The original text and translated phonetic notation of Hu Jia's Eighteen Pai are as follows:
Original text: When I was born, I did nothing, but after I was born, Han Zuo declined. The heaven is unkind and brings chaos and separation, the earth is unkind and brings me to this moment. The roads are dangerous when fighting, and the people are in exile, and the country is sad. The smoke and dust cover the fields, barbarians are abundant, and the will and integrity are at a loss. It is not appropriate for me to deal with the secular world. Who should I sue if I am insulted? The zither plays for a while, the harp plays, and no one knows the resentment in my heart.
Translation: When I was born, the world was peaceful and peaceful, but when I grew up, the country's fortunes declined sharply. The sky is unkind and brings disasters, and the earth is unkind and makes me suffer in troubled times. The war continues, and it is extremely difficult to survive in this world; the people of Li are displaced and suffering unbearably! With the smoke rising everywhere, the Xiongnu burned, killed and looted wantonly. They lived in an ignoble manner against their original intentions. They lost their integrity and righteousness and felt guilty! The customs of the Xiongnu are different from those of the Han people, and it is difficult to adapt to them. Who should I complain to when I suffer all kinds of humiliation? Hu Jia played the Yao Qin and played a beat, but he was filled with grief and resentment that no one could understand!
Original text: Rong Jie forced me to become a family member and led me to the end of the world. Thousands of clouds and mountains are on my way home, and the wind is blowing thousands of miles away, and the dust and sand are flying. When there are many people, they are violent and fierce like adder; when they control strings and are covered with armor, they are arrogant and extravagant. The two beats are stretched, the strings are broken, the ambition is broken, the heart is broken, and I feel sad.
Translation: Rong Jie forced me to become his concubine, holding me hostage and heading west was like going to the end of the world. The mountains are so high that they reach into the sky, and the return journey may be far away; the wind blows thousands of miles away, and the dust is flying. The Hu people were numerous and as cruel and ferocious as poisonous snakes. They wore armor and held bows. They were arrogant and extravagant all the way. I sang two beats loudly on the strings, and my heart was filled with grief; my ambition had been destroyed long ago, and I could only lament alone.
Original text: Crossing the Han Dynasty and entering Hucheng, it is better to lose one's family and lose one's virginity than to live without one. The felt fur is used as clothing and my flesh and bones are shocked, and the jie _ is used as a taste and it is in vain to contain my feelings. The sound of drums and drums has been rising since the night, and the roaring wind has made the camp dark. The sadness of the present and the past are made in three shots. When will the sadness and hatred of animals be calmed down?
Translation: Crossing the border of the Han Dynasty and entering the city of the barbarians, my home has been destroyed and my innocence has been lost. It is better to die than to live in this way. Wearing felt fur makes people tremble with fear and shudder, and the smell of mutton is unbearable, so they can only force themselves to swallow. The barbarians beat drums all night long, making an annoying noise, and the wind howled, rolling up yellow sand and blocking the camp gate. The sadness and regret are endless. The three beats have been completed. When will the sorrow, anger and hatred accumulated in my heart be calmed down?
Original text: There is no day or night when I don’t think about my hometown. I am the most miserable when my temperament and energy are combined. The country is in chaos due to natural disasters and the people have no masters, but I am miserable and have no soldiers or captives. The world is different, the mind is different, the body is in trouble, the desires are different, who can talk to him! There are many difficulties and obstacles in thinking and going through it, and it becomes more and more miserable when the four shots are completed.
Translation: It’s like this day and night, how can I not miss my hometown and the people living in this world! Is there anyone more miserable than me? The country is in turmoil due to disaster from heaven, and the people of the Han family have nothing to rely on. They only blame me for my beauty and my fate, and ended up in this camp of barbarians! If you don’t have the same customs, how can you live with them? If you have different hobbies, how can you tell anyone what you feel in your heart? Looking back on my experiences, there were so many hardships and obstacles, and the four-beat tune made it even more sad and sad.
Original text: The wild geese are marching to the south in order to send side sounds, and the wild geese are returning to the north in order to obtain the Chinese sound. The wild geese fly high and are hard to find, and I feel empty and heartbroken thinking about __. I raise my eyebrows towards the moon and caress the elegant harp, and the five beats are lulling and the meaning is profound.
