Snow's Embrace: Selected Passages
Classical Chinese Sources in Snow's Embrace
Daoist Texts
The following selected passages are on key themes that appear in the myth.
Fate
Life and death are matters of fate (ming). That they have the certainty of morning and night: that is Heaven. Human beings cannot influence the inherent natures of things. Men take Heaven as their father and cherish it all their lives; how much more should it be so for something grander! (Zhuangzi, “The Great Ancestral Teacher,” Chapter 6)
The affairs of the world cannot be deliberately controlled. You must draw them out by following their natural direction. The alterations of the myriad things cannot be fathomed. You must grasp their essential tendencies and guide them to their homes. (The Essential Huainanzi, "Originating in the Way," Chapter 1)
Death and life, existence and extinction, failure and success, poverty and wealth, worthiness and unworthiness, slander and praise, hunger and thirst, cold and warmth: all these are the action of fate (ming). They appear in turn before us night and day, yet understanding cannot compass their origins. (Zhuangzi, "The Mark of Utmost Virtue," Chapter 5)
Qi
The [Dao] is transformed into qi, qi is transformed into blood; blood is transformed into form; form is transformed into things; and things are in turn transformed into the myriad of things. All transformations can be traced back to the One. Spirit is a manifestation of the One. When qi is impure, the spirit will be evil; when qi is pure, the spirit will be bright. (The Mysteries of the Dao, “The Transformations of the Dao")
The bright emits qi, and for this reason fire is the external brilliance of the sun. The obscure sucks in qi, and for this reason water is the internal luminosity of the moon. Emitted qi endows; Retained qi transforms. Thus yang endows and yin transforms. The unbalanced qi of Heaven and Earth, becoming perturbed, causes wind; The harmonious qi of Heaven and Earth, becoming calm, causes rain. When yin and yang rub against each other, their interaction produces thunder. Aroused, they produce thunderclaps; disordered, they produce mist; When the yang qi prevails, it scatters to make rain and dew; When the yin qi prevails, it freezes to make frost and snow. (The Essential Huainanzi, “Celestial Patterns,” Chapter 3, emphasis mine)
Time and Immortal Realms
For spirits and luminous beings, a thousand years pass like a single morning; for mayflies, dawn and dusk encompass a lifetime. Each experiences time according to its nature. (The Essential Huainanzi, “Activating the Genuine," Chapter 2)
Death
Effect emptiness to the extreme. Keep stillness whole. Myriad things act in concert. I therefore watch their return. All things flourish and each returns to its root. Returning to the root is called quietude. Quietude is called returning to life. Return to life is called constant. Knowing this constant is called illumination. Acting arbitrarily without knowing the constant is harmful. Knowing the constant is receptivity, which is impartial. Impartiality is kingship. Kingship is Heaven. Heaven is [Dao] [Dao] is eternal. Though you lose the body, you do not die. (Tao Te Ching, Chapter 16)
物物者與物無際，而化而相為使， Things transform into things with no end, they transform and become each other’s function, 終而復始，莫知其所窮。 End and return to begin once more, none know their limits. (Zhuangzi, “Knowledge Rambling North," Chapter 22, translation mine)
Where there is life, there will be death. Stray from the [Dao], and you will lose your original nature. Just as horses without bridles run wild, people who do not know their original home are led astray by wayward emotions. If your desires are deep, you will bring ruin to yourself. Many people have destroyed themselves this way. The sage always follows the Will of Heaven. (The Mysteries of the Tao, "Preserving the Body", emphasis mine)
Once he treated life as outside his concern, then he could , and breaking through like the dawn, he could perceive that he is solitary. Once he perceived that he was solitary he would have no sense of the ancient and the present, and without the ancient and the present, he could enter into the state of non-dying and non-living. That which kills the living does not die; that which gives birth to the living is not born. (Zhuangzi, “The Prime Master,” Chapter 6, emphasis mine)
Resonance
They obediently paced in step with one another; [whether] pulling hard or easing off, they were as one. Their hearts were in tune and their qi harmonious; Their bodies [became] more and more light and coordinated. [...] They paced [like the] sun and moved [like the] moon. They flashed [like the] stars and advanced [like the] dark. They raced [like] lightning and leaped [like] ghosts. Advancing or withdrawing, gathering strength or stretching out, They did not see the slightest barrier. (The Essential Huainanzi, “Surveying Obscurities," Chapter 6)
Nine Songs
The following are poems from Nine Songs found in Songs of Chu (楚词 Chu Ci）that Infold took heavy cultural and mythic inspiration from, which is discussed in the video above. I kept my translations as literal as possible and didn’t take interpretive liberties, to allow for the greatest literary interpretation. Gopal Sukhu's translations from The Songs of Chu: An Anthology of Ancient Chinese Poetry are also offered here for comparison. Original source text.
