"The numerous gods of the Mount Jiuyi have arrived, they arrive as plentiful as the clouds as they greet Lady Xiang. " "SHL Episode 9 - Qu Yuan's Cu Ci Nine Song九歌 Series Lady Xiang 湘夫人"
I deliberated for a long time as to whether I’d translate this poem. But this likely where Gu Xiang got her name from so I just had to do it. I thought this would be a simple poem but it took me more than a month to do it lol. XD
When native cn speakers come across a lady with the name Xiang 湘, it immediately brings to mind the two Xiang River Goddesses. They were said to be the concubine of the legendary Emperor Shun. “Lady Xiang 湘夫人” is a Pre Qin poem that’s written as part of Qu Yuan's Chu Ci Jiu Ge/Nine Song series, and it’s also known as the sister poem to “Xiang Jun 湘君”.
There are many interpretations as to who the focus of the story is. But for the sake of this translation, I’ll be working on the assumption that the poem is about Lady Xiang missing her husband (Emperor Shun). The poem’s really long and only the last part’s quoted in SHL, so feel free to skip to the end of the translation.
This poem's known its vibrant descriptions and there's a bunch of reference to specific plants which I've linked. If you ever intend to write a fic in the Chu dynasty, or a fic centered around the 700-200BC, you could use this as a visual reference. (yas my nerdy friends, historical accuracy is sexy)
帝子降兮北渚,目眇眇兮愁予。
Lady Xiang has arrived at the Northern Island, my gaze is filled with sadness and worry.
北渚: This was likely referring to 君山岛 Junshan Island. There's a lot of historical sites if you ever want to go there!
袅袅兮秋风,洞庭波兮木叶下。
The autumn wind blows gently endlessly; the Dongting lake ripples, the leaves fall.
登白薠兮骋望,与佳期兮夕张。
Standing amidst the reeds as I gaze into the distance, anticipating the date with the lover tonight.
鸟何萃兮蘋中,罾何为兮木上?
Why do the birds gather amongst the reeds? Why are the fishnets on the tops of the trees?
This line implies that the birds should be in the trees, and the fishnets among the aquatic reeds. But yet the situation’s the reverse. (Ie. what should have happened has t happened.). It describes the author’s uneasy feelings.
T/N: Just in case anyone’s as nerdy as me, this is likely a mirror of the line “采薜荔兮水中,搴芙蓉兮木末 I want to pick the scallops in the water, and to pluck the lotus from the trees” in sister poem in the same series, 湘君 Xiang Jun.
And look, more pictures of plants! (yes it's a different reed xD)
沅有芷兮澧有兰,思公子兮未敢言。
Th flower from the ginseng plant in the River Yuan, and orchids in the Lishui River. I can’t describe how much I miss you, Young Master (Gongzi).
T/N: Interestingly, 公子 Gongzi (aka Young Master) could be used on both male and female in the past. This is a very interesting point because there’s actually a huge debate as to who’s the poem is referring to. Baidu has interpreted this to mean Miss Xiang (ie. the goddess), but on the contrary, one physical book (yes I take this seriously lmao) I’ve bought thinks this is referring to Xiang Jun (the subject in her sister poem, and possibly her husband), and another physical book refrains from nailing the subject down. So who knows LOL.
And just how gorgeous is the ginseng flower!
荒忽兮远望,观流水兮潺湲。
My emotions are unsettled, I gaze towards the distance with uncertainty. However, the River Yuan and Lishui flows slowly.
麋何食兮庭中?蛟何为兮水裔?
Why does the deer seek food in the courtyard? Why do the dragon (jiaolong) trapped on the river bank?
T/N: 麋: This term actually refers to the deer, but it has been described as “antlers like a deer, tail of a donkey, hooves of a cow, face of a horse” in ancient times, so it’s sometimes regarded as the mythological creature 四不像 (Si Buxiang/Four not alike). It has made an appearance in some anime, and in one particular danmei fandom’s discourse. LOL
The mythological version is supposed to look like this. XD
蛟: Jialong refers to the “scaled dragon” in chinese mythology. If you’ve been watching Till the End of the Moon, Mingye was a jialong whom cultivated and became an immortal.