Translation: When the wild geese fly south, I want them to help me carry my thoughts about my hometown, and when they return north, they will bring me a letter. The wild geese flew away and gradually disappeared; I could only think hard about what could happen if my heart was broken. He knitted his brows and played the piano against the moon. The five-beat melody was quiet, and the melancholy accumulated in his heart deepened.
Original text: The body is bitterly cold due to the biting frost, and I am hungry and unable to eat meat and cheese. At night, the sound of the Long River is whimpering, and the road toward the Great Wall is long and winding. Reminiscing about the past, it is difficult to carry luggage, and the six beats are sad and I want to stop playing.
Translation: The frost is biting, but it is not as bitter as the bitter cold I was born in. Facing the mutton and cheese, I have no appetite even if I am hungry. At night I hear the sound of the Long River whimpering and lamenting, and when I get up in the morning and look at the Great Wall in the distance, when will I be able to go back? Thinking back on how difficult and miserable this journey to the west was, I felt so sad after singing six beats that I didn’t want to play the piano again!
Original text: At dusk, the wind makes sad sounds everywhere, I don’t know who the sad heart is talking to! The wilderness is desolate and the beacons are garrisoned for thousands of miles. The old and weak are vulgar and the young and strong are beautiful. Wherever there are water and grass, homes and fortresses are built, and the fields are full of cattle and sheep, gathering like bees and ants. The grass has dried up and the water has dried up, the sheep and horses have all moved away, and Qipai Liu hates living here.
Translation: At dusk, the north wind whistles everywhere, and I don’t know who to talk to about my sorrow! The wilderness was desolate, and defensive outposts were set up thousands of miles away. The Huns' customs favored young people who valued strength, and looked down upon the old, weak, sick and disabled. They settled wherever there was abundant water and grass. Cattle and sheep were everywhere, gathering together like anthills and beehives. After drinking all the water and eating all the abundant grass, I will migrate away. I will even regret living here after singing the seven beats.
Original text: If God has eyes, why not see me drifting alone? If God has a spirit, why should I be so far away from home? I don't live up to the sky. How can the sky be worthy of me? If I don't live up to God's will, why will God punish me by crossing the deserted state? I made eight beats here to relieve worries, but I didn't know that when the song was completed, my heart turned to worry.
Translation: If God has eyes, why can’t he see me wandering alone? If the gods are really effective, why do they leave me miserable and lonely all over the world? I have never let God down, so why would I be matched with a husband from a foreign race? I have never failed. Why did God punish me to be reduced to a deserted state? I made the eighth beat of Hujia, hoping to relieve my sorrow; but after I made it, I felt even more miserable.
Original text: The sky is boundless and the earth is boundless, and I feel sad again.
Life is fleeting, like the passing of a white horse, but I will not be happy until I am in my prime. I am resentful and want to ask the sky, but the sky is blue and there is no chance. Raising your head and looking up at the clouds and smoke in the sky, who can pass on this sentiment?
Translation: The sky is boundless and the earth is boundless, and the sadness in my heart is as boundless as the sky and the earth. Life is short and fleeting, but my prime years are full of sorrow and not happy at all. I am extremely resentful and want to ask for help from heaven, but heaven is far away and there is no way to climb. Looking up at the sky, there are only billowing clouds and smoke. The nine-beat music is full of deep feelings, but to whom can it be conveyed?
Original text: The beacon fire at the top of the city has never been extinguished, when will the battle on the battlefield stop? Murderous aura rushes towards the door, and Hu Feng blows the moon every night. There is no sound in my hometown, and I am crying in silence and I am about to lose my breath. A life of hard work brings separation, and deep sorrow brings tears of blood.
Translation: The beacon fire at the top of the city has not been extinguished. When will the cruel war stop? The city gate is full of murderous energy every day, and the howling north wind can always be heard every night. The news from my hometown was completely blocked, and I was crying silently and dying. The bitterness and sorrow of a lifetime come from this endless parting. The ten beats are full of deep hatred, and the tears are like weeping blood.
Original text: I don’t want to eat life but hate death. I can’t sacrifice my body because my heart is full. If you are still alive, you still hope to return to your hometown. If you die, your bones will be buried for a long time. The sun lives in the moon, Zhu Xi lives in the army base, and the barbarians dote on me. I have two sons. If you cultivate it without shame, you will grow up with contempt. There are ten beats, and the sound of mourning is lingering and piercing the heart.
