To die as a son is filial, to die as a minister is loyal, what of death?

Since Guangyue’s spirit was lost, officials no longer possess integrity;

Where ruler and minister break their duty, who bears a stout heart?

Zhang Xun cursing the rebels, Xu Yuan loyal to the Court till death,

Thus they leave glorious name fragrant through eternity.

Those who come after do not possess the two lords’ conduct, nor their will of steel tempered a hundred times.

Life vanishes like clouds in a moment.

Let it be a blazing, thunderous affair.

If at the time one betrayed the state, willingly surrendered to the captors, he would take people’s spittle and scorn, how could one win lasting fame?

The old temple is deep and hushed; its rituals and bearing grave and elegant; crows on withered tree, sun setting.

Any treachers passing the post station should consider this carefully.

【註】

①“光岳”主要是泰山的雅稱，在詩中引申為國家或天下的象徵。

②張巡，唐朝安史之亂時的名將張巡（709年－757年），字巡之，河南南陽人。安史之亂爆發後，他堅守睢陽（今河南商丘一帶），在糧盡援絕的情況下，與許遠等人誓死抗敵。最後城陷被俘，面對叛軍將領嚴刑逼降，張巡依然大罵叛賊，從容就義。

③許遠， （？－757年），字令問，鄆州人（今山東鄄城一帶）。安史之亂爆發後，他與張巡一同死守睢陽城。當時糧盡援絕，守軍與百姓忍飢受困，但許遠與張巡始終堅守，不降叛軍。城破後，二人同被俘，許遠亦大罵叛賊，慷慨就義。

④“郵亭”，指的是古代設立在驛道上的 驛站，是古代交通與通信設施，用於傳遞文書、軍報、官方命令，同時也為來往的官員、使者提供臨時歇腳與住宿之地。文天祥在被押解北行途經郵亭，寫此詩，

【詩人簡介】文天祥（1236年6月6日－1283年1月9日），初名云孙，字宋瑞，又字履善。自号浮休道人、文山。江南西路吉州庐陵县（今江西省吉安市青原区富田镇 ）人，汉族江右民系，南宋末年政治家、文学家，民族英雄，与陆秀夫、张世杰并称为“宋末三杰”。宋理宗宝祐四年（1256年），二十一岁的文天祥中进士第一，成为状元。一度掌理军器监兼权直学士院，因直言斥责宦官董宋臣，讥讽权相贾似道而遭到贬斥，数度沉浮，在三十七岁时自请致仕。德祐元年（1275年），元军南下攻宋，文天祥散尽家财，招募士卒勤王，被任命为浙西、江东制置使兼知平江府。在援救常州时，因内部失和而退守余杭。随后升任右丞相兼枢密使，奉命与元军议和，因面斥元主帅伯颜被拘留，于押解北上途中逃归。不久后在福州参与拥立益王赵昰为帝，又自赴南剑州聚兵抗元。景炎二年（1277年）再攻江西，终因势孤力单败退广东。祥兴元年（1278年）卫王赵昺继位后，拜少保，封信国公。后在五坡岭被俘，押至元大都，被囚三年，屡经威逼利诱，仍誓死不屈。元至元十九年十二月（1283年1月），文天祥从容就义，终年四十七岁。

明代时追赐谥号“忠烈” 。文天祥多有忠愤慷慨之文，其诗风至德祐年间后一变，气势豪放。他在《过零丁洋》中所作的“人生自古谁无死，留取丹心照汗青”，气势磅礴，情调高亢，激励了后世众多为理想而奋斗的仁人志士。文天祥的著作经后人整理，被辑为《文山先生全集》。

Note:

① Guangyue is primarily an elegant appellation for Mount Tai, and it can also be extended as a symbol of the nation or the realm.

②Zhang Xun (709–757), a renowned general of the Tang dynasty during the An Lushan Rebellion, courtesy name Xunzhi, was a native of Nanyang in Henan. After the outbreak of the rebellion, he resolutely defended Suiyang (in present-day Shangqiu, Henan Province). When supplies were exhausted and reinforcements cut off, he, together with Xu Yuan and others, fought the enemy to the death. After the city eventually fell and he was captured, Zhang Xun, even under severe torture and coercion by the rebel commanders, continued to denounce the traitors and went to his death with composure and integrity.

