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hazeviHere's a complete gravestone epitaph analysis that I cut from the main post because archaic Chinese is difficult and I was getting impatient so I posted first haha.
(Also known as with the help of traditional Chinese dictionaries, Baidu and bilibili, I attempt to read between the lines)
In traditional recorded history, Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er had basically no interaction. However, in Shangguan Wan'er’s gravestone epitaph, there is a specific line that records,
太平公主哀伤，赙赠绢五百匹，遣使吊祭，词旨绸缪。
Translation: [Upon hearing Shangguan Wan'er's death], Princess Taiping sank into sorrow. She donated five hundred bolts of fabric [for funeral use], and sent a representative to pay respects, the words of the eulogy written with heartbroken longing.
There interesting thing her is that the phrase 绸缪 chou mou comes from a Shijing (The Odes) article Bin Feng Chi Xiao, and it mostly denotes the fierce love between couples, and has many other uses within Chinese literature history describing such. The fact that this phrase is used here is a huge sign that WanPing's relationship went deeper than first surmised.
Basically, what this line is saying that Princess Taiping donated the capital to make Wan'er's funeral a grand affair, and sent someone before her coffin to pay respects and read the eulogy that she wrote for Wan'er. This particular eulogy had some strong wording that made people describe it as 'chou mou', which in other uses, points to fierce love between regular couples.
Also, there's the final two lines of the epitaph:
(Also known as with the help of traditional Chinese dictionaries, Baidu and bilibili, I attempt to read between the lines)
In traditional recorded history, Princess Taiping and Shangguan Wan'er had basically no interaction. However, in Shangguan Wan'er’s gravestone epitaph, there is a specific line that records,
太平公主哀伤，赙赠绢五百匹，遣使吊祭，词旨绸缪。
Translation: [Upon hearing Shangguan Wan'er's death], Princess Taiping sank into sorrow. She donated five hundred bolts of fabric [for funeral use], and sent a representative to pay respects, the words of the eulogy written with heartbroken longing.
There interesting thing her is that the phrase 绸缪 chou mou comes from a Shijing (The Odes) article Bin Feng Chi Xiao, and it mostly denotes the fierce love between couples, and has many other uses within Chinese literature history describing such. The fact that this phrase is used here is a huge sign that WanPing's relationship went deeper than first surmised.
Basically, what this line is saying that Princess Taiping donated the capital to make Wan'er's funeral a grand affair, and sent someone before her coffin to pay respects and read the eulogy that she wrote for Wan'er. This particular eulogy had some strong wording that made people describe it as 'chou mou', which in other uses, points to fierce love between regular couples.
Also, there's the final two lines of the epitaph:
潇湘水断，宛委山倾。珠沉圆折，玉碎连城。
甫瞻松槚，静听坟茔。千年万岁，椒花颂声。
Translation: As if the flowing water halts, the mountains are listing and crumbling. As if the round pearls sinking, a city’s worth of jade shattering. Staring off at the pine in front of the tomb, listening to the wind. Even after thousands of years, may people chorus your name as I do.
There's also a notable reference in the last quartet of characters: 椒花颂声 (jiao hua song sheng). 椒花颂 (jiao hua song) is an article written by a notable female author in the Jin dynasty (during a unified period of ancient Chinese history) that was she gave to her husband as a proof of their love. Later, this term in general also generally denotes 'women of talent'. So, I rendered it as 'may people chorus your name [as a woman of extreme talent] as I do.'
These are the lines that still continue to be repeated whenever Shangguan Wan'er's gravestone epitaph is mentioned. Not to mention the astounding use of literary references and how well these two lines flow, they perfectly convey the commissioner's longing for the tomb's owner, or, as previously mentioned, most likely Princess Taiping's true feelings towards Shangguan Wan'er.
cover of Shangguan Wan'er's gravestone epitaph. Credit: Shanxi Archeological Museum
Translation: As if the flowing water halts, the mountains are listing and crumbling. As if the round pearls sinking, a city’s worth of jade shattering. Staring off at the pine in front of the tomb, listening to the wind. Even after thousands of years, may people chorus your name as I do.
There's also a notable reference in the last quartet of characters: 椒花颂声 (jiao hua song sheng). 椒花颂 (jiao hua song) is an article written by a notable female author in the Jin dynasty (during a unified period of ancient Chinese history) that was she gave to her husband as a proof of their love. Later, this term in general also generally denotes 'women of talent'. So, I rendered it as 'may people chorus your name [as a woman of extreme talent] as I do.'
These are the lines that still continue to be repeated whenever Shangguan Wan'er's gravestone epitaph is mentioned. Not to mention the astounding use of literary references and how well these two lines flow, they perfectly convey the commissioner's longing for the tomb's owner, or, as previously mentioned, most likely Princess Taiping's true feelings towards Shangguan Wan'er.
cover of Shangguan Wan'er's gravestone epitaph. Credit: Shanxi Archeological Museum
no subject
Date: 2024-03-31 05:03 pm (UTC)It's just so amazing that we have this piece of her left, in spite of all that happened and imperial sanctioned destruction of records of her 🥺🥹
One thing to note - Airs of Bin, Owl is about an anguished mother bird whose nest has just been robbed of a nestling by an owl (it may have been a metaphor for a political situation, but I prefer appreciating it for what it says for now as I'm unfamiliar with the history at the moment). The 绸缪 that you're thinking of with the husband and wife is probably the one from Airs of Tang, a cute and teasing folk song for the newlyweds. But! The usage of 绸缪 in this case is more likely of the heartfelt and sincere shade of meaning. An example of such a use is from the Three Kingdoms period's《答东阿王书》 '信到 奉所惠貺 发函伸纸 是何文采之巨丽而慰喻之绸繆乎', in which the letter reciever praises the beauty of writer's writing skill and the earnestness of his consolation.
