Bai Juyi

“ Jianmen means "gateway to Mount Jian", so called because its jagged peaks resemble a "jian" (a straight sword) .↑ Bai Juyi is probably taking poetic liscence here. It was probably a mountain in Sichuan, but not necessarily Mount Emei, which has always been an inspiration to Chinese poets↑ A reference to Mawei (馬嵬) way station, where Yang Guifei was killed.↑ West of Xingping County in modern day Shaanxi↑ Yang Guifei's name at birth was Yuhuan (玉環) , which means jade earrings.↑ The Taiye ponds were built in the time of the Emperor Wu of Han. ”

“ He ruled his empire for many years without finding such a beauty. 楊家有女初長成, Yáng jiā yǒu nǚ chū zhǎng chéng, joeng4 gaa1 jau5 neoi5 co1 coeng4 sing4, There was a girl of the house of Yang who had just come of age. ”

“ On earth, we vow to be as two intertwined branches of a tree." 天長地久有時盡, tiānchángdìjiǔ yǒu shí jìn, tin chöng4 dey6 guw2 yuw5 si4 jön6, Even the heaven and earth have their ending times, 此恨綿綿無絕期。 cǐ hèn mián mián wú jué qí. ”

“ The writhing fair maiden, whose long and slender eyebrows resembled the feathery feelers of a moth, [7] died in front of the horses. [8] the pass at Mount Jian 花鈿委地無人收, huādiàn wěi dì wú rén shōu, faa1 din6 wai2 dei6 mou4 jan4 sau1, Her ornate headdress fell to the ground, and nobody picked it up; 翠翹金雀玉搔頭。 cuìqiáo jīnquè yùsāotóu. ceoi3 kiu4 gam1 zoek3 juk6 sou1 tau4 Then her kingfisher hair ornament, her gold sparrow hairpin and her jade hair clasp. ”

“ Translation 長 恨 歌 cháng hèn gē coeng4 han6 go1 The Song of Everlasting Regret 漢皇重色思傾國, Hàn huáng zhòng sè sī qīngguó, hon3 wong4 cung4 sik1 si1 king1 gwok3, A certain emperor of the Han dynasty [1] placed a premium on his dalliances, and longed for a woman so beautiful, that he might be tempted to ignore his duties at court, and thus bring about the downfall of his empire. ”