(Translation) 哀絶陽

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  II-3. 茶山與黃裳書簡(夜能不痛否) 다산이 황상에게 보낸 시

Original Script

Classical Chinese	English
蘆田少婦哭聲長。哭向縣門號穹蒼。 夫征不復尙可有。自古未聞男絶陽。 舅喪已縞兒未澡。三代名簽在軍保。 薄言往愬虎守閽。里正咆哮牛去皁。 磨刀入房血滿席。自恨生兒遭窘厄。 蠶室淫刑豈有辜。閩囝去勢良亦慽。 生生之理天所予。乾道成男坤道女。 騸馬豶豕猶云悲。況乃生民思繼序。 豪家終歲奏管弦。粒米寸帛無所捐。 均吾赤子何厚薄。客窓重誦鳲鳩篇。 此嘉慶癸亥秋, 余在康津作也. 時蘆田民有兒生三日, 入於軍保, 里正奪牛, 民拔刀自割其陽莖曰, 我以此物之故, 受此困厄. 其妻持其莖, 詣官門, 血猶淋淋, 且哭且訴. 閽者拒之. 余聞而作此詩.	(translation)

Translation

Student 1 : (Irina)

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蘆田少婦哭聲長。哭向縣門號穹蒼。夫征不復尙可有。自古未聞男絶陽。

Young bride laments loudly in the reed field

facing the village office gate, her voice rises up into the sky.

I have heard for men, who went to war and never came back

but never heard for someone castrated himself.

舅喪已縞兒未澡。三代名簽在軍保。薄言往愬虎守閽。里正咆哮牛去皁。

A bride’s father-in-law mourn is just over and she couldn’t even wash her newborn.

Heaving in her house three generations of men in the military raster

she tried to complain, but the guard, severe as a tiger, didn’t let her in.

The magistrate came, shouting, and pulled the cow out of the cowshed.

磨刀入房血滿席。自恨生兒遭窘厄。蠶室淫刑豈有辜。閩囝去勢良亦慽。

The room is all in blood, the husband with a sharp knife in his hand

blames his self for miserable fate that a boy was born to him.

Castration is a punishment for those who guilty are

it is so piteously to be castrated like a son of Ming. (1)

生生之理天所予。乾道成男坤道女。騸馬豶豕猶云悲。況乃生民思繼序。

To create life is the law of the Under heaven.

Heaven generates man, Earth generates woman

it is considered sad to geld even horses and pigs.

The will for lineage continuity is what generates human beings.

豪家終歲奏管弦。粒米寸帛無所捐。均吾赤子何厚薄。客窓重誦鳲鳩篇。

The rich ones enjoy music throughout the year

the others cultivate rice, silk and pay taxes.

All are called “our children”, but some get much, others – nothing

I look from afar and chant a verse about turtle dove. (2)

(1) Ming 閩 (909-945) was a Chinese kingdom which existed in the territory of modern-day Fujian province. In the kingdom was common practice for men to be castrated.

(2) Turtle dove is a verse from Book of Poetry (Book of Poetry, Lessons from the States, Odes of Cao, Shi Jiu; 詩經,國風,曹風,鳲鳩).

Student 2 : (Kim Young)

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蘆田少婦哭聲長。 In the Reed Field town, a young lady's wailing goes on and on.

哭向縣門號穹蒼。 Weeping toward the county gate, she calls out the blue sky.

夫征不復尙可有。 Husbands who were drafted and never made it back, there were many as such.

自古未聞男絶陽。 But from old times, I have not heard of a man who castrated himself.

舅喪已縞兒未澡。 She is already robed in white for her father-in-law, and her son isn't even bathed yet,

三代名簽在軍保。 but all three generations were enlisted on the military roster.

薄言往愬虎守閽。 Desperately she went to plead, but a beast-like man guarded the gate,

里正咆哮牛去皁。 a clerk yelled at her, and the cow had to leave her stable.

磨刀入房血滿席。 Sharpening the knife, the husband went into the room, and the mat was filled with blood.

自恨生兒遭窘厄。 He lamented having bore a son for meeting the dire calamity.

