Hujia Tu 17
 T of C 
Home
My
Work
Hand-
books
Qin as
Object
Qin in
Art
Poetry
/ Song
Hear,
Watch
Play
Qin
Analysis History Ideo-
logy
Miscel-
lanea
More
Info
Personal email me search me
Recording: 11.04 to 11.37     Da Hujia scroll title page <--     Scene 16 <--       --> Scene 18   首頁
Scene 17: White clouds rise (as they approach the first Chinese garrison town)   白雲起

From 18 Songs of a Nomad Flute, here illustrating the qin melody Da Hujia (Nomad Reed Pipe, Long Version)
Scroll painting and calligraphy by Bai Yunli based on a Song dynasty original; poem by Liu Shang translated by Robert Rorex and Wen Fong

We traversed thousands of miles under the nomads' sky,
Seeing only yellow sands and white clouds rising.
The horses are starving; they race across the snow to feed on grass roots.
The men are thirsty; they break through the ice in order to drink the running water.
At Yanshan (northern Hebei)we begin to see bonfires and the garrison;
The sound of military drums tells us that we are hearing the forts of China.
We rally and make our way, assured that the Emperor's land lies ahead.
Life lies ahead, and I have escaped death among the nomads.

 
Return to scroll title page or to Art Illustrating Guqin Melodies