秋瑾 Qiu1 Jin3 (1875-1907)

Qiu Jin is often regarded as a poet, essayist, feminist, and revolutionary martyr in the Late Qing dynasty. In her youth, Qiu Jin was fascinated with the stories of knights-errant and woman-warriors. When growing up, she learned equitation and martial arts and was known for her mastery of both. A woman full of extraordinary intellectual and revolutionary vigor, she participated in anti-Manchu activities while continuously writing poems in both shi and ci styles. This poem is among many of her poems that express her feminist character and revolutionary sentiment.

滿江紅 (Man3 jiang1 hong2)

Write to the Tune of man3 jiang1 hong2

小住京華， (xiao3 zhu4 jing1 hua2)

A short stay in the capital,

早又是中秋佳節。(zao3 you4 shi4 zhong1 qiu1 jia1 jie2)

So soon again the fine Mid-autumn festival.

為籬下黃花開遍，(wei4 li2 xia4 huang2 hua1 kai1 bian4)

There beneath the fence

Yellow flowers are all in bloom,

秋容如拭 。(qiu1 rong2 ru2 shi4)

Their autumn looks seem cleansed.

四面歌殘終破楚，(si4 mian4 ge1 can2 zhong1 po4 chu3)

Fragments of songs all round finally shattered Chu.

八年風味徒思浙。(ba1 nian2 feng1 wei4 tu2 si1 zhe4)

Eight years of tastes and flavors: in vain I’ve longed for Zhe.

苦將儂強派作蛾眉， (ku3 jiang1 nong2 qiang2 pai4 zuo4 e2 mei2)

How cruel to have been forced to be a lady,

殊未屑！(shu1 wei4 xue4)

Really, never a shred of mercy!

身不得，男兒列，(shen1 bu4 de2, nan2 er2 lie4)

I cannot get into

The rank of men.

心卻比，男兒烈！(xin1 que4 bi3, nan2 re2 lie4)

But my heart burns

More fiercely than a man’s

算平生肝膽，不因人熱。 (suan4 ping2 sheng1 gan1 dan3, bu4 yin1 ren2 shou2)

Let me say that in my life

My spleen has often been aroused to fury for others’ sake.

俗子胸襟誰識我？(su2 zi3 xiong1 jin1 shei2 shi4 wo3)

What vulgar man could ever know me?

英雄末路當折磨。(ying1 xiong2 mo4 lu4 dang1 zhe2 mo2)

Heroes confront ordeals at the end of the road.

莽紅塵，何處覓知音？(zang4 hong2 chen2, he2 chu4 mi4 zhi1 yin1)

In this dirty world of red dust,

Where can I seek an understanding friend?

青衫濕！(qing1 shan1 si1)

My green robe is soaked with tears.