Asking, in the Mountains: Fire
by Xiang Yixian
trs. by Sophia Kidd & Chen Xiaoyuan
1
Mr. Su Men1
Ji Kang climbs the mountain looking for you
for twelve seasons
a thousand evenings
soaking up springs for you
driving out tigers and leopards
polishing every
stone
to outshine the moon
time flies
now frost returns
2
Sun Deng looks into
a jade sunset
bends his right index finger
between lips and teeth
forming a valley
of sound
from the lobes
of his lungs
he pulls a clear stream of tone
whistles at rose-colored clouds
whistles to a faint and muddled age
when everything is dead
I arise a phoenix screaming
3
Mr. Su Men
for three years
you’ve not given me one word
if only
you’d give me just one word
I’d be content
could it be
that sonorous and pure song
that quivering and projected whistle
is your only way to
speak with me or
with the world?
4
Sun Deng2 hones in
his straying thought
gaze rests on Ji Kang
on a haggard and starved visage
focused and unfamiliar
as if never met
with the strength of insight
the invisible knife of scrutiny
with its silent edge
to polish all forms
5
thorns
for the first time Ji Kang feels
that no heart is too strong
to pierce
autumn’s evening its frigid cold
mountain as a lost world
silver plated with insect sounds
fallen woods desolate
Ji Kang turns
to decide
6
He slings the qin zither onto his back
as three years past on coming here
he knows there is a unique
single stringed zither
that can perform all impermanence
Ji claps his hands to his face
sullen as stone
the scholar who never shed tears
now soaks the stones beneath him
7
Sun Deng once again lifts his hand
Ji Kang knows
what will happen next
he even sees
the rising
swell
but now
he hears
the single word
8
obscure autumn ravine
splitting stone and shredding silk
fire!
9
Ji Kang and Sun Deng, stand
like two verdured peaks
two swords
two dead trees
two children
two gods
and
two fires.
10
dear Shuye3
have you ever seen fire?
tonight, we bid farewell
and will never meet again
I have nothing to give you
Shuye
fire is the only
lasting treasure
lives of verdant trees
are short and hasty
11
time and days shine mountains
are like ocean waves going up and down
Ji Kang is overwhelmed
by the fire
lit by three years of his youth
ah yes
I have to re-identify
this leaping hot flower
wood stones paper silk metal
shadows soul constellation
the fire of the body
12
darkness holds seeds
ashes sow light
fire of burnt enlightenment is so beautiful
flint and chisel carving out poems
just at this moment
transcending the ages
a pealing of phoenix cry
from the top
pours down like melting gold
mountains and valleys echo
and on a frosted morn
the eyes of Ji Kang
catch on fire
______________________
1 Mr. Su Men, i.e. Sun Deng. Su Men Mountain is where Sun Deng lived.
2 Shuye, Ji Kang’s courtesy name (or zi) a name traditionally given to Chinese men when they came of age. The practice is no longer common in modern Chinese society.
3 Sun Deng, a famous recluse of Wei and Jin Dynasties, lived in Su Men Mountain. He liked to play the one-stringed zither. He was reserved and good at whistling. Book of Jin, volume 94, says, Ji Kang (courtesy name, Shuye) travelled with Sun Deng for three years. Whenever he asked Sun Deng what he aspired to in a lifetime, Sun Deng never replied, which made Ji Kang groan. When Ji Kang had to bid farewell, he asked, “Master, is there anything you want to say to me?” Sun Deng said, “Have you ever seen fire? Fire naturally brings light but never makes use of its own light, which in fact makes it the most useful. If a person is born with talents and he never shows them off, this is in fact the best use of his talents. Therefore, the purpose of having light is to collect wood, which can feed the fire; the purpose of having talents is to see the truth, the truth of living a long life. At present, you are talented but imprudent. I’m afraid you will not be able to avoid the misfortunes in such times. Aren’t you trying to do something?” Kang didn’t listen to Sun Deng’s advice and was finally sentenced to execution by a jealous rival.