The full text of Yue Fei's ancient poem "All the Rivers Are Red":
I am so angry that I rush to my crown, and by the side of the fence, the misty rain stops. Looking up, looking up to the sky and roaring, with strong feelings. Thirty years of fame and dust, eight thousand miles of clouds and moon. Don't wait to see the young man's head grow white, and it will be empty and sad.
Jingkang’s shame is still not over. When will the hatred of the ministers be destroyed? Driving a long car, crossing the gap in Helan Mountain. The ambition is to eat the meat of Huns when they are hungry, and to drink the blood of Huns when they are thirsty. Waiting to start over, clean up the old mountains and rivers, and face the sky.
Translation:
I was so angry that I climbed up and leaned on the railing. A heavy rain had just stopped. He raised his head and looked around at the vast expanse. He looked up to the sky and let out a long sigh, filled with strong feelings. Thirty years of meritorious deeds have now turned into dust, and there are only floating clouds and bright moon in the thousands of miles. Don't waste your years and grow gray as a young man, only to be left alone with regrets and sorrows.
The shame of the Jingkang Year has not yet been washed away. When will the resentment of the courtiers be eliminated? I just want to drive a chariot through the enemy camp in Helan Mountain. People with great ambitions and common hatred eat the enemy's flesh when they are hungry, and they laugh and talk and despise the enemy and drink the enemy's blood when they are thirsty. I want to completely regain the old mountains and rivers from the beginning, and then return to the capital to report my victory to the emperor.
Notes:
Manjianghong: Ci brand name, also known as "Shangjianghong", "Nianliangyou", "Shangchunqu", etc. Ninety-three characters of double tone.
Angry (fà) rushing to the crown: so angry that the hair stands on end and the hat is tipped up, describing extreme anger.
Pinglan: leaning on the railing. Lan, the same as "bar".
Xiaoxiao: describes the rapid rain.
Howl: shout loudly. Whistling, making a sound with a frown.
Zhuanghuai: The ambition to work hard to become stronger.
"Thirty" sentence: It means that I am already thirty years old, and my fame is as insignificant as dust. Thirty is an approximate number. Fame may refer to Yue Fei's establishment of a festival and promotion after he conquered the six counties of Xiangyang.
The sentence "Eight Thousand": describes the battles in the south and north, the journey is far away, and the stars and the moon are shining. Eight thousand is an approximate number. It means that the battlefield is far away.
Easy: easy, casual.
Empty sorrow: that is, mourning in vain.
Jingkang Shame: In the second year of Jingkang of Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty (1127), the Jin soldiers captured Bianjing and captured the two emperors of Hui and Qin. Jingkang, the reign name of Zhao Huan, Emperor Qinzong of the Song Dynasty.
Helan Mountains: Helan Mountains. There are two mountain ranges in China named Helan Mountains, one in Hebei and the other in Ningxia. One theory refers to the Helan Mountain located at the junction of Ningxia and Inner Mongolia, which was occupied by the Jin soldiers at that time; another theory refers to the Helan Mountain located in Hebei. According to historical research, Yue Fei's footprints have never been to the Helan Mountains of Ningxia, and the area of ??Yue Fei's anti-gold activities was in the Helan Mountains of Hebei Province.
Hulu: A derogatory name for the Jurchen invaders.
The Xiongnu: one of the ancient northern peoples, here refers to the golden invaders.
Chaotianque (què): meeting the emperor. Tianque originally refers to the building in front of the palace, which refers to the place where the emperor lived. The poem "Man Jiang Hong" written by Wang Xi in the Ming Dynasty was inscribed as "Chaojinque".
About the author:
Yue Fei (1103-1142), courtesy name Pengju, was a general who fought against the Jin Dynasty in the Southern Song Dynasty, a national hero, and a native of Tangyin, Xiangzhou (now part of Henan). He was promoted to deputy envoy to the Privy Council and was granted the title of Duke of Wuchang County. Because he did not agree with the peace proposal, he was trapped by Qin Hui and killed in Dali Temple Prison. During the reign of Emperor Xiaozong, he was given the posthumous title Wumu, during the reign of Emperor Ningzong he was granted the title of King of E, and during the reign of Emperor Lizong, he was given the posthumous title of Zhongwu. There is a biography in "History of Song Dynasty". "Zhizhai Shulu Jieti" contains ten volumes of "Yue Wu Mu Ji" and has not been passed down. Xu Jie of the Ming Dynasty compiled one volume of "Yue Wu Mu's Posthumous Essays". "Complete Song Ci" records three of his poems.
Creative background:
There are many opinions in the academic circles about the creative background of this word. Some scholars believe that this poem was written around the second year of Shaoxing (1132), the second year of Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty, while others believe that it was written after Yue Fei Ke restored the six counties of Xiangyang and was promoted to the military governor of Qingyuan Army in the fourth year of Shaoxing (1134).
Appreciation:
It is generally believed to be the lyrics of Yue Fei, a general who fought against the Jin Dynasty in the Song Dynasty. The first part of this poem expresses the author's grief and indignation at the fall of the Central Plains, his regret at having lost all his previous achievements, and his desire to continue working hard to achieve meritorious service in his prime. The second part expresses the author's deep hatred for the national enemies, his ardent desire for the reunification of the motherland, and his daring loyalty to the country's court. The whole poem is passionate, generous and heroic, showing a kind of righteousness and heroic spirit, expressing the author's confidence in serving the country and his optimistic and energetic spirit.