"War Symphony": a modern Chinese poem
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From Bryan Van Norden:
It took me a while to "get" this, but it's very cool, and you can appreciate it even if you have never learned a Chinese character before in your life. It's a contemporary Chinese poem entitled "War Symphony." You only need to read four characters to understand it:
兵 bīng means soldier (you can imagine that the lines at the bottom are the soldier's legs) [VHM: The lines at the bottom are actually derived from the pictographic representation of two hands; they are holding an adze (you can see additional examples if you click on the "more" button at the top right of the linked section), the primordial tool-weapon, which is what the earliest form of the character actually stood for. It was later used by metonymy to mean "soldier". For a powerful woodcut (artist Dan Heitkamp) inspired by the oracle bone form of the glyph, see the title page of Victor Mair, tr. and intro., The Art of War: Sun Zi's Military Methods (Columbia University Press, 2007).]
乒乓 pīng pāng is Ping Pong, but individually the characters are used to represent the sounds "ping" and "pang" (like the sounds of metal weapons clanging)
丘 qiū is a mound, like a funeral mound
Taiwanese poet from Hualien
Zhànzhēng jiāoxiǎng qǔ 战争交响曲 (War Symphony)
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵 |
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| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵
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| 兵兵兵兵兵兵兵乒兵兵兵兵兵兵兵乓兵兵兵兵兵兵乒 |
| 兵兵兵乓兵兵乒兵兵兵乒乒兵兵乒乓兵兵乒乓兵兵乓 |
| 乒乒兵兵兵兵乓乓乓乓兵兵乒乒乓乓乒乓兵乓兵兵乓 |
兵乒兵乒乒乒乓乓兵兵乒乒乓乓乓乓乒乒乓乓乒兵乓
乓乒兵乓乓乒兵乓乓乒乒乓乓乒乒乓乓乒乒乓乓乒乒
乓乓乒乒乓乓乒乒乓乓乒乒乓乓乒乒乓乓乒乒乓乓乒
乒乓乓乒乒乓乓乒乒乓乓乒乒乓乓乒乒乓乓乒乒乓乓
乒乒乓乓乒乓乒乓乒乓乒乓乒乓乒乓乒乓乒乓乒乓乒
乓乒乓乒乓乒乓乒乓乒乒乓乓乒乓乒乓乒乒乓乓乒乓
乒乓乒乒乓乓乒乒乒乒乒乒乒乒乓乓乓乓乓乓乓
乓乒乒乒乒 乒 乓 乓 乓 乒 乓乒 乒 乒 乓
乒乒 乒乒 乓乓 乒乒乓乒乒乓乒乓乒乒乒
乓乒乒乒乓乓乓乒乒乓乒乓乒
乒乓乓乓乒乓
乒乓乒乓乓
乒乓
| 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘
丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 |
| 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 |
| 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 |
| 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 |
| 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 |
| 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 |
| 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 |
| 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 |
| 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 |
| 丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘丘 |
Here is an animation of the poem, followed by a video of the poet reading it aloud:
Chen Li 陳黎: A War Symphony 戰爭交響曲 (animation+reciting 動畫+唸詩)
Animation made by Wu Xiu-jing (動畫：吳秀菁) Chen Li's reciting of the poem starts at 1:01
Victor Mair said,
November 5, 2017 @ 10:12 am
Please, dear colleagues, I beg you. Do not put Chen Li's poem in Google Translate.
George Lane said,
November 5, 2017 @ 10:49 am
The animation reminds me of something similar I saw on an NHK special about kanji (about 25 years ago). It told a simple story using only kanjis moving around on a white background. For example, the protaganist walking through a crowded station is depicted by a single 私 amidst a sea of 人s. Later he's in an accident and red 血s come out of his body.
Timothy Billings said,
November 5, 2017 @ 11:18 am
Stunning. That first 丘 takes my breath away. And then the rest.
J said,
November 5, 2017 @ 12:30 pm
What do Yahweh and Mair have in common?
