by Li Bai (Tang Dynasty)
Ah! Alas! How perilous, how towering!
The road to Shu is harder than scaling the blue sky!
Silkworm Cong and Fish Hawk – those ancient kings –
Founded their realm in such utter mystery!
For forty-eight thousand years,
No traveler crossed between Shu and Qin.
To the west of Taibai Mountain lies a bird’s path –
Only birds can fly across the peak of Emei.
Mountains shattered, cliffs collapsed – heroes died –
Only then were sky-ladders and stone bridges linked together.
Above, peaks so high they turn back the sun’s six dragons;
Below, rivers churn with furious, twisting currents.
Even the yellow crane cannot fly over;
Gibbons despair at the thought of climbing.
How coiled is Green Mud Ridge!
In a hundred steps, nine turns wind around the cliffs.
You brush past star constellations – Shen and Jing –
Gasping for breath, hand on chest, sitting down to sigh.
I ask you, traveler heading west:
“When will you return?” That fearsome path – its jagged crags are unscalable!
You’ll only see sorrowful birds crying in ancient trees,
Males flying ahead, females following through the woods.
And at night beneath the moon, you’ll hear the cuckoo’s call –
Its mournful cry fills the empty mountains with grief.
The road to Shu is harder than scaling the blue sky –
Just hearing of it makes rosy faces fade!
Peaks rise within a foot of heaven;
Withered pines hang upside down from sheer cliffs.
Torrents and waterfalls roar in deafening competition;
Boulders crash against cliffs – ten thousand valleys thunder.
If such is its danger,
Oh traveler from afar – why do you come here?
Jian Pass stands tall and steep –
One man can guard it; ten thousand cannot force it open.
But if the garrison isn’t loyal,
They turn into wolves and jackals.
At dawn, flee the man-eating tigers;
At dusk, avoid the giant serpents –
Fangs grinding, blood-sucking,
Killing as easily as weaving hemp.
Though Brocade City may promise joy,
Better to turn home early!
The road to Shu is harder than scaling the blue sky –
I gaze westward and heave endless sighs!
Note
Brocade City refers to Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan province. See also Joyful Rain on a Spring Night.
《蜀道难》唐·李白
噫吁嚱，危乎高哉！蜀道之难，难于上青天！蚕丛及鱼凫，开国何茫然！尔来四万八千岁，不与秦塞通人烟。西当太白有鸟道，可以横绝峨眉巅。地崩山摧壮士死，然后天梯石栈相钩连。上有六龙回日之高标，下有冲波逆折之回川。黄鹤之飞尚不得过，猿猱欲度愁攀援。青泥何盘盘，百步九折萦岩峦。扪参历井仰胁息，以手抚膺坐长叹。问君西游何时还？畏途巉岩不可攀。但见悲鸟号古木，雄飞雌从绕林间。又闻子规啼夜月，愁空山。蜀道之难，难于上青天，使人听此凋朱颜！连峰去天不盈尺，枯松倒挂倚绝壁。飞湍瀑流争喧豗，砯崖转石万壑雷。其险也如此，嗟尔远道之人胡为乎来哉！剑阁峥嵘而崔嵬，一夫当关，万夫莫开。所守或匪亲，化为狼与豺。朝避猛虎，夕避长蛇；磨牙吮血，杀人如麻。锦城虽云乐，不如早还家。蜀道之难，难于上青天，侧身西望长咨嗟！
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