The poem “Five Beautiful Poems: Ming Fei” comes from the Qing Dynasty novelist Cao Xueqin’s novel “Dream of the Red Chamber”. It is a seven character quatrain written by Lin Daiyu in the novel. The first half of the poem is a lament for the plight of Empress Ming, while the second half expresses dissatisfaction with the actions of Emperor Yuan of Han. This poem expresses Daiyu’s distress over being manipulated and unable to control her love and marriage by lamenting the fate of Mingfei. This poem abandons historical records and borrows the unfortunate legend about Ming Fei recorded in the “Miscellaneous Records of the Western Capital”, making the entire poem full of indignation.
《五美吟·明妃》出自清代小说家曹雪芹所著小说《红楼梦》，是一首七言绝句，在小说中由林黛玉所作。诗的前半首是对明妃遭遇的哀叹，后半首表达了对汉元帝做法的不满。这首诗借咏叹明妃的命运，表达了黛玉对爱情婚姻方面受人操控、不能自主的苦恼。这首诗舍弃史书记载，借用了《西京杂记》记载的关于明妃的不幸传说，使全诗充满了愤慨之情。
《红楼梦》·《五美吟·明妃》
绝艳惊人出汉宫，红颜命薄古今同。
君王纵使轻颜色，予夺权何畀画工？
Lady Bright（David Hawkes 译）
To a loveliness that dazzled, the palace of Han showed the door;
For “the fair are mostly ill-fated”, as has been said often before.
Yet it seems strange that an emperor—even one with such tepid views—
Should abandon his eyes’ own judgment and let a painter choose!
Ming-fei（B. S. Bonsall 译）
Extreme beauty which startles men goes forth from the palace of Han.
A pretty face and a poor destiny in ancient and modern times alike.
Even though the prince made light of her beautiful appearance,
What authority to add or to detract was given the artist?
Wang Zhaojun（杨宪益、戴乃迭 译）
A breath-taking beauty banished from the Han palace,
From of old lovely girls have shared a sorry fate;
Even if the sovereign set little store by his beauties,
Why give a painter the power to arbitrate?
