Questionnaire on Aesthetic Taste in Tang Poems, i'm a chinese MA student

[catherinezheng]

Hi, nice to meet all of you! i am a MA student in Guangxi University in China, and right now we are carrying out a survey on the translation of Tang Poems, and please take a few minites to fill out the questionnaire and we really appreciate it. Thanks so much!!! and if there is any question about it, pls do not hesitate to contact me : waterymoonlight@yahoo.com,(a better version is in the attachment) hope i make friends with you who are interested in poems of the Tang Dynasty.

A Questionnaire on Aesthetic Taste in Tang Poems

The questionnaire is to make a survey on Aesthetic Taste in Tang Poems and is supposed to supply translators as some reference about the Aesthetic differences between different people so that they can do a better job when translating Tang poems.

(Fill the blanks if you don’t mind, otherwise just leave them blank)

Full Name: Nationality:

Poem One

Version 1

The Steps of Disappointment

The dew forms white upon the marble stair,

Our silken socks are damp ere night outwear.

Returning drop our crystal blinds to see,

The Autumn Moon gleam through them glintingly.

(Tr. by Fletcher, 1918:33)

1. After you read the poem, the first impression you got from it is:

(please use one or two words to describe)

2. Which image in the poem impressed you most: (please choose one)

A. stair B. socks C. dew D. blinds E. Moon

3. In your opinion, the theme of the poem or what the poet wants to express through the poem is:

(please use a couple of words or a short sentence to describe)

4. The following are three other translated versions of the one Tang poem, among the four, the version you like best is:

Version 2

From the Palace

Cold dews of night the terrace crown,

And soak my stockings and my gown;

I’ll step behind

The crystal blind,

And watch the autumn moon sink down.

(Giles, 1898:72)

Version 3

A Sigh from a Staircase of Jade

Her jade-white staircase is cold with dew;

Her silk soles are wet, she lingered there so long……

Behind her closed casement, why is she still waiting,

Watching through its crystal pane the glow of the autumn moon?

(Bynner, 1929:255)

Version 4

Longing on Marble Steps

The marble steps with dew grow white,

It soaks her gauze socks last at night.

She lowers then the crystal screen,

And gazes at the moon, pale and bright.

(Xu Yuanchong, 1988:124)

Poem Two

Version 1

Seasonal Songs (No. 3)

O’er Changan hangs the moon, callous and cold,

For each household, thumping sounds issue forth---

of women washing clothes, dirty and old---

For guards in border defense in the North.

What sentiments do autumn winds arouse?

Love beyond the Yumen Pass for their spouse.

Would these border warse’er come to a close,

When they’d return home to peace-time repose?

(Xu Zhongjie, 1990:87)

1. After you read the poem, the first impression you got from it is:

(please use one or two words to describe)

2. Which image in the poem impressed you most: (please choose one)

A. moon B. autumn winds C. Yumen Pass D. wars E. spouse

3. In your opinion, the theme of the poem or what the poet wants to express through the poem is:

(please use a couple of words or a short sentence to describe)

4. The following are three other translated versions of the one Tang poem, among the four, the version you like best is:

Version 2

Our homely Moon is quiet wanes away.

Around me dully thuds the washing bar:

Nor drops the Wind long Autumn from its wings.

While all my heart is at the frontier far.

Ah! When will all our foes be beaten back,

And my dear husband finish distant war?

(Fletcher, 1918:

Version 3

Autumn

Moonlight is spread all o’er the capital,

The sound of beating clothes far and near

Is brought by autumn wind which can’t blow all

The longings away for far-off frontier.

When can we vanquish the barbarian foe

So that our men no longer into battle go?

(Xu Yuanchong, 1988:130)

Version 4

Ziye Song

Chang’an---one slip of moon;

in the thousand houses, the sound of falling mallets.

Autumn winds keep on blowing,

all things make me think of Jade Pass!

When will they put down the barbarians

and my good man come home from his far campaign?

(Burton Watson ref. Wen Shu, 1989:88)

Poem Three

Version 1

Drinking Alone under the Moon

Amid the flowers, from a pot of wine

I drink alone beneath the bright moonshine,

I raise my cup to invite the Moon who blends

Her light with my Shadow and we’re three friends.

The Moon does not know how to drink her share;

In vain my shadow follows me here and there.