東皇太一 Supreme Sovereign Taiyi
吉日兮辰良, 穆將愉兮上皇。 On this auspicious day, at the best time; we solemnly rejoice the Supreme Sovereign
撫長劍兮玉珥，璆鏘鳴兮琳琅。 We grasp long swords with jade hilts; jade chimes ring like tinkling pendants.
瑤席兮玉瑱，盍將把兮瓊芳。 Jade mats and jade earrings; why not hold these fragrant fine jade blossoms?
蕙餚蒸兮蘭藉，奠桂酒兮椒漿。 Sweet steamed herbed dishes served on fragrant orchid mats, offer a libation of cassia wine and pepper broth
揚枹兮拊鼓，疏緩節兮安歌， Lift the mallets, strike the drums, the rhythm slows, the song calmly flows,
陳竽瑟兮浩倡。 An array of pipes and zithers, the grand vastness of voices in unity
靈偃蹇兮姣服，芳菲菲兮滿堂。 Spiritual beings, graceful and tall, clad in splendid robes; the lush fragrance spreads and fills the hall
五音紛兮繁會，君欣欣兮樂康。 Five notes gather separately; the Sovereign rejoices, happy and at peace.
On this auspicious day, the best of times, Reverently we bring delight to the August on High, We hold long swords with jade-headed hilts, Our shining pendant belt gems clatter. Weights of green jade press mats white as yao stone, Sprigs of precious fragrances we bring in mixed handfuls, Basil leaves cover the cooked meat offered on beds of thoroughwort, With the sacrifice of cassia wine and peppered broth. Lift the mallets, strike the drums, Slow the rhythms for calming hymns. But when yu reeds and se strings play, let the singing swell, Let the serpent limbs of shamans dance dressed in splendid robes, Inundating the hall with their fragrances of pollen and herbs Let every musician sound every note, May the Lord find joy, pleasure, and peace.
大司命 Greater Si Ming
廣開兮天門，紛吾乘兮玄雲。 Heaven’s gate opens wide; amidst confusion, I ride the dark clouds
令飄風兮先驅，使涷雨兮灑塵。 I command whirling winds to go forth; bid cold rain to scatter dust
君迴翔兮以下，踰空桑兮從女。 The Lord circles, soars, and descends; crossing the to follow the woman
紛總總兮九州，何壽夭兮在予！ The Nine Provinces teem with life; why should lifespans and early deaths lie with me?
高飛兮安翔，乘清氣兮御陰陽。 Soaring high, I glide in peace, riding clear qi and steering yin and yang.
吾與君兮齋速，導帝之兮九坑。 We move in pure haste, guiding the Sovereign’s ,
靈衣兮被被，玉佩兮陸離。 Spirit robes flow in draped layers, jade pendants splendid and dazzling
壹陰兮壹陽，衆莫知兮余所為。 Yin and yang are one, yet none know what I do
折疏麻兮瑤華，將以遺兮離居。 I break sparse hemp and jade blossoms to gift to the one who dwells afar
老冉冉兮既極，不寖近兮愈疏。 Old age creeps slowly to its end, yet instead of drawing closer, we are further apart
乘龍兮轔轔，高駝兮沖天。 I ride the dragon as it rumbles, the lofty mount rushing towards Heaven
結桂枝兮延竚，羌愈思兮愁人。 Standing, I linger and tie cassia boughs; oh, the more I think, the greater my sorrow
愁人兮柰何，願若今兮無虧。 Sorrowful one, what can be done? A wish that remains, lacking nothing
固人命兮有當，孰離合兮可為？ A mortal’s fate is fixed, who can control whether we meet or part?