③Xu Yuan, a renowned general of the Tang dynasty during the An Lushan Rebellion, courtesy name Lingwen, was a native of Yunzhou (in present-day Juancheng, Shandong Province). After the outbreak of the An Lushan Rebellion, he and Zhang Xun jointly defended the city of Suiyang. When supplies were exhausted and reinforcements cut off, with both soldiers and civilians suffering from hunger, Xu Yuan and Zhang Xun still held firm and refused to surrender to the rebels. After the city fell, the two were captured together; Xu Yuan also vehemently denounced the traitors and met his death with noble resolve.

④A youting (post pavilion) refers to a relay station established along ancient postal routes. It was part of the transportation and communication system of the time, used for transmitting documents, military dispatches, and official orders, while also providing passing officials and envoys with temporary rest and lodging. When Wen Tianxiang was escorted northward as a captive, he composed this poem upon passing such a post station.

Introduction to the poet:

Wen Tianxiang (June 6, 1236 – January 9, 1283), originally named Yunsun, courtesy name Songrui, later styled Lüshan, and self-styled Fuxiu Daoren and Wenshan, was a native of Luling County, Jizhou, Jiangnan West Circuit (today Futian Town, Qingyuan District, Ji’an City, Jiangxi Province). He was of the Han Chinese Jiangyou lineage, a statesman, writer, and national hero of the late Southern Song dynasty. Along with Lu Xiufu and Zhang Shijie, he is honored as one of the “Three Great Figures at the End of the Song.”

In the 4th year of Baoyou under Emperor Lizong of Song (1256), at age 21, Wen Tianxiang passed the imperial examination as the top-ranked candidate (Zhuangyuan). He once held the posts of Supervisor of the Directorate for Armaments and Acting Head of the Hanlin Academy. Because he spoke out against the powerful eunuch Dong Songchen and ridiculed the chief minister Jia Sidao, he was repeatedly demoted, rising and falling in officialdom, and at the age of 37 he requested retirement.

In the 1st year of Deyou (1275), when the Yuan army advanced southward to attack the Song, Wen Tianxiang spent all his family wealth to recruit soldiers in defense of the dynasty, and was appointed Commissioner for Zhejiang West and Jiangdong as well as Prefect of Pingjiang. While attempting to relieve Changzhou, internal discord forced him to retreat to Yuhang. He was soon promoted to Right Chancellor and Commissioner of Military Affairs. Sent to negotiate peace with the Yuan, he openly rebuked their commander Bayan and was detained. Escorted north, he managed to escape on the way.

Shortly thereafter in Fuzhou, he joined in enthroning Zhao Shi, the Prince of Yi, as emperor, and personally raised troops at Nan Jianzhou to resist the Yuan. In the 2nd year of Jingyan (1277), he launched another campaign into Jiangxi, but isolated and outnumbered, he was forced to retreat to Guangdong. When Zhao Bing, the Prince of Wei, ascended the throne in the 1st year of Xiangxing (1278), Wen was appointed Junior Guardian and ennobled as Duke of Xinguo. Later, he was captured at Wupo Ridge and taken to the Yuan capital of Dadu. Imprisoned for three years, he endured repeated threats and temptations but swore unyielding loyalty unto death. In the 19th year of Zhiyuan (January 1283), Wen Tianxiang calmly met his end at age 47.

In the Ming dynasty, he was posthumously granted the honorific title “Zhonglie” (Loyal and Gallant). Wen Tianxiang wrote many works filled with loyal passion and heroic spirit. After the Deyou reign, his poetry underwent a transformation, marked by bold grandeur. His verse in Crossing the Lingding Sea: “Since ancient times, who has not died? Let my loyal heart shine in the chronicles of history ” — is majestic and exalted, has inspiring countless later generations of men and women who struggled for their ideals. His collected works were later compiled into 《The Complete Works of Master Wenshan》.