朝驰余马兮江皋,夕济兮西澨。
When morning comes, I ride my horse and race down the river bank. I cross over to the western bank at night.
闻佳人兮召予,将腾驾兮偕逝。
I hear my lover summons me. So I speed towards hastily and we head off together.
筑室兮水中,葺之兮荷盖。
We build our house in the water, and cover our roof with lotus leaves.
荪壁兮紫坛,播芳椒兮成堂。
The walls are decorated with moss, and purple shells pave the floor. The fragrant pepper and dirt we mould form the family’s prayer hall.
T/N: 芳椒 - This was a specific type of fragrant pepper. This was mixed with mud and painted on the walls, as the ancient people enjoyed its aroma. The moss refers to this specifically!
桂栋兮兰橑,辛夷楣兮药房。
The wood of the Gui tree form the beams, the Magnolia forms the rafters. The crossbeams of the door are made from wood of the Xinyi tree, the white ginseng flowers decorates the medicinal room.
T/N: 辛夷 - The Xinyi tree is also part of the magnolia family. There's clearly a theme going on!
The Gui tree's so pretty! And the white magnolias!
And the Xinyi tree
罔薜荔兮为帷,擗蕙櫋兮既张。
The climbing fig is woven into a curtains, and the partitions made of flowers have been drawn.
T/N: 薜荔: Baidu says it’s the climbing fig, but my physical book thinks it’s the another magnolia plant. And the 蕙 flower was known for its fragrance.
Baidu's interpretation!
And my book's interpretation XD
And look, the pretty 蕙 flower!
白玉兮为镇,疏石兰兮为芳。
The weights are made of snowy white jade, the fragrance of orchards permeates the air.
T/N: The 镇 Weights were similar to paper weights, and were used to keep mats/clothes in their place. It originated from the Qin and Han Dynasty, whereby people used to keep the mat in place (to prevent it from moving around when they got up). Sometimes, it'll be in the shape of an animal, like a lion for example.
芳: Another interesting point; Baidu interprets this as fragrance, but the physical book thinks it means to block off the wind from the head of the bed. 芳 is sometimes interpreted as 防 (to block in some ancient text)
芷葺兮荷屋,缭之兮杜衡。
The lotus form the house, and the ginseng flowers form the roof. It’s scent intermingles with that of the wild ginger
And this is how wild ginger looks like!
合百草兮实庭,建芳馨兮庑门。
We gather various kinds of flowers and plants to fill the courtyard, and we’ve build a fragrant porch.
九嶷缤兮并迎,灵之来兮如云。 (The line that's in SHL)
The numerous gods of the Mount Jiuyi have arrived, they arrive as plentiful as the clouds as they greet Lady Xiang.
T/N: 九嶷: Jiuyi mountain was the legendary burial place of the legendary Emperor Shun. It’s a mountain range in Hunan Province, located at the south of the river Xiang 湘水南.
捐余袂兮江中,遗余褋兮澧浦。
I throw my outer garment into the river. And I throw my inner undergarment into the Lishui.
搴汀洲兮杜若,将以遗兮远者。
Arriving at the island’s river bank, I pluck the flowers as I eagerly await for my lover.
时不可兮骤得,聊逍遥兮容与。
Good times won’t return once it has passed. I’ll travel leisurely as I wander freely.
Be aware that some of these .ust or whatever else are old.
(For some reason you can't click on links if you see this page on full blog. Click on .ust Masterpost link in my bio for them to work).
💾 to download, 🎵 to listen, 🎹 for the instrumental.
