Florence Ayscough and Amy Lowell, trans.

From “Chinese Written Wall Pictures”

Wen Cheng-ming—Sixteenth Century

LIKE a saint he comes,

The Most Noble.

In his lacquered state chariot

He awes the hundred living things.

He is clouded with the purple smoke of incense,

A round umbrella

Protects the Son of Heaven.

Exquisite is the beauty

Of the two-edged swords,

Of the chariots,

Of the star-embroidered shoes of the attendants.

The Sun and Moon fans are borne before him,

And he is preceded by sharp spears

And the blowing brightness of innumerable flags.

The spring wind proclaims the Emperor’s return,

Binding the ten thousand districts together

In a chorded harmony of Peace and Satisfaction,

So that the white-haired old men and the multitudes rejoice,

And I also wish to add the tribute of my secret writings.