Translation: I am not greedy for life and afraid of death that is why I have survived so far. I cannot die for the country because I have expectations. As long as you are alive, you still have hope to return to your hometown. After you die, you can have peace of mind by being buried in your hometown. It has been a year since I came to the Xiongnu. My husband, a Hu man, dotes on me and loves me so much that I have two sons. I don't feel ashamed to raise them, I just pity that the place where the children grow up is too remote and it makes them suffer. As a result, Eleven Pai has more flesh and blood, and the sad and lingering tone goes straight to the bottom of my heart.
Original text: The east wind is blowing and there is a lot of heat. I know it is the emperor of the Han Dynasty who is coming to buy Yanghe. The Qiang and the barbarians are dancing and singing, and the two countries are having fun and are not fighting. Suddenly I met an envoy from the Han Dynasty and called me Jinzhao. He left me a thousand gold coins to redeem my concubine. I am happy to be alive and meet the sage, but I regret to say goodbye to the childish child for no reason. Ten times out of ten, there are both sorrow and joy, but it is difficult to describe the two emotions.
Translation: The earth is returning to spring and the weather is gradually getting warmer, maybe because we know that the emperor of the Han Dynasty has made peace. They celebrated with singing and dancing, and there was no more war between the two countries. Suddenly I met an envoy from the Han Dynasty, bringing an edict and a large amount of gold specifically to redeem my body. I am happy to be able to go back and see the Holy King in court in my lifetime, but I am sad that I will abandon my young son and never see him again. The twelve beats include joy and sorrow, and the emotions in my heart are difficult to express clearly.
Original text: It doesn’t matter that I have to live a retiring life, but I have to return home. I hug my beard and wet my clothes with tears. The envoys of the Han Dynasty came to welcome me, Simu__, who knew the Hu'er's name? At this time of my life and death, I am worried about being a son and the sun will not shine. How can I have wings to bring you back? One step at a time, it's hard to move, the soul disappears and the shadow is gone, the love is left behind. Three times out of ten, the beat of the strings is urgent and sad, and the liver and intestines are stirred and stabbed. I don't know.
Translation: Who would have thought that there would be a chance to return to my hometown again in this life, holding my poor child in tears. The envoy from the Han Dynasty brought me a four-horse carriage to greet me with great dignity. The child cried and broke my mother's heart, but who knew? Why did we have to part ways between mother and son at this time? I felt so sad that the sun and the moon were dim, and I just hoped that I could give birth to wings and take them back together. Every step you take is a step further away, as if there are a thousand pounds under your feet, it is difficult to move; the child is gone, and he is heartbroken. The melody of thirteen beats is urgent and sad, and who can know how heartbroken it is.
Original text: When I return home, I won’t let my children follow me, and my heart will be hung up as if I’m hungry. All things in the four seasons have their ups and downs, but my sorrow will not change for a while. The mountains are high and vast, so I can't wait to see you. Even late at night, I dream of you. When I hold my hand in the dream, I am happy and sad, and when I feel it, my heart aches and there is no rest. Four times out of ten, tears will fall down and the river will flow eastward, and my heart will be full of thoughts.
Translation: I can return to my hometown, but my children cannot be with me, and my heart feels empty, as if I am often hungry without eating. All things in the world have their own deadlines for their prosperity and decline in the four seasons, but my sorrow has never ceased. Seeing each other in the mountains and highs is far away. In the dead of night, I dream that my child seems to be right next to me. In the dream, I held his hand, one was happy and the other was sad. When I woke up, my heart ached and I couldn't imagine when it would stop. The tune of fourteen beats brings snot and tears; the water of the Yellow River flowing eastward is my tears of missing my child.
Original text: Fifteen beats, the rhythm is fast, and the breath fills the chest. Who knows the music? The place is in the dome of the hut and there are special customs. I am willing to come back, God will follow my desires, and I will be happy and contented to return to the Han Dynasty. My heart is pregnant but my sorrow becomes deeper. The sun and moon are selfless but never come. It’s no wonder that mother and son are separated. They are in the same sky and separated by the distance like ginseng. If we don’t know each other about life and death, where can we find them?
Translation: Who can understand the rapid melody of fifteen beats, full of melancholy? Live in a tent and marry a foreigner as a wife. God returns as he wishes, and his heart is filled with infinite joy. There is something worried in my heart, and all the happiness has turned into a deeper sadness. The sun and the moon are selfless but are so unfair to me. The separation of mother and son is unbearable in my heart. They are separated forever under the same sky. From then on, I don’t know where to find each other in life or death.
