Kublai Khan - Poetry

Poetry

Kublai was well versed in Chinese poetry but most of his works have not survived. Only one Chinese poem written by him is included in the Selection of Yuan Poetry (元诗选). It is titled 'Inspiration recorded while enjoying the ascent to Spring Mountain'. It was translated into Mongolian by the Inner Mongolian scholar B.Buyan in the same style as classical Mongolian poetry and transcribed into Cyrillic by Ya.Ganbaatar. It is said that once in spring Kublai Khan went to worship at a Buddhist temple at the Yiheyuan Garden in western Dadu (Beijing) and on his way back ascended the Wanshou Shan (万寿山 - Longevity Hill, Tumen Nast Uul in Mongolian) where he was filled with inspiration and wrote this poem.

Inspiration recorded while enjoying the ascent to Spring Mountain (陟玩春山纪兴)

时膺韶景陟兰峰 Shí yīng sháo jǐng zhì lán fēng; Season Receive Beautiful Scenery Ascend Orchid Peak;

不惮跻攀谒粹容 Bù dàn jī pān yè​ cuì róng; Not Fear Rise Climb Visit Pure Countenance;

花色映霞祥彩混 Huā ​sè yìng xiá xiáng cǎi hùn; Flower Color Project Red-cloud Auspicious Hue Mingle;

垆烟拂雾瑞光重 Lú yān fú wù ruì guāng chóng; Earthy Smoke Brush-off Misty Propitious Light Layer;

雨霑琼干岩边竹 Yǔ​ zhān qióng gàn yán biān zhú; Rain Moisten Jade Trunk Rock Edge Bamboo;

风袭琴声岭际松 Fēng xí qín shēng lǐng jì sōng; Wind Beat Zither Sound Mountain-range Interval Cedar;

净刹玉毫瞻礼罢 Jìng chà yù háo zhān lǐ bà; Clean Buddhist-temple Jade Hair See Ceremony Finish; ('jade hair' means Urna)

回程仙驾驭苍龙 Huí​ chéng xiān jià​ yù cāng​ lóng; Return Journey Immortal Carriage Ride Blue Dragon;

This is translated: