Climbing Mount Tianmu in a Dream: A Parting Poem
English translation and interpretation are being reviewed.
烟涛微茫信难求；
越人语天姥，
云霞明灭或可睹。
天姥连天向天横，
势拔五岳掩赤城。
天台四万八千丈，
对此欲倒东南倾。
我欲因之梦吴越，
一夜飞度镜湖月。
湖月照我影，
送我至剡溪。
谢公宿处今尚在，
渌水荡漾清猿啼。
脚著谢公屐，
身登青云梯。
半壁见海日，
空中闻天鸡。
千岩万转路不定，
迷花倚石忽已暝。
熊咆龙吟殷岩泉，
栗深林兮惊层巅。
云青青兮欲雨，
水澹澹兮生烟。
列缺霹雳，
丘峦崩摧。
洞天石扉，
訇然中开。
青冥浩荡不见底，
日月照耀金银台。
霓为衣兮风为马，
云之君兮纷纷而来下。
虎鼓瑟兮鸾回车，
仙之人兮列如麻。
忽魂悸以魄动，
恍惊起而长嗟。
惟觉时之枕席，
失向来之烟霞。
世间行乐亦如此，
古来万事东流水。
别君去兮何时还？
且放白鹿青崖间，
须行即骑访名山。
安能摧眉折腰事权贵，
使我不得开心颜？
English translation
Seafarers speak of Yingzhou, in mist and billows, faint and far, truly hard to find.
But men of Yue tell of Tianmu, where cloud and glory brighten and fade, and it may be seen.
Tianmu joins the sky and stretches across it, its mass surpasses the five peaks and eclipses Chicheng.
Mount Tiantai, forty-eight thousand fathoms high, before it seems to topple, leaning to the southeast.
And so I would dream of Wu and Yue, and in one night fly across Mirror Lake's moon.
The lake moon lit my shadow, and bore me to the Shan Stream.
The place where Xie once lodged is still there, the clear water ripples, and the gibbons cry.
On my feet, Xie's clogs, my body climbing the ladder of blue cloud.
Halfway up the cliff I saw the sea sun, in the void I heard the heavenly cock.
A thousand crags, ten thousand turns, the path uncertain, dazed by blossoms, leaning on rocks, suddenly it was dark.
Bears roared and dragons chanted, shaking the cliffside springs, the deep forest shuddered, the tiered peaks trembled.
The clouds were dark, dark, about to rain, the waters were broad, broad, giving birth to mist.
Lightning flashed and thunder pealed, hills and ridges crumbled and collapsed.
The stone gate of the cavern heaven burst open with a mighty rumble.
The blue void was vast, no bottom to be seen, sun and moon shone on terraces of gold and silver.
Rainbows for robes and the wind for horses, the lords of the clouds came thronging down.
Tigers struck the harps and phoenixes drew the cars, the immortals stood in rows, thick as hemp.
Suddenly my soul shuddered and my spirit started, dazed, I woke with a long sigh.
Only the pillow and mat of waking remained, the mist and glory of a moment gone.
Pleasure in this world is like this too, all things since of old are as water flowing east.
I leave you now, when shall I return? Let me set free a white deer among the blue cliffs, and when I must go, ride it to visit the famous mountains.
How can I bend my brows and bow my waist to serve the great, and so be denied a happy face?
Meaning
Travellers from over the seas speak of Yingzhou, lost in mist and wave, truly hard to find.
Men of Yue tell of Mount Tianmu, which can sometimes be seen amid cloud and mist that shift from bright to dim.
Mount Tianmu seems to touch the sky and blot out the heavens; its height surpasses the Five Peaks and eclipses Mount Chicheng.
Though Mount Tiantai rises forty-eight thousand fathoms, facing Tianmu it seems to bow down, tilting towards the southeast.
I wish, upon the word of the men of Yue, to dream my way to Wu and Yue; one night I fly across Mirror Lake beneath the shining moon.
The moonlight upon Mirror Lake lights me on my way, bearing me onwards to the Shan stream.
The place where Xie Lingyun dwelt is still there; the clear lake ripples, and the gibbons cry in mournful tones.
Upon my feet I wear the clogs the Duke of Xie made for the mountains in his day, and climb the path that goes straight up into the clouds.
Halfway up the mountain I see the sun rising from the sea, and in the air comes the crowing of the celestial cock that heralds the dawn.
Background
Read the background
This poem was written after Li Bai left the Hanlin Academy; its date is given variously as 745 (the fourth year of the Tianbao era) and 746 (the fifth year of Tianbao). In 744 (the third year of the Tianbao era of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang), Li Bai was elbowed aside by powerful men at Chang'an and sent away from the capital, returning to his home in Donglu (in present-day Shandong). Thereafter he set out once more upon his wanderings. This poem, which describes a dream journey to Mount Tianmu, was probably written as Li Bai was about to leave Donglu and travel south to Wu and Yue.