He: Open wide the Gates of the Sky, I ride the dark crowding clouds. Let the whirlwinds charge ahead, And hailstones sprinkle the dusty ground. She: The Lord circles and descends, Leaping Hollow Mulberry to take me, a woman, for company. The Nine Regions swarm with mortals. Whose long life or early death depends on me?
He flies high tracing slow rings, In a chariot of pure qi, with yin and yang under his reins. In reverence and awe I attend on the Lord, As he guides the Sovereign of the Skies to the Nine Mounts, His spirit robes flowing, His belt laden with cords of jade. He: In all the world of darkness and all the world of light, Common hearts know not what I do. I pick the yao gem flower of the spirit hemp, To give to you who dwell beyond.
She: Age slow as the gnomon's shadow is already here, We grow in time not closer but farther apart. In a rumbling chariot he drives his dragons, Galloping high, ramming into the sky.
Long I stand knotting cassia sprigs. Yes, the more I think of him the sadder I am. Sadder, but what can I do? A day like this I wish would never end, But fate is always fitting. Whether we meet or part is not for me to say.
少司命 Lesser Si Ming
秋兰兮麋芜，罗生兮堂下。 Autumn orchids and lush wild grass spread and grow in layers under the hall
绿叶兮素华，芳菲菲兮袭予。 Green leaves and white flowers, fragrance densely clinging
夫人自有兮美子，荪何以兮愁苦！ The Madam already has a fine companion, then why should I suffer bitterness?
秋兰兮青青，绿叶兮紫茎。 Autumn orchids vividly green, with green leaves and purple stems
满堂兮美人，忽独与余兮目成。 The hall is filled with beautiful people, suddenly only our eyes meet
入不言兮出不辞，乘回风兮载云旗。 You entered without a word, departed without farewell, riding the wind to return, carrying cloud banners
悲莫悲兮生别离，乐莫乐兮新相知。 No sorrow is greater than parting in life; no joy is greater than newly becoming
荷衣兮蕙带，儵而来兮忽而逝。 Dressed in lotus robes and a belt of fragrant orchid, you came suddenly, left suddenly
夕宿兮帝郊，君谁须兮云之际？ In the evening you lodged in the outskirts of the gods, which do you wait for at the border of a cloud?
与女游兮九河，冲风至兮水扬波。 With I swam the Nine Rivers, the wind surged, the waters rose and rippled
与女沐兮咸池，晞女发兮阳之阿。
With you I bathed in the Salt Pool; dried your hair on the sunny slope
望美人兮未来，临风恍兮浩歌。
I looked forward to the beautiful one, but there was no arrival; I face the wind entranced and sing a vast song
孔盖兮翠旍，登九天兮抚彗星。
A great canopy and jade green colored banners; ascending the Nine Heavens, I brush the comet
竦长剑兮拥幼艾，荪独宜兮为民正。
I raise my long sword and embrace , I alone am fit to govern the people righteously.
"Autumn thoroughwort and lovage Grow dense rows near the temple, Green leaves, white flowers, Their strong fragrance took me by surprise."
Those people all have beautiful children, Lure Leaf, what brings you such worry and pain?
Autumn thoroughwort dense and dark, Green leaves with purple stems, Beautiful women crowd your temple, Yet your eyes quickly beckon only to me.
You entered with no warning, left with no good-bye, You rode the spinning wind, cloud banners flying. No grief greater than to live yet be apart, No joy greater than love when it is new.
You in the lotus-leaf robe bound with basil sash, Suddenly came and suddenly went To spend the night in the suburbs of the God-Lords. For whom are you waiting on the border of a cloud?
"We could have washed our hair at the Xian Pool, And dried our hair by the side of the sun. I looked for you, beautiful one, but you never came. I sing facing the wind in loud despair."
Under a peacock-feather canopy and halcyon banners, You ascend the Nine Heavens in a chariot, the Broom Star in your hand. Raise your long sword to protect young and old, Our fates, Lure Leaf, are yours to decide.
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