14

Meng Hao-jan (689–740) wrote this poem for a friend who was leaving to seek his fortune (and, no doubt, an official post) in the capital of Ch’ang-an, which was situated in the middle of what was once the ancient state of Ch’in and which retained that state’s name. Wuling was the name of a group of imperial grave mounds northwest of Ch’ang-an. As royalty and the rich maintained estates there, the name came to stand for the capital’s elite as well as for the capital itself. No member of the gentry would consider himself properly attired at court without a sword, but the sword Meng gives his friend is of a different sort and more valuable, because it can cut through duplicity. In the background here are references to Wu Tzu-hsu (fifth century B.C.), who gave his sword to a fisherman for saving his life and said, “This sword is engraved with the seven stars of the Big Dipper and worth a ton of gold” (Yulan: 74), and to Chi Cha, who left on a mission and stopped to see his friend Hsu Chun. Chi was aware that Hsu secretly admired his sword, but he needed it for his mission. When he returned and learned that Hsu had died, he removed his sword and hung it on a tree beside Hsu’s grave. (Shihchi)

Seeing Off Chu Ta Leaving for Ch’in

MENG HAO-JAN

For an unemployed gentleman bound for Wuling

a first-rate sword is worth a ton of gold

I remove this in parting and give it to you

a simple piece of my heart