How unspoiled the life of the fisherman,
away from the outside world!
Push away, push away!
Laugh not at an old fisherman; he's part of every painting.
Chigukch'ong, chigukch'ong, ŏsawa!
Seasonal pleasures
are all fine; but the autumn river is best of all.
Autumn comes to the river village;
the fish grow fat.
Weigh anchor, weigh anchor!
Leisurely hours spent on broad waters.
Chigukch'ong, chigukch'ong, ŏsawa!
I look back
on the world of men: the farther off the better.
White clouds get up;
tree branches rustle.
Hoist the sail, hoist the sail!
Off to West Lake on the full tide, on the ebb tide to East Lake.
Chigukch'ong, chigukch'ong, ŏsawa!
Redshank
blooms in the pondweed: it's a joy to see it everywhere.
Out there where the wild geese fly
I see peaks I've never seen before.
Row the boat, row the boat!
I fish a bit, but it's the mood that really intoxicates.
Chigukch'ong, chigukch'ong, ŏsawa!
The evening sun,
dazzlingly bright, gold broiders a thousand peaks.
How many fine silver-jade fish
have I caught?
Row the boat, row the boat!
I'll make a reed fire, select the best for broiling;
Chigukch'ong, chigukch'ong, ŏsawa!
tilt the crock jar
and fill the gourd dipper full.
Wind blowing gently athwart,
the billowing sail brings me back.
Lower the sail, lower the sail.
Darkness deepens in the sky; pure pleasure remains.
Chigukch'ong, chigukch'ong, ŏsawa!
I never tire of
red-tinted trees and clear water.
The image in the first section is presumably taken from Su Dongpo's "Red Cliff", which describes moonlight settling on the river like dew-drops. The Phoenix Pavilion is a reference to the royal palace where the poet would wish to send the pure moonlight. Legend tells of the white hare that grinds medicinal powders on the moon.
White dewdrops angle over the river;
the bright moon has risen.
Heave to, heave to!
Phoenix Pavilion is far away; to whom shall I give this pure light?
Chigukch'ong, chigukch'ong, ŏsawa!
To a noble guest
I'll feed the medicine the jade rabbit grinds.
Xu You washed his ears in the river when the emperor suggested giving him the throne. The west wind dust is a reference to the dust of the outside world.
Are heaven and earth different?
What place is this now?
Tie up, tie up!
West wind dust doesn't reach this far; no need to fan it away.
Chigukch'ong, chigukch'ong, ŏsawa!
I've heard
nothing; no need to wash my ears.
Frost falls on my clothes;
I do not feel cold.
Drop anchor, drop anchor!
My fishing boat is cramped; is the fleeting world any bigger?
Chigukch'ong, chigukch'ong, ŏsawa!
Tomorrow
will be like this, as will the day after.
I'll go to my stone hut among the pines
and watch the moon at dawn.
Beach the boat, beach the boat!
But how can I find the leaf-strewn path through these deserted hills?
Chigukch'ong, chigukch'ong, ŏsawa!
White clouds
follow me; my hermit clothes weigh me down.