Tao Yuanming’s “Go Back to My Old Home”

歸去來兮！田園將蕪胡不歸？既自以心為形役，奚惆悵而獨悲？悟已往之不諫，知 來者之可追；實迷途其未遠，覺今是而昨非。舟搖搖以輕揚，風飄飄而吹衣。問征 夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。乃瞻衡宇，載欣載奔。童僕歡迎，稚子候門。三徑就荒， 松菊猶存。攜幼入室，有酒盈樽。引壺觴以自酌，眇庭柯以怡顏。倚南窗以寄傲， 審容膝之易安。園日涉以成趣，門雖設而常關。策扶老以流憩，時翹首而遐觀。雲 無心以出岫，鳥倦飛而知還。景翳翳以將入，撫孤松而盤桓。歸去來兮，請息交以 絕游。世與我而相違，復駕言兮焉求？悅親戚之情話，樂琴書以消憂。農人告余以 春及，將有事乎西疇。或命巾車，或棹孤舟。既窈窕以尋壑，亦崎嶇而經丘。木欣 欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流。羡萬物之得時，感吾生之行休。已矣乎！寓形宇內復幾 時？何不委心任去留？胡為惶惶欲何之？富貴非吾願，帝鄉不可期。懷良辰以孤往， 或植杖而耘耔。登東皋以舒嘯，臨清流而賦詩。聊乘化以歸盡，樂夫天命復奚疑。

歸去來兮！田園將蕪胡不歸？

Note: English translation is provided for the convenience of bilingual readers whose mother tongue is not Chinese.

Go back to my old home! My fields and gardens will turn into a wasteland soon! Why don’t I go home?

既自以心為形役，奚惆悵而獨悲？

Didn’t I intend to serve my body with all my heart? Why regret now and feel sad alone?

悟已往之不諫，知來者之可追。

Learn from my past mistakes. It is still time to change the direction before it is too late.

實迷途其未遠，覺今是而昨非。

Actually, I have not gone astray very far. I feel that I am making the right decision now as I made a wrong one in the past.

舟搖搖以輕揚，風飄飄而吹衣。

The boat floats forward swiftly; The wind blows my clothes gently.

問征夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。

“What road lies ahead?” I ask a wayfarer. I wish the light at dawn could be a little brighter.

乃瞻衡宇，載欣載奔。

Suddenly, my humble house is in sight; I run in a hurry with great delight.

童僕歡迎，稚子候門。

My young servants come out to greet me. My young children stand at the door waiting for me.

三徑就荒，松菊猶存。

Weeds are all over the garden paths. Pines and chrysanthemums are unscathed.

攜幼入室，有酒盈樽。

I hold my youngest one and walk inside. I see a jar on the table filled with wine.

引壺觴以自酌，眇庭柯以怡顏。

I fill the cup and drink the wine; I casually look at the tree in the courtyard with a smile.

倚南窗以寄傲，審容膝之易安。

Leaning against the southern window, I feel a sense of pride, I am content with this cozy place that will bring peace to my mind.

園日涉以成趣，門雖設而常關。

I enjoy my daily walk in the garden. Although there is a door, it is usually not open.

策扶老以流憩，時翹首而遐觀。

Carrying a cane, I wander or rest anytime I like. Occasionally I raise my head to look into the horizon or the sky.

雲無心以出岫，鳥倦飛而知還。

Clouds drift freely and leisurely beyond the mountain. When tired, birds know that it is time to return.

景翳翳以將入，撫孤松而盤桓。

The sun gets dimmer as it sets at twilight. I linger around and gently touch a lone pine.

歸去來兮，請息交以絕游。

Go back to my old home? Stop traveling; stop socializing with those who sing a different tune!

世與我而相違，復駕言兮焉求？

I am at odd with this mundane world. No longer I need to ride in a carriage just to show I am a person of worth.

悅親戚之情話，樂琴書以消憂。

Heart-to-heart talks with my kin bring me joy every day. Reading or playing my harp can keep my worries away.

農人告余以春及，將有事乎西疇。

When farmers tell me that spring has arrived, It is time to get ready for farming by the western side.

或命巾車，或棹孤舟。

I may choose to ride on a covered cart, or row a small boat on the water.

既窈窕以尋壑，亦崎嶇而經丘。

I can walk through the winding paths to explore a deep valley. Or walk over a road that is rugged and hilly.

木欣欣以向榮，泉涓涓而始流。

Trees grow vigorously; Spring water trickles sluggishly.

羡萬物之得時，感吾生之行休。

I envy that all living things flourish at the right time. It saddens me to know that my life can come to an end anytime.

已矣乎！寓形宇內復幾時？

That’s enough! How long do I remain part of the universe?

