen, and "Fish and dragons listen" cuts the sea voyage, and euphemistically expresses the character of monks chanting scriptures alone and observing Buddhist laws, which is rich in imagination. The combination of "Yi Deng" and ""describes the loneliness of monks on their way home, only accompanied by solitary lamps, which is the real point. However, there is emptiness in reality, and "Yi Deng" is also a metaphor for Zen and Buddhism. Reality and reality set each other off into interest. There are two points to be noted in this poem: First, the sender is a monk, and some Buddhist terms are used in the poem, such as Suiyuan, Fa Zhou, Zen, Brahma and Yi Deng, which are in line with the identity of the characters. Second, monks come from Japan and want to return to Japan, so they must go through the sea, so they talk about the pain of sailing by sea. The predecessors of the middle two couplets often referred to the way they wrote, which was really too delayed. In fact, it is a round-trip and writing, and it is mainly based on returning to the road, so that it can be consistent with the poem "Returning to Japan". Because this poem sent people across the sea, it euphemistically expressed this feeling of farewell from the expression of Zen machine. Sea fun Zen machine, deep affection and friendship, integrated into one, is a good farewell poem.
In the first half of the poem, Japanese monks come to China, and in the second half, Japanese monks return to China. Many Buddhist expressions are used in the poem, which has a strong Zen style. The choice of words and sentences is harmonious and natural, which shows the poet's profound knowledge and solid artistic foundation.