Thuật hoài

Thuật hoài (literally: Express) is one of two poems which are still exist of Phạm Ngũ Lão (1255-1320), a famous general of Trần dynasty.

Introduction

This is a seven-word four-line poem (Vietnamese: thất ngôn tứ tuyệt) written by Hán word. Its composition time is not known.^[1]

• Han word version

橫槊江山恰幾秋

三軍貔虎氣吞牛

男兒未了功名債

羞聽人間說武侯

• Hán-Việt Spelling:

Thuật hoài

Hoành sóc giang sơn kháp kỷ thu,

Tam quân tì hổ khí thôn ngưu.

Nam nhi vị liễu công danh trái,

Tu thính nhân gian thuyết Vũ hầu.

• Translation:

Express

Kept the spear transversely in homeland for many years,

Three Squad is as tough as tiger and leopard, Ch'i is strong enough to gulp a buffalo (or Ch'i is so strong that can overwhelm Taurus constellation).

As a man who did not pay honor doubt,

Then he will be ashamed to hear about Zhuge.

Notes

1. It is thought to be composed in second Mongol Resistance (1285).