Six Dynasties·405·537 characters·1 min·Translated by Claude into English and modern Chinese
Librarian’s score9.3Claude · AI
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A rhapsody of homecoming whose aimless clouds and tired birds became the language of retreat from office; with its frank preface, Tao’s fullest statement.
My family was poor, and farming could not keep us. The house was full of small children, and there was no grain stored in the jars. I could see no way to provide what we needed to live. Relatives and friends often urged me to take a post as an official, and I came round to the idea, but there was no way to get one. Then there was business in the four quarters, and the princes thought kindness a virtue; my uncle, seeing how poor I was, had me appointed to a small county. At that time the storms of the age had not yet settled, and I dreaded serving far away. Pengze was a hundred miles from home, and the produce of the public fields was enough to make wine, so I asked for it. But after only a few days I felt a longing to go home. Why? My nature is simple and honest, and it cannot be forced into shape. Hunger and cold may be pressing, but going against myself made me ill in body and mind. Whenever I had served in public affairs, it had been my mouth and belly that made me a servant. So I was disappointed and troubled, and deeply ashamed before the aims I had held all my life. Still, I hoped to wait one harvest and then gather my robes and slip away by night. Soon afterwards my sister, married into the Cheng family, died in Wuchang, and I longed to rush to her, so I resigned my post of my own accord. From mid-autumn to winter I was in office a little more than eighty days. Because the event followed my heart's wish, I wrote this piece and called it Home Again. It is the eleventh month of the year yisi.
歸去來兮，田園將蕪胡不歸？归去来兮，田园将芜胡不归？Home again, home again: the fields and garden will be choked with weeds; why not go home?
既自以心為形役，奚惆悵而獨悲！既自以心为形役，奚惆怅而独悲！Since I myself have made my heart the servant of my body, why grieve alone in my despair?
悟已往之不諫，知來者之可追；悟已往之不谏，知来者之可追；I know the past cannot be mended, but I know the future can still be overtaken.
實迷途其未遠，覺今是而昨非。实迷途其未远，觉今是而昨非。I have not gone far down the wrong road; I see that I am right today, and was wrong yesterday.
舟遙遙以輕颺，風飄飄而吹衣。舟遥遥以轻飏，风飘飘而吹衣。The boat rocks lightly as it sails along, the wind blows and flutters my robe.
問征夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。问征夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。I ask a traveller the way ahead, and wish the morning light were not so faint.
乃瞻衡宇，載欣載奔。乃瞻衡宇，载欣载奔。Then I catch sight of my gate and roof, and run towards them full of joy.
僮僕歡迎，稚子候門。僮仆欢迎，稚子候门。The servants come out to greet me, the little ones wait at the door.
三徑就荒，松菊猶存。三径就荒，松菊犹存。The three paths are almost overgrown, but the pines and chrysanthemums are still there.
携幼入室，有酒盈罇。携幼入室，有酒盈樽。I take the youngest by the hand and go in; there is a jar full of wine.
引壺觴以自酌，眄庭柯以怡顏。引壶觞以自酌，眄庭柯以怡颜。I lift the jug and cup and pour for myself, and look at the trees in the yard with a smiling face.
倚南窗以寄傲，審容膝之易安。倚南窗以寄傲，审容膝之易安。I lean at the south window, free of care, and see how easily one can be at peace in a room just big enough for one's knees.
園日涉以成趣，門雖設而常關。园日涉以成趣，门虽设而常关。Each day I walk in the garden and it brings me pleasure; there is a gate, but it is always shut.
策扶老以流憩，時矯首而遐觀。策扶老以流憩，时矫首而遐观。Leaning on a stick, I wander and rest, and now and then lift my head to gaze far away.
雲無心以出岫，鳥倦飛而知還。云无心以出岫，鸟倦飞而知还。The clouds drift out of the hills without intent; the birds, tired of flying, know to come home.
景翳翳以將入，撫孤松而盤桓。景翳翳以将入，抚孤松而盘桓。The light grows dim as the sun begins to set, and I linger, my hand on a solitary pine.
歸去來兮！請息交以絕遊。归去来兮！请息交以绝游。Home again: let me end my dealings and break off my travels.
世與我而相違，復駕言兮焉求？世与我而相违，复驾言兮焉求？The world and I have gone our separate ways; why should I harness my carriage again, and what would I seek?
悅親戚之情話，樂琴書以消憂。悦亲戚之情话，乐琴书以消忧。I delight in the heartfelt talk of my family, and find pleasure in my zither and my books to drive away care.
農人告余以春及，將有事於西疇。农人告余以春及，将有事于西畴。The farmers tell me that spring has come, and there will be work in the western fields.
或命巾車，或棹孤舟。或命巾车，或棹孤舟。Sometimes I call for a covered cart, sometimes I row a single boat.
既窈窕以尋壑，亦崎嶇而經丘。既窈窕以寻壑，亦崎岖而经丘。Now winding through a deep valley, now climbing over the rough hills.
木欣欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流。木欣欣以向荣，泉涓涓而始流。The trees are glad and burst into bloom, the springs begin to trickle and flow.
善萬物之得時，感吾生之行休。善万物之得时，感吾生之行休。I rejoice that the ten thousand things have found their season, and feel that my own life is moving towards its rest.
已矣乎！寓形宇內復幾時？已矣乎！寓形宇内复几时？Enough. How much longer can this body stay lodged in the world?
曷不委心任去留？曷不委心任去留？Why not let the heart decide whether to stay or go?
胡為乎遑遑欲何之？胡为乎遑遑欲何之？Why hurry anxiously? Where would I go?
富貴非吾願，帝鄉不可期。富贵非吾愿，帝乡不可期。Wealth and rank are not what I want, and the land of the gods cannot be hoped for.
懷良辰以孤往，或植杖而耘耔。怀良辰以孤往，或植杖而耘耔。On a fine morning I go out alone, or plant my staff and weed the soil.
登東皋以舒嘯，臨清流而賦詩。登东皋以舒啸，临清流而赋诗。I climb the eastern hill and whistle freely; I look down on the clear stream and compose poems.
聊乘化以歸盡，樂夫天命復奚疑！聊乘化以归尽，乐夫天命复奚疑！So I will ride the great change to the end, and delight in what heaven has given. What is there to doubt?
Tao Yuanming’s song of going home in 405, after a little more than eighty days as magistrate of Pengze, with his own preface explaining why he left. It is shelved with the prose, keeping its line breaks. Notice the clouds that drift out of the hills without intent, and the birds that, tired of flying, know to come home.