Tang Dynasty Masterpiece: Li Shangyin’s Ode to Han Stele
In the era of Emperor Xianzong, endowed with divine martial grace, who could match the stature of the ancient sages, Xuanyuan and Fuxi? He vowed to cleanse the shame of past emperors and preside over the court in the palace receiving tributes from all four corners of the realm. For fifty years, rebels in Huai Xi posed a threat, with warlords like “Feng Lang” and “Pi Pi”, ignoring natural defenses for plain terrains, wielding long spears and halberds like they could command the sun. The Emperor found his wise counselor in Pei Du, surviving assassination attempts, surely guarded by divine intervention. With the imperial seal hanging from his waist, he commanded the troops as supreme commander, under the somber and desolate Tianwang flag. Leaders like Li Su, Han Gongwu, Li Daogu, and Li Wentong, along with Li Zongmin, the assistant minister of rites, who carried the brush in war, the intelligent and courageous marching marshal Han Yu, led 140,000 troops as fierce and valiant as tigers and leopards.
After capturing Cai Prefecture and presenting the rebel leader to the ancestral temple, his achievements unmatched, the Emperor declared Pei Du’s deeds as foremost, and assigned Han Yu to compose the accolades. Han Yu bowed deeply, danced with joy, proclaiming that he could inscribe the achievements on stone and metal. Throughout history, renowned for his grand literary style, this task was beyond the purview of the imperial academy. Such acts of merit have always been honored without reservation, prompting the Emperor to repeatedly nod in approval.
Retreating to his quarters, Han Yu cleansed himself, seated in a small pavilion, soaking his brush in ink, he meticulously edited the ancient texts of “The Canon of Yao” and “The Canon of Shun”, adapting the solemn verses of “Qing Miao” and “Sheng Min”. The completed literary masterpiece on paper was spread out at the crimson steps of the morning court for further reverence. His memorial stated, “I, Han Yu, dare to risk my life to present this work, praising the divine accomplishments of our Emperor and his wise counselor.” The stele, towering three zhang high, with characters as large as dippers, adorned with the mystical Ao and coiled Chi, contained profound words and unique expressions, which few could fully comprehend. Accusations of personal bias and falsehoods spread among the courtiers, resulting in the stele being pulled down by a hundred-foot rope, rough sand and large stones grinding away the inscriptions.
Yet, Han Yu’s literary prowess, like an indestructible essence, had already permeated the hearts and minds of the people. Just as the inscriptions on the bronze bowls and ding of King Tang’s era are lost, their verses endure eternally. Oh, the immortal achievements of the enlightened monarch and his sagacious counselor, shining brightly through the ages. Should Han Yu’s inscription fail to illuminate future generations, how could it compare to the legacy passed down from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors? I am willing to transcribe ten thousand copies, recite it ten thousand times, even if it means spittle on my lips and calluses on my right hand! Let it be passed down for seventy-two generations, as a sacred offering to the heavens and the everlasting foundation of the Mingtang.
This expanded interpretation aims to provide a clear and comprehensive understanding of Li Shangyin’s original text, making it accessible to American readers while maintaining the eloquence and essence of the Tang Dynasty literary masterpiece.