蠶室淫刑豈有辜。 The horrible punishment in silk-worm-room was already too harsh,

閩囝去勢良亦慽。 the castration of the sons of Min were also sorrowful.

生生之理天所予。 To live on and give birth is the principle gave by heaven.

乾道成男坤道女。 The way of the sky is to become a man, the way of the earth a woman.

騸馬豶豕猶云悲。 Gelding horses and pigs, we still speak of tragedy,

況乃生民思繼序。 then how much more so the heaven-made people who believe in continuing the lineage.

豪家終歲奏管弦。 At powerful houses, they play flutes and zithers all-year-round,

粒米寸帛無所捐。 A grain of rice, a patch of silk, they give nothing.

均吾赤子何厚薄。 All are our children, so how come we are lenient to some and cruel to others?

客窓重誦鳲鳩篇。 By the guesthouse window, repeatedly I recite the Shijiu chapter.

• Discussion Questions:

Student 3 : (Masha)

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蘆田少婦哭聲長。哭向縣門號穹蒼。
In the reed marshes a young married woman's wailing is lasting, she cries toward the county gate howling at the azure skies.
夫征不復尙可有。自古未聞男絶陽。
Now, it is still possible that the men who went to war are unable to come back, yet since ancient times I have never heard of a man cutting off his masculinity.
舅喪已縞兒未澡。三代名簽在軍保。
Dressed in white mourning dress, her father-in-law funeral is over and and her baby son has not been even given a bath, yet the names of three generations are recorded in the military roaster.
薄言往愬虎守閽。里正咆哮牛去皁。
She proceeds to make an appeal to a tiger-like guard, the local clerk yells in rage and takes away a cow from the stable.
磨刀入房血滿席。自恨生兒遭窘厄。
He sharpens the knife, enters the chamber, and the blood steeps the mat. He blames himself for fathering a son and encountering this wretched poverty.
蠶室淫刑豈有辜。閩囝去勢良亦慽。
The silkworm prison overuses the punishment by castration, are they really at fault? Castration of Min children is likewise very much tragic.
生生之理天所予。乾道成男坤道女。
The principle of living and procreating is endowed by Heaven, heavenly way becomes male, earthly way becomes female.
騸馬豶豕猶云悲。況乃生民思繼序。
About gelding or castrated pig people say: "How sad!" Let alone the heavenly-born people who are thinking of carrying on the [generational] order.
豪家終歲奏管弦。粒米寸帛無所捐。
Eminent families all year round play music, yet nor a single grain of rice or a single patch of silk would they contribute to the government.
均吾赤子何厚薄。客窓重誦鳲鳩篇。
All are my children - how can we favor ones and discriminate against the others? At my temporary lodge I keep reciting verses of "Shijiu."

• Discussion Questions:

Student 4 : (Jong Woo Park)

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1.

蘆田少婦哭聲長 In Nojŏn village, a wailing sound of a young lady endures

哭向縣門號穹蒼 She wails toward the gate of the county seat, and then cries out to the lofty blue sky

夫征不復尙可有 “It is possible that a husband who went to a war cannot return

自古未聞男絶陽 However, since the ancient times, I have never heard of a male cutting off his genitalia.”

2.

舅喪已縞兒未澡 For the mourning period of her father-in-law, she wears a mourning suit; her newborn is too young to bathe

三代名簽在軍保 The names of three generations nevertheless appear in the military roster

薄言往愬虎守閽 She went to the county seat to make a plea but the usher was like a tiger

里正咆哮牛去皁 The head of local clerks shouts at her and then her cow leaves the stable

3.

磨刀入房血滿席 Her husband sharpens enters into a room; blood fills the mat

自恨生兒遭窘厄 “Because of this thing, I gave a birth to a baby and face this calamity!”

蠶室淫刑豈有辜 Does the man commit a crime that deserves castration?

閩囝去勢良亦慽 The castration of the children of Min is likewise truly lamentable

4.

生生之理天所予 Production and reproduction are the principle bestowed by heaven

乾道成男坤道女 The way of heaven gives a birth to men; the way of earth gives women

騸馬豶豕猶云悲 Even gelding horses and pigs was said to be sad

況乃生民恩繼序 Not to mention the heaven-created people carrying on lineage

5.

豪家終歲奏管弦 Rich and powerful families play and enjoy the music throughout the year

粒米寸帛無所捐 Not a single scoop of grain and not even one inch of silk go to the government

均吾赤子何厚薄 All these people are the king’s children; how could there be generous treatment and harsh treatment?

客窓重誦鳲鳩篇 At the traveler’s lodge, I repeatedly recite verses from the Shijiu chapter of the Book of Odes

• Discussion Questions:

Student 5 : (Kanghun Ahn)

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蘆田少婦哭聲長。In Kaldong, the wailing sound of a young lady is growing.

哭向縣門號穹蒼。At the county gate, she is crying out loud toward the blue sky.

夫征不復尙可有。A husband went to a war, and never came back again.

自古未聞男絶陽。Since antiquity, I have never heard about a guy castrating himself.

舅喪已縞兒未澡。The funeral of her father in law was over a while ago, and the baby hasn't been washed yet.

三代名簽在軍保。However, all three of them are still (and already) enrolled on the military roster.

薄言往愬虎守閽。Even if she wants to whine about it, the gate guard is scary like a tiger.

里正咆哮牛去皁。The local functionary yells, and even takes their cows from the stable.

磨刀入房血滿席。With a sharpened sword, the floor is full of blood.

自恨生兒遭窘厄。He laments himself, since he gave birth to a male child, and suffers a severe degree of destitution.

蠶室淫刑豈有辜。What sort of crimes did I commit only to be castrated at the silkworm room?

閩囝去勢良亦慽。Likewise, it is truly deplorable that the boys in Min have been castrated.

生生之理天所予。Production and reproduction (James' Legge's translation; giving birth to babies) is the principle given by the heaven.

乾道成男坤道女。Sons embody the heaven, and daughters embody the earth.

騸馬豶豕猶云悲。Gelding pigs and horses is lamentable enough.

況乃生民思繼序。Then, what about the people created by the heaven, wishing to continue their lineage?

豪家終歲奏管弦。Rich families enjoy symphonies (with wind and string instruments),

粒米寸帛無所捐。and do not pay taxes (not even with a single grain of rice or a single piece of silk).

均吾赤子何厚薄。Shouldn't we treat rich and poor equally?

客窓重誦鳲鳩篇。

Student 6 : (Hu Jing)

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蘆田少婦哭聲長。In the village of Nojeon, the wailing sound of a young lady echoes around.

哭向縣門號穹蒼。She weeps at the gate of county yamen, bawling at the firmament.

夫征不復尙可有。The enlisted husband cannot return any more.

自古未聞男絶陽。I have never heard a male castrating himself since antiquity.

舅喪已縞兒未澡。It has not been long since the funeral of father-in-law was held, and the newborn child has not been bathed yet.

三代名簽在軍保。[However,] The names of the three generations have already been listed on the militray roster.

薄言往愬虎守閽。The pale words of the lowly lady is unheeded by the ruffianly guard.

里正咆哮牛去皁。The precinct head yells at her and loots the cow.

磨刀入房血滿席。A sharpened knife is carried into the room, then blood splatters on the mat.

自恨生兒遭窘厄。Being plunged into such a dilemma, her husband blames himself for fathering a male baby.

蠶室淫刑豈有辜。Why does the innocent people have to castrate himself?

閩囝去勢良亦慽。Even for the savage's son, emasculation is a sorrowful thing.

生生之理天所予。The heaven teaches us to live and let live.

乾道成男坤道女。Males and Females are created by the natrue (heaven and earth).

騸馬豶豕猶云悲。People even lament gelding animals.

況乃生民思繼序。Not to mention the reproduction of the common people.

豪家終歲奏管弦。Powerful families play music all year around.

粒米寸帛無所捐。But they don't contribute any gain or silk.

均吾赤子何厚薄。They are all the children [of the king], but why the treatment differs.

客窓重誦鳲鳩篇。[Deploring this,] I, who is wandering in a distant land, recite Shijiu again.

冒點則費一牛之直, 侵隣則刮百家之産

• Discussion Questions:

Student 7 : King Kwong Wong

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哀絶陽

Lamentation of Severing Genital

蘆田少婦哭聲長。哭向縣門號穹蒼。

In the village of Reedsfield, the wailing of a young madame is long. It reaches the gate of the county seat and howls to the Heaven.

夫征不復尙可有。自古未聞男絶陽。

It is not uncommon that men are lost after being levied for war. Since antiquity, however, never have I heard a man sever his genital.

舅喪已縞兒未澡。三代名簽在軍保。

The madame dresses in plain white clothes for the mourning of the father-in-law, and the newborn has not yet bathed. The names of three generations [however] have already signed in the military roster.

薄言往愬虎守閽。里正咆哮牛去皁。

She humbly makes a plea to the Tiger-guarded gate. The village clerk roars, and a cow is lost from the stable.

磨刀入房血滿席。自恨生兒遭窘厄。

Grinding a knife and entering a room, blood [thus] fills the mat. Her husband resents himself giving birth to a boy and suffering such hardship.

蠶室淫刑豈有辜。閩囝去勢良亦慽。

In the room where the punishment of castration is performed, how is there an innocent? Castration is truly a tragic affair if it is done to a child.

生生之理天所予。乾道成男坤道女。

To produce and to procreate is the pattern given by the Heaven. The Heaven becomes men and the Earth becomes women.

騸馬豶豕猶云悲。況乃生民思繼序。

Even for horses and pigs people lament their gelding, not to mention [doing the same to] Heavenly-created people who long for continuing their lineage.

豪家終歲奏管弦。粒米寸帛無所捐。

Rich families play the music of tubes and strings all year long, and [yet] they never donate a single grain of rice or a single inch of silk.

均吾赤子何厚薄。客窓重誦鳲鳩篇。

They are all my children, why is one treated generously while the other harshly? In nostalgic mood, I once again recite the chapter of Shi Jiu.

• Discussion Questions:

Student 8 : (Zhijun Ren)

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蘆田少婦哭聲長。哭向縣門號穹蒼。 In the field of reeds, the wailing sound of a young wife lasted long, She wailed to the heaven, facing the gate of the government building. 夫征不復尙可有。自古未聞男絶陽。 There are instances where husband never returned from conscription, (But) since antiquity, I have never heard a man castrating himself.

Student 9 : (Lidan Liu)

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蘆田少婦哭聲長。哭向縣門號穹蒼。 In the village of Weed Field, there is young lady crying with long sounds; She cries to the local court/yamen howling “heaven.”

夫征不復尙可有。自古未聞男絶陽。 It is seen that men went to the battle field without returning; From time immemorial, I’ve never heard of a man castrating himself.

舅喪已縞兒未澡*。三代名簽在軍保。 The grandfather, in the white funeral clothes, has passed away, and the grandson hasn’t taken his first bath yet. The names of three generations are all enrolled in the military register.

(* [舊俗，嬰兒出生後三日或滿月時替其洗身，稱“洗兒”。  【前蜀】【花蕊夫人】《宮詞》之六三：『中尉傳聞三日宴，翰林當撰洗兒文。』

《資治通鑒‧唐玄宗天寶十載》：『上聞後宮歡笑，問其故，左右以貴妃三日洗〈祿兒〉對。上自往觀之，喜，賜貴妃洗兒金銀錢。』)

薄言往愬*虎守閽。里正咆哮牛去皁。 He went to propose [to the official], [but] the tiger-ish men are guarding the door. The local clerk, yelling and shouting, lead the cow away from the crib.

(*《詩經.邶風.柏舟》“薄言往愬，逢彼之怒”I went to talk to them. Yet I encountered their rages.)

• Discussion Questions:

Student 10 : Martin

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哀絶陽 Pitying the cutting of maleness

蘆田少婦哭聲長。哭向縣門號穹蒼。 In the village of Nojŏn a young lady cries out long; crying to the county seat towards the heavens

夫征不復尙可有。自古未聞男絶陽。 Husbands fighting may not return; since the ancient times I never heard of male castrating himself.

舅喪已縞兒未澡。三代名簽在軍保。 The Father-in-law still mourned and the child not yet bathed; three generations of names are enrolled in the military rosters,

薄言往愬虎守閽。里正咆哮牛去皁。 Appealing to the tiger-like gatekeeper; the local clerk shouts and takes away the cow from the stables

磨刀入房血滿席。自恨生兒遭窘厄。 Grinding the knife, entering the room, blood covering the mat; himself lamenting to have been born a boy to encounter such misery

蠶室淫刑豈有辜。閩囝去勢良亦慽。 What is the crime for this excessive punishment of castration? The mutilation of the children of Min is surely lamentable

生生之理天所予。乾道成男坤道女。 Live and let live is the principle bestowed by heaven; the way of heaven in the male and the way of earth in the female

騸馬豶豕猶云悲。況乃生民思繼序。 Gelding a stallion and neutering a boar is a pitiful affair; even heaven created people thinking of succession

豪家終歲奏管弦。粒米寸帛無所捐。 Rich families throughout the year play music on strings, not a single grain of rice or a single inch of silk they have to contribute

均吾赤子何厚薄。客窓重誦鳲鳩篇。 Everyone is my child, how can one be favored and one be discriminated against? Homesick (a guest at the window) I turn to recite the Jiu Shi poem.

(蘆田少婦哭聲長。哭向縣門號穹蒼。 Im Dorfe Nojon die Wehklagen einer jungen Frau hallen lange, zur Kreisverwaltung und zum Himmel droben,

夫征不復尙可有。自古未聞男絶陽。 Ehemänner aus dem Kriege kehren vielleicht nicht zurück, seit dem Altertum hörte ich nicht von einer Selbst-kastration.)

• Discussion Questions:

Student 11 : (YoungSuk)

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哀絶陽 Grief over Castration

In the village of Reeds Field a young wife's cry long echoes

From the gate of country seat her cry reaches the far off sky.

Although she heard husbands went to war and did not return home

Ancient times onwards, never heard a story of men castrating.

In the mourning garment for her deceased father-in-law

The new-born child in her arm yet to be washed

Heartbroken still by the names of three generations enlisted

She went to the authority to plead in her inarticulate words

Only to face the fierce gate guard relentlessly standing

The local clerk not only roared but took her cow in the shed.

Sharpening a knife her husband came in and bled all over

Tormenting himself for the cursed life of the new-born child

What fault on earth would deserve such cruel punishment?

How sad to hear about the castrated children of the Min tribe![1]

Life and procreation according to the principle of Heaven

The Heaven firms men, the Earth firms women

Even the horses and pigs are said pitiful when castrated

Let alone the thought of family lineage to be discontinued.

All year round the music is heard from the affluent households

Nonetheless not a single grain or a scarf of silk comes out.

Should people be equal, how are they so differently treated?

At the traveler's lodge over and over I recite Shijiu.

[1]閩囝去勢: Min tribe families used to practice the custom of castrating their baby boys, so as to serve the Tang dynasty families, who were fond of Min boy eunuchs.

• Discussion Questions:

The poem starts with a young wife's life story of madness and her actions and reactions due to her family situation. But it ends with Tasan's philosophical and political opinions. Why are the positions shifted?

Student 12 : (Write your name)

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• Discussion Questions:

Student 13 : (Write your name)

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• Discussion Questions:

Student 14 : (SJY)

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1. In the village of Nojeon ("reed field"), the wailing sound of a young lady endures Crying toward the gate of the country seat she shouts at deep blue skies, Many is those who never returned from war Never has a married man cut off his genitalia.

2. 舅喪已縞兒未澡。 三代名簽在軍保。 薄言往愬虎守閽。 里正咆哮牛去皁。 Although her father-in-law's funeral's over and a baby has not yet been bathed The names of the three generations have been listed in the military roster She cried out for mercy but the guard is like a tiger Clerks yelled at her and the cow left the stable

• Discussion Questions: