Original text:
Tianjin Sha Qiu Si
Yuan Dynasty: Ma Zhiyuan
Dead vines, old trees, faint crows,
Small bridges and flowing water,
The ancient road and the west wind are thin.
The sun went down,
Heartbroken people are at the end of the world.
Translation:
At dusk, a group of crows landed on an old tree with withered vines and made a piercing cry.
Under the small bridge, the running water jingles, and the farmhouse next to the small bridge raises smoke.
On the ancient road, a thin horse struggled against the west wind.
The sunset gradually lost its luster and set from the west.
On a cold night, only lonely travelers wander in the distance.
Creative background:
Ma Zhiyuan was keen on becoming famous when he was young. However, due to the high-handed policy of the rulers of the Yuan Dynasty, he never succeeded. He has lived a wandering life almost all his life. He was depressed and embarrassed all his life. So I wrote this song "Tianjin Sha Qiu Si" during my trip.
Appreciate:
This poem is very short, only five sentences and twenty-eight characters. There is not a word of autumn in the whole song, but it depicts a bleak and moving picture of the autumn suburbs, which accurately conveys the bitterness of travelers. This successful song, known as the father of Qiu Si, embodies the artistic features of China's classical poems in many ways.