Together with them for the time I stay

And make merry before spring’s spent away.

I sing and the Moon lingers to hear my song;

My Shadow’s a mess while I dance along.

Sober, we three remain cheerful and gay;

Drunken, we part and each may go his way.

Our friendship will outshine all earthly love,

Next time we’ll meet beyond the stars above.

(X. Y. Z. 1988:108)

1. After you read the poem, the first impression you got from it is:

(please use one or two words to describe)

2. Which image in the poem impressed you most: (please choose one)

A. flowers B. wine C. moon D. shadow E. drink alone F. sing G. dance

3. In your opinion, the theme of the poem or what the poet wants to express through the poem is:

(please use a couple of words or a short sentence to describe)

4. The following are three other translated versions of the one Tang poem, among the four, the version you like best is:

Version 2

Drinking Alone under the Moon

A jug of wind amidst the flowers:

Drinking alone, with no friend near.

Raising my cup, I beckon the bright moon:

My shadow included, we’re a party of three.

Although the moon’s unused to drinking

And the shadow only apes my every move

For the moment I’ll just take them as they are,

Enjoying spring when spring is here.

Reeling shadow, swaying moon

Attend my dance and song.

Still sober, we rejoice together;

Drunk, each takes his leave.

To seal forever such unfettered friendship.

Let’s rendezvous beyond the Milky Way.

(Zhang Tingchen & Wei Bosi, 1991:59)

Version 3

Drinking Alone by Moonlight

A cup of wine, under the flowering trees;

I drink alone, for no friend is near.

Raising my cup I beckon the bright moon,

For he, with my shadow, will make three men.

The moon, alas, is no drinker of wine;

Listless, my shadow creeps about at my side.

Yet with the moon as friend and the shadow as slave

I must make merry before the Spring is spent.

To the songs I sing the moon flickers her beams;

In the dance I weave my shadow tangles and breaks.

While we were sober, three shared the fun;

Now we are drunk, each goes his way.

May we long share our odd, inanimate feast,

And meet at last on the Cloudy River of the sky.

(Arthur Waley, ref. Lǚ Shuxiang, 2002:125)

Version 4

We Three

One pot of wine amid the Flowers

Alone I pour, and none with me.

The cup I lift; the Moon invite;

Who with my shadow makes us three.

The moon then drinks without a pause.

The shadow does what I begin.

The shadow, Moon and I in fere

Rejoice until the spring come in.

I sing: and wavers time the moon.

I dance: the shadow antics too.

Our joys we share while sober still.

When drunk, we part and bid adieu.

Of loveless outing this the pact,

Which we all swear to keep for aye.

The next time that we meet shall be

Beside you distant milky way.

(W.J.B Fletcher, ref, Lǚ Shuxiang, 2002)

Poem Four

Version 1

Meditation in a Quiet Night

The moon shine brightly

In front of my bed.

It was frost on the ground

I thought and said.

I gaze at the bright moon,

Raising my head.

I miss my native place

When I bend my head.

(Tang Yihe, 2005:183)

1. After you read the poem, the first impression you got from it is:

(please use one or two words to describe)

2. Which image in the poem impressed you most: (please choose one)

A. bed B. frost C. bright moon D. native place

3. In your opinion, the theme of the poem or what the poet wants to express through the poem is:

(please use a couple of words or a short sentence to describe)

4. The following are three other translated versions of the one Tang poem, among the four, the version you like best is:

Version 2

A Tranquil Night

Before my bed a pool of light,

Is it hoarfrost upon the ground?

Eyes raised, I see the moon so bright;

Head bent, in homesickness I’m drowned.

(X. Y. Z. 1988:125)

Version 3

Night Thoughts

I wake, and moonbeams play around my bed,

Glittering like hoarfrost to my wondering eyes;

Up towards the glorious moon I raise my head,

Then lay me down, and thoughts of home raise.

(Giles, 1898:60)

Version 4

Still Night’s Muse

Afront the bed the Luna beams bright,

Wearing a look of seemingly rime white.

Eyes upcast toward the Luna,

Eye downcast, engenders my nostalgia.

(Huang Long, ref. Zhou Fangzhu, 2004:299)

The End!

Thank You So Much !!!

english questionnaire1.doc