Machigerita-P songs :
Alice in Wonderland [不思議の国のアリス - Fushigi no Kuni no Alice] 🎵・💾・🎹
Butoukai ni sayonara [舞踏会にさようなら] 🎵・💾
Fuyou [芙蓉] 🎵・💾・🎹 (Fanmade Instrumental with ust DL link)
Glass Heart Sphere [ガラスハートスフィア] 🎵・💾
Greetings From The Bottom Of The Well [拝啓、井戸の底から - Haikei, Ido no Sokokara] 🎵・💾・🎹
Kuroi Tou no Ouji [黒い塔の王子] 🎵・💾・🎹 (Fanmade Instrumental with ust DL link)
Okaasan -rebirth- [おかあさん-rebirth-] 🎵・💾
Omoi Kibako [重い木箱] 🎵・💾・🎹 (Fanmade Instrumental)
Ouka Ryouran [桜花繚乱] 🎵・💾・🎹 (Instrumental exists for Normal Version, but not the Real Guitar one)
Pierrot (also known as Clown) [ピエロ] 🎵・💾・🎹
Test Tube Princess [テストチューブプリンセス] 🎵・💾
The Full Course for Candy Addicts [キャンディアディクトフルコォス] 🎵・💾・🎹
Tsumi no Tsuki [罪ノ月] 🎵・💾・🎹
Instrumental Only (Fanmade Instrumental)
Kasa to Ame [傘と雨] 🎹
Hiki [絲] 🎹
Yamete Yoshite Hairanaide [やめてよして入らないで] 🎹
Zombie Song [ゾンビソング] 🎹
-MASA Works DESIGN- songs :
⚠ Masa himself is striking down uploads of some of those songs on Youtube, and covers are targeted too. So don't upload them on a channel you don't want to lose! ⚠
Naruto Shippuden ED7 - Long Kiss Goodbye (HALCALI) [TV Size] 🎵・💾 (Instrumental exists)
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni OP1 (Eiko Shimamiya) [TV Size] 🎵・💾 (Instrumental exists)
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni PS2 OP (Ayane) 🎵・💾(Instrumental exists)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure OP1 - Sono Chi no Sadame (Hiroaki "Tommy" Tominaga) [TV Size] 🎵・💾 (Instrumental exists)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure OP2 - JoJo Sono Chi no Kioku ~end of THE WORLD~ (Hiroaki "TOMMY" Tominaga, Coda, Jin Hashimoto) [TV Size] 🎵・💾 (Instrumental exists)
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure (Stardust Crusaders) ost - Time of the Decisive Battle🎵・💾
Pokemon (XY) OP - Volt (Yuusuke) 🎵・💾 (Instrumental exists)
Pokemon (XY) ED - X Kaikyo Y Geshiki (J☆Dee'Z)🎵・💾 (Instrumental exists)
Britney Spears - Piece of me 🎵・💾 (Instrumental exists)
Pokémon Saison 2 - Les Iles Oranges "Un Monde Pokémon" 🎵・💾
Gunslinger Girl - The Light Before We Land (The Delgados) 🎵・💾
NANA ED1 - Starless Night 🎵・💾 (Instrumental exists)
Emo Japanesque Eclectic Girl (sntb11) 🎵・💾
.ust that didn't have dl links in description are missing from this list, I'll update it later (but most of them are old .ust so you're not missing much).
It is native to the United States. Another name is 草芙蓉[Kusafuyō]. 草 means Grass. The leaves of Japanese Hibiscus mutabilis have large notches, and those of Hibiscus moscheutos in Japan do not.
https://collections.mfa.org/objects/202030
The flowers are larger than those of 木槿[Mukuge](Hibiscus syriacus).
Starting to play the violin early in his life, Hiroki Chiba launched his career as a bass player in 2004. Since then he has worked in a variety of musical contexts and regularly performs with Sangatsu, Shuta Hasunuma Philharmonic Orchestra. He usually performs with doublebass and electronics in various shows and exhibitions. He has launched four albums with doublebass and electronics. "Eine Phantasie im Morgen"(2017), "Nokt"(2018), "Asleep"(2019).
Other releases include rabbitoo's "national anthem of unknown country" (Naive) and Tomasz Dabrowski's "Ninjazz" (Fortune).
His past performances include with Jim O’Rourke, Kyoka (Raster-noton), FilFla with Keiichi Sugimoto (minamo, Fourcolor), Akiko Yano, Eiko Ishibashi, Giovanni di Domenico, Taku Unami, Tenniscoats, Yoshihide Otomo, Axel Dorner, Tetuzi Akiyama, Tatsuhisa Yamamoto, Seiichi Yamamoto, Taku Sugimoto, and ASUNA.
He has launched four albums with double bass and electronics. Other releases include rabbitoo's "national anthem of unknown country" (Naive) and Tomasz Dabrowski's "Ninjazz" (Fortune).