Ballad of the Beautiful Women
English translation and interpretation are being reviewed.
长安水边多丽人。
态浓意远淑且真，
肌理细腻骨肉匀。
绣罗衣裳照暮春，
蹙金孔雀银麒麟。
头上何所有？
翠微㔩叶垂鬓唇。
背后何所见？
珠压腰衱稳称身。
就中云幕椒房亲，
赐名大国虢与秦。
紫驼之峰出翠釜，
水精之盘行素鳞。
犀箸厌饫久未下，
鸾刀缕切空纷纶。
黄门飞鞚不动尘，
御厨络绎送八珍。
箫鼓哀吟感鬼神，
宾从杂遝实要津。
后来鞍马何逡巡，
当轩下马入锦茵。
杨花雪落覆白蘋，
青鸟飞去衔红巾。
炙手可热势绝伦，
慎莫近前丞相嗔！
English translation
The third day of the third month, the weather fresh; by the waters of Chang'an, many fair ladies.
Rich in bearing, far in spirit, gentle and true; their skin fine-grained, flesh and bone well matched.
Robes of embroidered silk shine in the late spring; peacocks couched in gold, unicorns in silver.
What is it they wear upon their heads? Kingfisher-blue leaves hanging at the hair by the temples.
What is to be seen behind? Pearls weighting the waist pleats, sitting well upon the body.
Among them are the kin of the cloud-canopy and pepper chambers, granted the great titles of Guo and Qin.
From the green cauldron comes the hump of purple camel; on crystal plates are served the white fish.
Rhinoceros-horn chopsticks, sated, long unmoved; the phoenix-handled knife slices fine — all in vain.
Yellow-gate riders gallop without raising dust; the imperial kitchen, in an endless train, sends the eight delicacies.
Flutes and drums wail a sad air that moves gods and ghosts; guests and followers crowd every important crossing.
The horseman who comes last moves slow and stately; before the pavilion he dismounts onto the brocade mat.
Willow catkins fall like snow, covering the white duckweed; the blue bird flies away, bearing a red kerchief in its beak.
He is scorching to the touch, his power without equal — take care, do not come near: the Chancellor will be angry!
Meaning
On the third day of the third month, in the fresh air of the spring season, many beauties gather by the banks of the Qu River in Chang'an.
Their bearing is grave, their air high and remote, quiet and unstudied; their skin is soft and full, neither fat nor thin, their figures well proportioned.
Robes of damask and gauze mirror the late spring scene, with peacocks embroidered in gold thread and qilin in silver thread.
What are the jewels and ornaments they wear upon their heads? Blossoms of kingfisher jade hanging down at either temple.
And what can be seen behind them? Waistbands inlaid with pearls and gems, so steady and well fitting.
Several among them are kin of the imperial consorts — among them the ladies of Guo and of Qin.
From a kingfisher-jade steamer comes the fragrant purple camel's hump; on a crystal plate is brought the rich white fish.
They hold their rhinoceros-horn chopsticks and do not stir for a long while; the cooks, with swift knife and fine slicing, have busied themselves all in vain.
The eunuchs ride at a gallop, not daring to raise the dust; the imperial kitchen sends an unending stream of delicacies from mountain and sea.
The sheng
Background
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Since the time of Empress Wu, the Tang dynasty had seen the grasping of power by the families of imperial consorts become a common phenomenon within the ruling class; they formed a special bloc of interests that aroused fierce popular resentment, and this was also a principal cause of the An Lushan Rebellion that followed. In the eleventh month of 752 (the eleventh year of Tianbao), Yang Guozhong was appointed Grand Chancellor of the Right and concurrently Minister of Personnel, his power overshadowing court and country. This poem was written roughly in the spring of 753 (the twelfth year of Tianbao).