Zhang Cuihong sang this haunting song in the 1939 film "Wang Baochuan" (王宝钏) although this studio recording is from 1940. Chen Gexin wrote the music, and the lyrics come from a 6 line poem 子夜吴歌(Midnight Wu Song or Song of an Autumn Midnight), written by the revered Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai (李白) who lived from 701 -762. Zhang Cuihong sings exactly the same words as Li Bai wrote 1200 years earlier, repeating the phrases 吹不尽 and 平胡虏. The title of Li Bai's poem "子夜吴歌(Zǐyè wú gē) is changed to 思君吟(Sī jūn yín) I had always known this song by its pinyin title "Sijun Yin" but I have gone with the translated title that Ling at Antique Chinese Pop Music gives it. It is on disk 16 of the Shanghai oldies上海老歌 (1931-1949) compilation, along with 2 other songs by Zhang Cuihong. This 20cd compilation is a 'must have' for those who are interested in the Shanghai Popular Music of the period.
Zhang Cuihong -- 1904-1989 -- was an actress of costume drama films between 1937 and 1940. She made 7 films during this period, plus one in 1953. She made 10 song recordings, which she sang in the more classical style. Before 1937, by which time she was already 33 years old, there are no records of any films or songs by her. I understand from research that Zhang Cuihong married after 1940, and she put marriage before career. Huaichun Song /怀春曲 can be heard at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9he4j1Rq5A.
Chang'an ( now Xi'an ) was the capital of China during the Tang Dynasty. It had a million inhabitants and drew peoples of many faiths and ethnicities from all over the accessible world. It was a bustling, walled city, filled with foreign merchants who arrived on the Silk Road. It had a million inhabitants and drew peoples of many faiths and ethnicities from all over the world.
Li Bai's words describes a wife's feelings, as she awaits news of her soldier husband. The theme of separation. Chen Gexin and Zhang Cuihong's song is for the film "Wang Baochuan" in which the heroine experiences the same feelings as the subject of Li Bai's poem. The story of Wang Baochuan is a popular one in Chinese Literature. Over the years, it has appeared on stage, screen, and opera. I have used stills from the most recent film adaptation in 2012, Love Amongst War, starring Benny Chan and Jessica Xin.
Xue Pinggui is a poor begger who lives in a cave, while Wang Baochuan is the third daughter of Wang Yun, the prime minister of Emperor Yizong in 9th century China. Wang Yun arranges an event for her to choose a husband by throwing an embroidered ball, and Xue catches the ball. Wang Yun is not happy with the result, and eventually his daughter breaks her relationship with her parents and marries Xue. They live in his humble abode.
Xue decides to join the army, and Wang Baochuan vows that she will wait for him to come back. In the following years, Xue Pinggui goes to the western border and fights against a barbarian state. He even marries Daizhan, the princess of the barbarian state. Meanwhile, Wang Baochuan waits for him for 18 long years. One day, she decides to write a letter with her blood, and ties the letter to a wild goose, hoping that Xue Pinggui will receive it. Seeing the letter, Xue Pinggui decides to return home to his wife. The story has several variations.
English Translation, adapted from several interpretations I found.
The moon shines bright over Chang'an City;
The sound of pounding clothes in ten thousand homes
The autumn wind is blowing without end ～ blowing without end
Carrying my heart and thoughts to Yuguan Pass
When will we pacify the rampaging Hu ～pacify the rampaging Hu
And my husband come back from the long campaign.
长安一片月，
万户捣衣声，
秋风吹不尽～吹不尽，
总是玉关情。
何日平胡虏～平胡虏，
良人罢远征。
Pinyin Lyrics
Cháng'ān yīpiàn yuè,
Wàn hù dǎo yī shēng,
Qiūfēng chuī bù jìn ~chuī bù jìn,
Zǒng shì yù guān qíng.
Hérìpíng hú lǔ ~píng hú lǔ,
Liáng rén ba yuǎnzhēng.
10 years назад
10 years назад