f u P oe t ry : an anC i e n t-s t y l e r Ha P s oDy 81
notes
- In the Zhou period, various states were designated as “defensive barriers” of the Zhou king-
dom. Qi was the defensive barrier in the east.
- The modern romanizations of the verse part of this poem were added by the editor.
- Sushen was a non-Chinese state probably located on the Liaodong Peninsula.
- This line refers to the king of Qi’s hunts in Qingqiu, a foreign kingdom located in either the
China Sea or Korea.
- Cangwu refers to Jiuyi Mountain, located in modern Hunan. This is the traditional location
of the burial place of the legendary emperor Shun. However, this direction is to the south, rather
than the east, of Shanglin Park. Thus some scholars have speculated that an artificial mountain
named Cangwu was constructed in the eastern limits of the park.
- Western Limits is the name for the western terminus of the Han empire. A river named Bin
flowed through this area, and it is possible that Shanglin Park had a replica of it.
- The Cinnabar River probably flowed to the south of Shanglin Park.
- Purple Gulf should be the name of a river located to the north of the park; however, the exact
location of this river is not certain.
- Lines 32–34: the Ba, Chan, Jing, Wei, Feng, Hao, Lao, and Jue are rivers that flowed from the
southern part of the park north to the Wei River.
- Jiuzong Mountain is located about thirty miles northwest of Chang’an.
- The Southern Mountains are the Zhongnan Mountains, located directly south of Chang’an.
- Wo Quan is the name of an immortal.
- Lines 354–358: the Stone Gateway, Great Peak Tower, Jaybird Tower, Dewy Chill Lodge, and
Pear Palace were all in the Sweet Springs Palace, located about seventy-five miles northwest of
Chang’an.
- Befitting Spring was located in the eastern part of the imperial park.
- Lines 360–363: Xuanqu Palace was located near Kunming Pond, which was an artificial
lake in the park just to the west of Chang’an. Oxhead Lake and Dragon Terrace were located in
the western part of the park. Lithe Willows was a viewing tower located to the south of Kunming
Pond.
- “Wildcat’s Head” and “Zouyu” were two musical pieces that were played for the archery
performance of the emperor and vassal lords, respectively.
- “Black Crane” is the name of a dance composition reputedly composed by the ancient sage-
ruler Shun.
- “Shield and Axe” was an ancient military dance.
- “Cutting Sandalwood” is a poem in the Book of Poetry that is traditionally interpreted as
criticizing greedy, incompetent officials who deprived worthy men of their rightful positions.
- “Rejoicing All” is a phrase from a poem in the Book of Poetry that describes the vassal lords
coming to court to receive favors from the ruler.
- Xiao Tong, comp., Wen xuan, or Selections of Refined Literature, vol. 1, Rhapsodies on Metropo-
lises and Capitals, trans. David R. Knechtges (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1982),
207, with minor changes.
- E. M. W. Tillyard, The English Epic and Its Background (New York: Oxford University Press,
1966), 6–8.
- Liu Xie, Wenxin diaolong (The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons) (Sibu beiyao ed.),
2.14b.
- Quoted in Ban Gu, Han shu (History of the Han Dynasty) (Beijing: Zhonghua shuju, 1962),
87B.3575.
- Quoted in Xijing zaji (Miscellaneous Notes on the Western Capital) (Sibu congkan ed.), 2.4a.
- Liu Xie, Wenxin diaolong 8.4a.