This epithaph was written in the Tang Dynasty 😆 Words have had a loooooong time to develop new connotations.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-31 09:42 pm (UTC)The Shijing is definitely a difficult thing to read and even reading it I find it hard to analyze it from a classic standpoint. I definitely know that one of my weaknesses as a translator is having a very modern perspective of looking at things and I bring modern connotations in with me when looking at classical Chinese and my professors really have had a hard time getting it to stick with me (my fault).
I've seen a lot of people debate this matter literarily and some have tried to use it as proof or whatnot to 'prove' WanPing or whatever. History is complicated and difficult to read as well, especially since in Chinese history the winners write the history books.
With your advice I also took a look at Airs of Tang and I think that you are correct! Chou mou as a term appears in the Shijing in both and I believe the one for 豳风鸱鸮 points more towards the modern term 未雨绸缪 or to plan for the future. I have seen both be argued for 'lovers in bed' connotations though, but of course not all sources are factually correct and there's a lot left up to interpretation since I cannot call myself a master of Classical Chinese yet. It could definitely mean what you said though, and even referencing throughout classical and literary Chinese has not been consistent itself.
Again, as from before, before Shangguan Wan'er's epitaph was found we didn't even know that Princess Taiping had much connection with her. A lot of this comes from picking apart words and different interpretations, which is what makes the process so interesting. And even casting the thing about these two aside, the epitaph itself is extremely interesting.
I'd be happy to discuss constructively in the future as well!
no subject
Date: 2024-04-01 02:20 am (UTC)The 'lovers in bed' reading of the Airs of Tang's 绸缪 is a very modern person's gaze sort of interpretation, as you mentioned. It feels more natural to read 绸缪束薪 as a part of the rites in their wedding ceremony, but... though it's a stretch, I guess technically nothing wrong with interpreting it as a metaphor with sexual connotations too?
How on earth did anyone get that for 鸱鸮's line though, I cannot begin to imagine! Could you share the source for that reading?
But yes!!!! The fun part of fandom is scrutinizing clues as bases for wild theories for our ships. It's cute that this part of the fandom experience is universal.
no subject
Date: 2024-04-02 07:27 am (UTC)The intersection between modern/classical interpretations are actually something I find interesting. I do prefer modern translations and looking at it through a modern lens because I usually prefer being concise. Translating everything classically/according to the grammar particles does feel clunky and I feel like kind of defeats the purpose of modern translation. This is a debate I could go on and on about.
楚辞 I've read a bit on my own time mostly for Qu Yuan like 天问 and stuff but haven't necessarily systematically learned it.
My source for this is actually something from quite long ago (4 years ago that I noted down back then and didn't double check the source) which is completely my fault. It's this bilibili video (around 6:40) about WanPing where they also analyzed the epitaph:
https://www.bilibili.com/video/BV1WT4y1E7Th/?spm_id_from=333.337.search-card.all.click&vd_source=06949c1af2c09006fd6d18e4289925b1
Great video, probably incorrect quote of 绸缪 though. This is a source I've referenced many times over the years (I've watched and followed this channel since as well) and seen many comments talk about it's correctness so I didn't think to double check, which is completely my fault (rip sources)
But yeah, it's definitely fun! I've also seen others take to Shangguan Wan'er's poems to see if anything can be found. It's like both fun and academia that I use to procrastinate haha.
no subject
Date: 2024-04-03 12:15 pm (UTC)Different points of view are awesome!
Wondering if there is a misalignment between our understandings of looking at poetry through a modern lens xD could you maybe point to an example?
Anyway! Speaking of passions - I would like to gently encourage you to try looking into the historical context of words, because there's often a difference in nuance between classical vs. modern meanings of characters.
There's a treasure trove of resources for that in this twitter thread and its replies: https://x.com/yilinwriter/status/1290691834449035264?s=20
The merit of translating by particle, I feel, is in illustrating the rhythm and tones of a poem to a non-Chinese reader (ideally supported by a recording of the poem read aloud or sung). Hmmm I just did something similar recently if you'd like to see? Here. Though people who start with that and leave it there are seriously missing out xD
Oh that's a great video! The intersection of history and fandom makes people especially passionate hahaha. LOVE that. Maybe they went for the more popularly known poem, after all - everyone recognizes the Chengyu derived from it, instead of the thematically relevant one LOL. The examples of 'other literature' from the Yuan and Qing dynasties they picked were also more popular than of chronological relevance (at least 500++ years after Wan'er and Taiping's time!).
Yaaas Wan'er's poetry! I just bookmarked a page with all of them to read later. Just from a quick skim, she wrote so much on scenery. Wonder if it'll be possible to map out the places she's been! Have you come across anyone doing that in your reading? I hope her contemporaries wrote to or about her too (as so many of them have done for each other). That would be the next place to look for clues about her and her life.