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier soldier
Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing Ping Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing Ping Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing Bing ping
Bingbing Bingbing Bingbing Pingbing Bingbing Pingping Bingbing Ping Pong Bing Ping Pong Bing Bing
Ping Pong Bing Bing Bing Pong Pang Bing Bing Ping Ping Pong Ping Pong Bing Bing Pong
Bing Ping Bing Ping Ping Ping Pong Bing Bing Ping Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong
Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Pong Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Ping Pong Pong Pong
Table tennis table tennis table tennis table tennis table tennis table tennis table tennis table tennis table tennis
Ping pong ping pong ping pong ping pong ping pong ping pong ping pong ping pong ping pong
Ping pong pong pong pong pong pong pong pong pong pong pong ping pong
Pong pong pong pong pong ping pong pong pong pong pong pong pong
Ping pong ping pong ping pong ping pong ping pong ping pong ping pong ping pong
Table tennis table tennis table tennis table tennis table tennis table tennis
Table tennis Table tennis Table tennis Table tennis Table tennis Table tennis Table tennis Table tennis
Pong Table Tennis Pong Table Tennis Table Tennis
Ping Pong Ping Pong
Pingpong Pingpong
Ping pong
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcrown Hillcroft Hillcrown Hillcrown
Victor Mair said,
November 5, 2017 @ 12:38 pm
They are both constantly disobeyed.
Scott P. said,
November 5, 2017 @ 2:01 pm
The central section not only has the 'clang' of metal weapons, to my eyes the soldiers are slowly being dismembered until all that is left are corpses. I assume that is part of the intent?
I am curious if Chinese readers often anthropomorphize characters in this way?
Nick Kaldis said,
November 5, 2017 @ 2:02 pm
If anyone is interested, there are some analyses of this poem, 3 listed below. I recommend Yeh's.
Nick
New Perspectives on Contemporary Chinese Poetry Ed. Chris Lupke
Experimental Chinese Literature: Translation, Technology, Poetics By Tong King Lee
Beyond Sinology: Chinese Writing and the Scripts of Culture By Andrea Bachner
Bill Benzon said,
November 5, 2017 @ 2:24 pm
This is wonderful, Victor.
Margaret said,
November 5, 2017 @ 3:08 pm
When you mentioned not translating it, I was reminded of Christian Morgenstern's German poem "Fish's night song" (1905), which you can see here:
https://theondioline.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/fisches-nachtgesang/
Chas Belov said,
November 5, 2017 @ 3:47 pm
So much better in the video. In the post, the initial layout (visible in the video) gets munged in my browser, such that the first section lays out in alternating rows of
兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵兵
and
兵兵兵兵兵兵
which entirely spoils the effect.
Chas Belov said,
November 5, 2017 @ 4:12 pm
As a side note, I see I have mis-remembered the character pong 乓 as in the game ping pong乒乓. I think my transformation would be a great improvement if the upper portion of the pong 乓character were mirror-flipped so that 乒乓 would look like two people holding paddles in the air over a table.
Aaron said,
November 5, 2017 @ 4:27 pm
I admit to being sceptical about a recitation of a work that seemed so obviously visual, but I am glad I gave the recitation a chance.
AntC said,
November 6, 2017 @ 7:28 am
From the sublime (thank you Victor) to the ridiculous:
How to render Donald Trump's "bing, bing, bong, bong"?
And this https://www.poetryarchive.org/poem/loch-ness-monsters-song
richardelguru said,
November 6, 2017 @ 8:56 am
And if you disobey VM (not to mention Yahweh) and then click the 'Listen' button in google Translate…….. eat your heart out Philip Glass!!!!!
Jenny Chu said,
November 6, 2017 @ 9:47 am
I am coming to this late, but: of course, before even scrolling down to the comments I had already put this into Google Translate. But who made me do it?
Chris Button said,
November 6, 2017 @ 10:15 am
I think it's interesting how the poet's graphic connection only works with the modern script (see the links to the earlier forms in the original post). It would not have worked if the bottom component of the xiesheng derivative 虛 (i.e. without 虍) were more consistently reflected as such for 丘 instead of merging with the top component of 兵 instead.
It also makes an interesting contrast with the "laughter's daughter" rhyme mentioned on an earlier LL post ( http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=35170 ) where the written form reflects a connection (rhyming) that used to exist but has long disappeared, as opposed to here where we have a new graphic connection for completely unrelated words (there are of course numerous other instances of such confusing mergers in the script).
julie lee said,
November 6, 2017 @ 2:12 pm
Chen Li's "War Symphony" —a tour-de-force of poetic and musical power and brevity. A stroke of genius. With only four Chinese words (characters), he is able in print, voice, and video to convey the grandeur, hysteria, folly, and futility of war.
If Bob Dylan can win a Nobel Prize for Literature, Chen Li also deserves one. Or perhaps a Grammy.