國殤 Hymn to the Fallen

This famous Hymn was dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the Kingdom of Chu,  written during late Warring state period 300 BC-221 BC.  

One of the verse in this ancient hymn mentioned the famous Chu long swords !

Warfare at the Warring state period was on chariots drawn by four horses and on foot. This hymn was one of the most vivid description of the warfare in the Warring state period.

Translated by David Hawkes, who says this 

‘is surely one of the most beautiful laments 

for fallen soldiers in any language.’

國殤  HYMN TO THE FALLEN 

操吳戈兮被犀甲， 車錯轂兮短兵接。

Grasping our great shields and wearing our hide armor
Wheel-hub to wheel-hub locked, we battle hand to hand.

旌蔽日兮敵若雲， 矢交墜兮士爭先。

Our banners darken the sky; the enemy teem like clouds:
Through the hail of arrows the warriors press forward.

凌餘陣兮躐餘行， 左驂殪兮右刃傷。

They dash on our lines; they trample our ranks down.
The left horse has fallen, the right one is wounded.

霾兩輪兮縶四馬， 援玉枹兮擊鳴鼓。

The wheels are embedded, the foursome entangled:
Seize the jade drumstick and beat the sounding drum!

天時懟兮威靈怒， 嚴殺盡兮棄原野。
The time is against us: the gods are angry.
Now all lie dead, left on the field of battle.

出不入兮往不反， 平原忽兮路超遠。

They went out never more to return:
Far, far away they lie, on the level plain,

帶長劍兮挾秦弓， 首身離兮心不懲。
Their long swords at their belts, clasping their Qin bows,
Head from body sundered: but their hearts could not be vanquished.

誠既勇兮又以武， 終剛強兮不可凌。

Both truly brave and also truly noble;
Strong to the last, they could not be dishonored.

身既死兮神以靈， 魂魄毅兮爲鬼雄。
Their bodies may have died, but their souls are living:
Heroes among the shades their valiant souls will be.

LK Chen dedicated his most power sword,  the Striking Eagle,

in memory of the fallen warriors.  

誠既勇兮又以武， 終剛強兮不可凌。

Both truly brave and also truly noble; 

Strong to the last, they could not be dishonored.

Striking Eagle is in solemn black and white, the color of mourning.

駟玉虬以乘鷖兮，溘埃風余上征。

Swift jade-green dragons, birds with plumage gold,
I harnessed to the whirlwind, and behold,

朝發軔於蒼梧兮，夕余至乎縣圃；
At daybreak from the land of plane-trees grey,
I came to paradise ere close of day.

欲少留此靈瑣兮，日忽忽其將暮。
I wished within the sacred brove to rest,
But now the sun was sinking in the west;

吾令羲和弭節兮，望崦嵫而勿迫。
The driver of the sun I bade to stay,
Ere with the setting rays we haste away.

路曼曼其脩遠兮，吾將上下而求索。
The way was long, and wrapped in gloom did seem,
As I urged on to seek my vanished dream.

飲余馬於咸池兮，總余轡乎扶桑。

The dragons quenched their thirst beside the lake
Where bathed the sun, whilst I upon the brake

折若木以拂日兮，聊逍遙以相羊。
Fastened my reins; a golden bough I sought
To brush the sun, and tarred there in sport.

前望舒使先驅兮，後飛廉使奔屬。
The pale moon's charioteer I then bade lead,
The master of the winds swiftly succeed;

鸞皇為余先戒兮，雷師告余以未具。
Before, the royal blue bird cleared the way;
The lord of thunder urged me to delay.

吾令鳳鳥飛騰兮，繼之以日夜。
I bade the phoenix scan the heaven wide;
But vainly day and night its course it tried;

飄風屯其相離兮，帥雲霓而來御。
The gathering whirlwinds drove it from my sight,
Rushing with lowering clouds to check my flight;

紛緫緫其離合兮，斑陸離其上下。
Sifting and merging in the firmament,
Above, below, in various hues they went.