Visit to Princess Taiping in Shan Zhuang
游 太 平 公 主 山 庄
公 主 当 年 欲 占 春
故 将 台 榭 压 城 闉。
欲 知 前 面 花 多 少
直 到 南 山 不 属 人。
You Tai Ping Gong Zhu Shan Zhuang
Gong zhu dang nian yu zhan chun
Gu jiang tai xie ya cheng yin. Yu zhi qian mian hua duo shao
Zhi dao nan shan shu ren.
Visit to Princess Taiping in Shan Zhuang
In former days the princess desired only the finest
She had terraced pavilions built alongside the highest barbican.
I Wanted to know if she could count all of her blossoms and flowers
Her lands from here to the southern mountains, now depopulated and ignored.
Notes:
Princess Taiping: (665-713 AD) Daughter of Empress Wu during the early Tang Dynasty. Later was forced to commit suicide by Emperor Xuanzong.
Barbican: Defensive gate tower along a city or palace wall.