"Viewing the Sea" is a four-character poem written by Cao Cao, a poet in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. Below are the original texts and translation annotations of Guan Canghai that I collected and compiled. Welcome to read and refer to them! Guan Canghai original text and translation annotation 1
Guancanghai full text (original text):
To the east is Jieshi to view the sea.
How can the water be dull? The mountains and islands are standing tall.
There are many trees and lush grass.
The autumn wind is bleak and the waves are rising.
The journey of the sun and the moon, if it comes out of it.
The stars are as brilliant as if they came from within.
Fortunately, I sing to express my ambition.
Full text translation of "Guancanghai":
Go eastward and climb Jieshi Mountain to admire the vast sea.
The sea is so vast and vast, and the mountain islands stand tall on the seashore.
The trees and grass are thick and lush.
The autumn wind blows the trees and makes a sad sound, and huge waves surge in the sea.
The movements of the sun and moon seem to emanate from this vast ocean.
The stars of the Milky Way are brilliant, as if they were produced from this vast ocean.
I am very happy and use this poem to express my inner ambition.
Explanation (meaning) of the word "Guancanghai":
1. Lin: to board, which means to visit.
2. Jié stone: the name of the mountain. Jieshi Mountain, Jieshi Mountain in Changli, Hebei Province. In the autumn of 207 AD, Cao Cao passed through this place when he returned to his army after winning the battle against Wuhuan.
3. Cang: Tong "Cang", green.
4. Sea: Bohai Sea.
5. He: How.
6. Dandan (dàn dàn): The appearance of water waves shaking.
7. 禦志 (sǒng zhì): towering. Song, tall and towering.
8. Cluster: Refers to vegetation growing together in one place. Fengmao: refers to lush and lush.
9. Desolation: The sound of trees being blown by the autumn wind.
10. Hongbo: surging waves.
11. Sun and moon: the sun and the moon.
12. If: Like. As if.
13. Xinghan: Milky Way, Tianhe.
14. Fortunately: Fortunately.
15. Extreme: extreme.
16. To: Very.
17. Yongzhi: that is, expressing one’s will.
18. What a blessing: What a blessing.
19. Chant: sing.
20. Ambition: ideal.
21. Song to express one’s aspirations: Express one’s aspirations or ideals through songs.
Appreciation of Guancanghai (appreciation):
This poem was written by Cao Cao when he climbed Jieshi Mountain during his victory in the northern expedition to Wuhuan. The poet used the majestic and magnificent scene of the sea to express The broad mind expresses the ambition to unify the Central Plains and make contributions.
Cao Cao's song "Stepping out of Xiamen and Viewing the Sea" accurately and vividly depicts the image of the ocean, simple yet full, rich but not trivial, just like a thick charcoal drawing. What is particularly valuable is that this poem not only reflects the image of the ocean, but also gives it character. Each sentence describes the scenery, and each sentence is lyrical. It expresses both the sea and the poet himself. The poet is not satisfied with making a similar imitation of the ocean, but strives to express the deep, turbulent character of the ocean through images. The sea is originally lifeless, but it has character in the poet's writings. Only in this way can the face of the sea be reflected more truly and profoundly.
This poem uses scenery to express emotions, cleverly integrating the sea scenery in front of you and your own ambitions. The climax of "Stepping out of Xiamen and Viewing the Sea" is placed at the end of the poem. Its emotions are very unrestrained, but its thoughts are very reserved. It not only achieves the blending of scenes, but also achieves the combination of emotion and reason, and the integration of emotions into scenes. Because it is implicit, it is more inspiring, more stimulating to our imagination, and more thought-provoking. In the past, people praised Cao Cao's poems for being deep, full, vigorous and powerful, "like a veteran You Yan, with a majestic charm", which can be confirmed from here. The tone of the whole poem is desolate and generous, which is also a representative work of Jian'an style.
"Stepping out of Xiamen", also known as "Longxi Journey", belongs to the "Xiangru Ge·Se Diaoqu" in the Han Dynasty Yuefu. "Xiamen" was originally the city gate at the west end of the north of Luoyang. It was called Xiamen in the Han Dynasty and Daxiamen in the Wei and Jin Dynasties. There are only two sentences left in the ancient saying: "The city and the people in the dynasty have changed, and the tombs of thousands of years old have been leveled" (see Li Shan's note in "Selected Works"). "Yuefu Poetry Anthology" also records the ancient poem "The Evil Path Passes Through the Empty House", which describes the story of ascending to immortality and attaining the Tao. This chapter of Cao Cao's "Book of Song·Yue Zhi" is included in "Daqu" and is titled "Jieshi Steps Out of Xiamen Xing". Judging from the content of the poem, it has nothing to do with the meaning of the title. It can be seen that it is just a reference to ancient inscriptions to describe current events. The poem begins with the word "Yan" (prelude), and is divided into four interpretations (chapters): "Viewing the Sea", "October in Winter", "Different Soils", and "The Turtle Lives Longevity".
In 207 AD (the twelfth year of Jian'an), he was on his way back to the army after winning the northern campaign against Wuhuan. Guan Canghai original text and translation annotation 2
Guancang Sea
Author: Cao Cao
To the east is Jieshi to view the sea.
How can the water be dull? The mountains and islands are standing tall.
There are many trees and lush grass.
The autumn wind is bleak and the waves are rising.
The movement of the sun and the moon would appear within it;
The stars would shine brightly, as if they would appear within it.
Fortunately, I sing to express my ambition.
Notes
(1) Lin: boarding means touring.
(2) Jié stone: the name of the mountain. Jieshi Mountain is located in what is now Jieshi Mountain, Wudi County, Binzhou City, Shandong Province. In the autumn of 207 AD, Cao Cao passed through this place when he conquered Wuhuan.
(3) Cang: Tong "Cang", green.
(4) Sea: Bohai
(5) He: How
(6) Dan (dàn dàn): The water waves are shaking.
(7) Zhi (sǒng zhì): standing tall. Song, towering, high.
(8) Desolation: The sound of vegetation being blown by the autumn wind.
(9) Hongbo: surging waves
(10) Sun and Moon: the sun and the moon
(11) If: like.
(12) Xinghan: Galaxy.
(13) Fortunately: Fortunately.
(14) Very: extreme.
(15) Zhi: Very,
(16) Fortunately, even Zaizai: What a blessing.
(17) Chanting: singing
(18) Chanting: expressing one’s will.
(19) Ambition: ideal
(20) Song to chant ambition: expressing one’s aspirations or ideals through poetry.