何不委心任去留？胡為惶惶欲何之？

Why not just take it easy and enjoy my inner peace? Why put myself in a constant state of anxiety?

富貴非吾願，帝鄉不可期。

It is not my goal to seek wealth and power in life. Nor it is my dream to search for something like a paradise.

懷良辰以孤往，或植杖而耘耔。

On a fine day, I will go out alone and wander around. Or, after planting my cane, I will pull out the weeds on the ground.

登東皋以舒嘯，臨清流而賦詩。

I can shout aloud on the mount beside the eastern marsh. I can also compose a poem by a stream with clear water.

聊乘化以歸盡，樂夫天命復奚疑。

So let me content to live the rest of my life. I will accept Heaven’s will without doubt in my mind.

归去来兮！田园将芜胡不归？既自以心为形役，奚惆怅而独悲？悟已往之不谏，知 来者之可追；实迷途其未远，觉今是而昨非。舟摇摇以轻扬，风飘飘而吹衣。问征 夫以前路，恨晨光之熹微。乃瞻衡宇，载欣载奔。童仆欢迎，稚子候门。三径就荒， 松菊犹存。携幼入室，有酒盈樽。引壶觞以自酌，眇庭柯以怡颜。倚南窗以寄傲， 审容膝之易安。园日涉以成趣，门虽设而常关。策扶老以流憩，时翘首而遐观。云 无心以出岫，鸟倦飞而知还。景翳翳以将入，抚孤松而盘桓。归去来兮，请息交以 绝游。世与我而相違，复驾言兮焉求？悦亲戚之情话，乐琴书以消忧。农人告余以 春及，将有事乎西畴。或命巾车，或棹孤舟。既窈窕以寻壑，亦崎岖而经丘。木欣 欣以向荣，泉涓涓而始流。羡万物之得时，感吾生之行休。已矣乎！寓形宇内复几 时？何不委心任去留？胡为惶惶欲何之？富贵非吾愿，帝乡不可期。怀良辰以孤往， 或植杖而耘耔。登东皋以舒啸，临清流而赋诗。聊乘化以归尽，乐夫天命复奚疑。

Go Back to my Old Home! Tao Yuanming Translated by E. C. Chang Go back to my old home! My fields and gardens will turn into a wasteland soon! Why don’t I go home? Didn’t I intend to serve my body with all my heart? Why regret now and feel sad alone? Learn from my past mistakes. It is still time to change the direction before it is too late. Actually, I have not gone astray very far. I feel that I am making the right decision now as I made a wrong one in the past. The boat floats forward swiftly; The wind blows my clothes gently. “What road lies ahead?” I ask a wayfarer. I wish the light at dawn could be a little brighter.

Suddenly, my humble house is in sight; I run in a hurry with great delight. My young servants come out to greet me. My young children stand at the door waiting for me. Weeds are all over the garden paths. Pines and chrysanthemums are unscathed. I hold my youngest one and walk inside. I see a jar on the table filled with wine. I fill the cup and drink the wine; I casually look at the tree in the courtyard with a smile. Leaning against the southern window, I feel a sense of pride, I am content with this cozy place that will bring peace to my mind. I enjoy my daily walk in the garden. Although there is a door, it is usually not open. Carrying a cane, I wander or rest anytime I like. Occasionally I raise my head to look into the horizon or the sky.

Clouds drift freely and leisurely beyond the mountain. When tired, birds know that it is time to return. The sun gets dimmer at it sets at twilight. I linger around and gently touch a lone pine. Go back to my old home? Stop traveling; stop socializing with others who sing a different tune. I am at odd with this mundane world. No longer do I need to ride in a carriage just to show I am a person of worth. Heart-to-heart talks with my kin bring me joy every day. Reading or playing my harp can keep my worries away. When farmers tell me that spring has arrived, It is time to get ready for farming by the western side. I may choose to ride on a covered cart; or row a small boat on the water. I can walk through the winding paths to explore a deep valley. Or walk over a road that is rugged and hilly.

Trees grow vigorously; Spring water trickles sluggishly. I envy that all living things flourish at the right time. It saddens me to know that my life can come to an end anytime. That’s enough! How long do I remain part of the universe? Why not just take it easy and learn to enjoy my inner peace? Why put myself in a constant state of anxiety? It is not my goal to seek wealth and power in life. Nor it is my dream to search for something like a paradise. On a fine day, I will go out alone and wander around. Or, after planting my cane, I will pull out the weeds on the ground. I can shout aloud on the mount beside the eastern marsh. I can also compose a poem by a stream with clear water. So let me content to live the rest of my life. I will accept Heaven’s will without doubt in my mind.

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