Original text: Sixteen shots and I am confused, my son and I are on separate sides. The sun in the east and the moon in the west look at each other, but we cannot follow each other. We are empty and heartbroken. I will never forget the day lily, but it will hurt my love to play the piano! Farewell now, I return to my hometown. Old grievances are settled, but new grievances are growing! Weeping blood, I raise my head and complain to the sky, Hu Weisheng is the only one who suffers from this disaster!
Translation: Sixteen days later, my child and I were far apart. Looking at each other day and night, not being able to go home with me makes me miss each other heartbroken.
Forget-me-not grass makes it difficult to forget sorrow, and playing the piano alone makes you even more sad! Today, I went back to my hometown with my son, and the old grievances have been settled, and the new grievances have become longer! I couldn't stop crying and raised my head to cry to the sky, why I was allowed to live but gave me so many hardships.
Original text: Seventeen shots make me feel sad, and the mountains are blocking repairs and it is difficult to travel. When I left, I felt homely and careless, and when I came back, I was filled with thoughts of farewell. Stuffed with dried leaves and branches of yellow annua, the bones of the battlefield are covered with scars from swords and arrows. The wind and frost are biting and cold in spring and summer, and the people and horses are hungry and weak. Little did he know that when he entered Chang'an again, he sighed and burst into tears.
Translation: When I reached the 17th beat, my heart ached, and it was difficult to move forward due to the obstacles in the mountains. When I left, I missed my hometown and felt confused. When I returned home, I was separated from my children and worried. The wild grass on the plug has dried up, and the bones on the battlefield are like a pile of knife marks and arrow spots are still clear. The weather at the turn of spring and summer was even more bitterly cold than that of winter, and the men and horses were hungry, exhausted and had no strength left. Who would have thought that I would be able to return to my homeland? I would sigh and cry all my tears.
Original text: The original version of Hujia comes from Huzhong, and the melody is the same when translated by Yuanqin. Although the song ends in eighteen beats, the sound is lingering and the thoughts are endless. This is how we know that silk and bamboo are delicate and all the work of nature. Sorrows and joys are all according to people's hearts. If they change, they will be normal. Hu and Han are in different lands and have different winds. The sky and the earth are separated by the west and the east. My bitterness and resentment are as vast as the sky. Although the heaven and earth are vast, I cannot tolerate them!
Translation: The Hujia originally came from the Xiongnu, and it has the same melody when replaced with Qin music. The eighteen-beat piano music has come to an end, and the lingering sound is endlessly melancholy. You can know that the mysterious nature of music is all a trick of God's destiny, and that sorrow and joy can be adapted as the human heart changes. The regional customs of the Xiongnu and the Han Dynasty were different, just like heaven and earth were separated, the child was in the west and the mother was in the east. Unfortunately, the resentment in my heart is too deep, just like the sky covered by dark clouds. Even though the world is vast, it cannot contain my sorrow!
Notes
Zuo: Fu, here refers to the fortune of the country.
Gange: refers to war.
Smoke and dust: beacon smoke and dust raised on the battlefield. Refers to war.
Hulu: During the Qin and Han Dynasties, the Xiongnu were called Hulu, and later generations used it as a general name for the northern tribes hostile to the Central Plains.
Shu: different.
Jia: a musical instrument of the ancient northern Chinese people, similar to a flute.
Rong Jie: Rong and Jie. Ancient clan name. Generally refers to the ethnic minorities in northwest China.
Ya: far.
Control the string: draw the bow; hold the bow.
Sigh: sad sigh.
Felt fur: refers to the clothing made of fur by the ancient northern nomads.
Jie_: Sheep’s smell.
Tibei: feeling sad.
Animal hatred: accumulated hatred.
Appetites: Hobbies and desires.
Experience: go through; experience.
Chinese: This refers to letters from home.
Zanmei: frowning.
Longshui: the name of the river. Originated from Longshan, because of its name.
Yao Man: Boundless and far away.
Beacon garrison: A place where beacons are set up and troops are stationed for defense.
Shupi: spouse of a foreign race.
Hard work: bitterness and sorrow.
Sangzi: refers to hometown.
Bianbi: frontier; remote place.
Ying law: should be combined with the calendar image.
Bujue: Unexpectedly, unexpectedly.
__: A horse walks beyond its appearance.