The original translation of Yuan Zhen's poem "Wangyitai" is as follows:
Original text: It's March 30th, and I look sadly at Wangyitai by the river. It is expected that Meng Guang said today that spring will never come back until it is over. Translation: In the Jing'an house, Wei Cong faces the green willows in front of the window every day; in front of the post station, the spring mood is fading, and the ground is covered with red. The beautiful spring scenery of the two places disappeared on the same day; at this time, the family members missed their relatives who were away from home, and the people who were away from home also missed their relatives at home.
Yuan Zhen (779-831), also known as Wei Zhi and Wei Ming. A native of Luoyang, Henan Province. A descendant of the Tuoba tribe of Xianbei, a clan of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the 19th generation grandson of Tuoba Shiyijian, Emperor Zhaocheng of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Minister, poet, writer, and novelist of the Tang Dynasty of China. ?
Yuan Zhen was poor in his early years. In the ninth year of Zhenyuan (793), he was promoted to the Ming Dynasty. In the fifteenth year of Zhenyuan (799), Yuan Zhen was recommended as an official by others and first served in Hezhong Prefecture. In the 19th year of Zhenyuan (803), Yuan Zhen was awarded the title of Distinguished Scholar, and was awarded the title of Secretary Provincial Secretary. He and Bai Juyi were brothers and sisters, and married Wei Cong, a lady from a well-known family. Wei Cong died a few years later.
In the first year of Yuanhe (806), he was awarded the title of Zuo Shiyi because of his talent and knowledge in physical education. In the fourth year of Yuanhe (809), Prime Minister Pei Bian was promoted to the position of censor. During this period, Yuan Zhen witnessed corrupt politics, understood the sufferings of people's livelihood, and investigated officials' illegal activities, which was quite accomplished.
As a result, he offended eunuchs and powerful officials and was reprimanded. Later Yuan Zhen turned to the eunuchs in order to get promoted. In the second year of Changqing (822), he was appointed as Tongzhongshu's subordinate Pingzhangshi. He was framed by Li Fengji and was dismissed as the governor of Tongzhou. Finally, he died violently at the post of the Wuchang Army Jiedushi.
The influence of Yuan Zhen’s poetry
Yuan Zhen has made great achievements in poetry, novels, prose, literary criticism, etc., but his poetry has the most outstanding achievements. He and Bai Juyi launched the poetry movement - New Yuefu Poetry, which was pioneered by Yuan Zhen and completed by Bai Juyi and has been circulated for thousands of years. Not only did "the poems become new in the Yuanhe style", but also the world's literati "passed on from generation to generation". They imitated each other and made new words."
The Yuanhe poetry circle where Yuan Zhen belonged was an important turning point in the history of the development of Chinese poetry, a period of transformation when the Tang sound gradually became Song tune. As one of the important poets with irreplaceable significance in this new change, Yuan Zhen occupies a prominent place in the history of Chinese poetry.