A Large Pearl 1
Li, Yu 2 (937-978 CE)
Just after applying her evening makeup, she lightly sprays sandalwood perfume
around her boudoir. Turning toward me, she slightly reveals the tip of her
fragrant tongue. One refreshing song leads to the breaking of a cherry
3.
Her tall glass is soon filled with mellow wine. Her silk sleeves, stained by
wine, are red and lovely. Reclining on her embroidered bed, she is charming and
coquettish. Nibbling the red velvet trim, her pink tongue casts it out as she
smiles at Mr. Tan 4.
1
This poem was written for Elder Queen Zhou, whose first name was E-huang.
She was one year older than King Li and married him when she was nineteen. She
was beautiful, talented, and good at singing and dancing. Indeed, she was a
versatile artist. Once she asked for paper and immediately composed the melody
"Come, Intoxication, Let Us Dance to Exhaustion!". She died at the age of
twenty-nine.
2
Cong-jia was Last King Li's original first name. After he inherited the
throne, he changed his first name to Yu. He also used Chong-guang as his first
name. He had a noble face, broad brow, and plump cheeks. Two of his front teeth
were joined. One of his eyes had two pupils. He loved calligraphy, painting, and
poetry. He published many books. Music was his expertise. In 960 CE, he was
established as the crown prince. Soon after he inherited the throne at Jin-ling
City (present day Nanjing). He became king at the age of twenty-five. At that
time his kingdom, Southern Tang, switched to the calendar of the Song dynasty.
Last King Li frequently sent envoys to pay tribute to Emperor Tai-zu of the Song
dynasty so that his kingdom could survive for a short while. In 970 CE, Emperor
Tai-zu destroyed the Kingdom of Southern Han. Last King Li started to worry that
his kingdom would be the next to be destroyed. In 974 CE, Emperor Tai-zu
summoned Li to the capital twice. Both times Li excused himself by claiming that
he was sick. Consequently, Emperor Tai-zu ordered General Bin Cao and General
Mei Pan to lead troops in attack on Jin-ling City by land and by water. Because
Li's general, Ruo-shan Fan, betrayed Li, Jin-ling City was captured by Song's
troops the following year. Last King Li bared his back to accept punishment and
surrendered at the enemy's camp. Emperor Tai-zu ordered Li to wear white clothes
and a crepe hat (a mourning costume), to stand beneath Ming-de (brighten virtue)
Tower, and to wait for his punishment. Li was given the title "the Disobeying
Marquis". After Emperor Tai-zu's son, Tai-zong, became emperor, he gave Li the
title "the Duke of the State of Long". The officials of the Song dynasty
constantly harassed him with freezing irony and burning satire. Li's life was
made miserable. He once wrote to his previous staff in Jin-ling City, "I wash my
face with tears day and night." His longing for his home country made his poems
more and more elaborate and profound. Many of his poems were highly praised by
later generations. In 978 CE, on July 7th, his birthday, Last King Li held a
party in his mansion and ordered his previous courtesans to entertain. The noise
of the party could be heard from far away. After Emperor Tai-zong read Li's
line, "It is unbearable to recall my old kingdom under this bright moon", he
suspected that Li planned to restore his kingdom. In addition, he was angry at
Li's exuberance. Therefore, he ordered the King of the State of Chu, Yuan-zuo,
to bring wine to Li's mansion to cerebrate. After the wine was finished, Li died
from poison. When the news of his death reached the area south of the Yangtze
River, many of the elders wept on the streets.
3
A cherry is used to convey that a woman's mouth is small, pretty, red, and
moist.
4
Mr. Tan refers to An Pan, a famous poet in the Jin dynasty. Tan-nu was his
alternate first name. He was handsome. Women of later generations called their
lovers Mr. Tan. Here Mr. Tan refers to the king, Yu Li.
