STUDY IN CHINA GLOBAL (SCG)Beginning to Build an Archery Target Practice Area
始 建 射 侯
男 子 本 悬 弧
有 志 在 四 方。
虎 竹 忝 明 命
熊 侯 始 张 皇。
宾 登 时 事 毕
诸 将 备 戎 装。
星 飞 的 屡 破
鼓 噪 武 更 扬。
曾 习 邹 鲁 学
亦 陪 鸳 鹭 翔。
一 朝 愿 投 笔
世 难 激 中 肠。
Shi Jian She Hou
Nan zi ben xuan hu
You zhi zai si fang.
Hu zhu tian ming ming
Xiong hou shi zhang huang.
Bin deng shi shi bi
Zhu jiang bei rong zhuang.
Xing fei di lu po
Gu zao wu geng yang.
Ceng xi zou lu xue
Yi pei yuan lu xiang.
Yi zhao yuan tou bi
Shi nan ji zhong chang.
Beginning to Build an Archery Target Practice Area
Traditionally one bow was hung outside for each newly born male baby
Wishes for them to master all four directions.
Without the honor of the tiger-bamboo seal, destiny can still be realized
To impress the emperor, shoot an arrow through a bear’s claw.
Even the visitors are finished with seasonal activities
All the military officers prepare the weapons and assemble the decked-out soldiers.
Weapons frequently broken with sparks flying
Make an uproar by pounding the drums of victory.
At one time I studied and learned from Confucius
Like the circling ducks and egrets I accompanied the emperor’s entourage.
Now this day I throw aside my writing brush
Society’s difficulties churn the middle of my guts.
[Written in October 783 when some of the provinces wanted to break away from the empire and be independent. The son of Emperor Xuanzong, as the current emperor, escaped into hiding. In his youth, Wei was a palace guard.]
