Send Off My Brother Zi You, Sent to the Nation of Qi Dan
送子由使契丹
云 海 相 望 寄 此 身
那 因 远 适 更 沾 巾。
不 辞 驿 骑 凌 风 雪
要 使 天 骄 识 凤 麟。
沙 漠 回 看 清 禁 月
湖 山 应 梦 武 林 春。
单 于 若 问 君 家 世
莫 道 中 朝 第 一 人。
Song Zi You Shi Qi Dan
Yun hai xiang wang ji ci shen
Na yin yuan shi geng zhan jin.
Bu ci yi qi ling feng xue
Yao shi tian jiao shi feng lin.
Sha mo hui kan qing jin yue
Hu shan ying meng wu lin chun.
Chan yu ruo wen jun jia shi
Mo dao zhong zhao zi yi ren.
Send Off My Brother Zi You, Sent To the Nation of Qi Dan
Our lives spent with clouds and oceans between us
Tear-soaked cloth, this time you will be so far away.
You took your leave on horses from post station to post station in the wind and snow
You need to let the northern nomads know that we are peaceful and cultured.
For several months you will have to wait for the desert storms to abate before seeing the palace again
You will dream about our mountains and lakes around springtime Wu Lin.
When their kings ask about your family background
Don’t dare tell them that you are of a high rank.
Notes:
Nation of Qi Dan: Also known as Khitan. Originally a Turkish group, now popularly known as the Uyghurs. In this time period they occupied Mongolia and northeastern China.
