鮑君徽诗

Poems of Bao Junhui


Index

奉和麟德殿宴百僚应制

For a Harmonious Unicorn Virtue Banquet of One Hundred Colleagues, by Imperial Order


睿泽先寰海
功成展武韶
戈鋋清外垒
文物盛中朝

Foremost in the world for brilliant foresight.
Achieving success in martial excellence.
Weapons just and bright before the ramparts.
A cultured treasure flourishing at court.

圣祚山河固
宸章日月昭
玉筵鸾鹄集
仙管凤凰调

Eminent, strong blessing to all the land.
Always illustrious before the throne.
From your jade mat, your arrow strikes the roc.
Your immortal harmonies govern the phoenix.

御柳新低绿
宫莺乍啭娇
愿将亿兆庆
千祀奉神尧

Imperial willows, sprouting new deep green.
Palace warblers, singing their first bright songs.
General, we celebrate you beyond measure
And make one thousand offerings to the spirit of Yao.

-- 鮑君徽


废话

This is obviously a formulaic poem produced by order of the throne to celebrate and honor a returning victor. Emperor Dezong started out well and went downhill throughout his reign. He struggled with many rebellions and caused as many, through poor judgement, as he put down. He distrusted his councillors and officers. He relied on his eunuchs and is responsible for their later excessive power in the Tang court. I am assuming "Harmonious Unicorn Virtue" in the title is an imperial category of celebratory banquet. I could be completely wrong. We can only know so much.

Speaking of not knowing much, I was thinking about what little we know of Bao Junhui. She mentions that she is a widow in her memorial (see index link below). It is possible that her father is the one who memorialized the emperor to get Bao placed as an imperial consort. The Six Palaces housed about three thousand concubines in Xuanzong's reign (712 - 756.) So the odds were against a consort actually bedding the emperor. Mainly, they did things like write poetry and look ornamental. As a kind of poetry prodigy when young, combined with her husband's service, Bao's father could have made a case for providing for her in this way. I supposed we must additionally assume she was attractive. And intelligent. Because after 100 days, she got out of her consort gig and went back home. We don't hear of her after that. So perhaps between what her father had put away and what she had from her husband and her consort stint, she and her mom were able to eke out an acceptable existence somewhere small and quiet.


Index