One of my lifetime favorite – The saga of a general’s family in Song Dynesty 杨家将

杨家将 Yáng jiā jiàng has been one of my favorite Chinese stories since my childhood. It was first created in Song Dynesty as a novel and then passed on generation after generation to today. It was based on the true story of a famous general and his seven sons – a family of brave warriors that fought with intruders from Liao for decades. I’d like to introduce you to the book on this Learn Chinese online blog, but I think the original novel was full of classic Chinese that might be too tough for you to learn.

I remember the first version I read about this story was from “Small People Book” 小人书 xiǎo rén shū - a cartoon like book with pictures and words for younger readers to read in the 70′s and 80′s China. It disappeared near the end of 80′s:

Later on, I watched a very old version TV episode of 杨家将 Yáng jiā jiàng and was so inspired and touched by the story. In 2009, 杨家将 Yáng jiā jiàng is remade into TV episodes with a new name: 少年杨家将 shào nián Yáng jiā jiàng - Young Warriors of the Yang Clan. I only started to watch some of them, will finish in a while.

The theme song was really good and I’d like to share with you on that:

 诀别诗 (Farewell Poem)

歌手：胡彦斌

出鞘剑　杀气荡　风起无月的战场　千军万马独身闯　一身是胆　好儿郎

儿女情　前世帐　你的笑活着怎么忘

美人泪　断人肠　这能取人性命是　胭脂烫

诀别诗　两三行　写在三月春雨的路上　若还能打着伞走在你的身旁

诀别诗　两三行　谁来为我黄泉路上唱　若我能死在你身旁　也不枉来人世走这趟

出鞘剑　杀气荡　风起无月的战场　千军万马独身闯　一身是胆　好儿郎

儿女情　前世帐　你的笑活着怎么忘

美人泪　断人肠　这能取人性命是　胭脂烫

诀别诗　两三行　写在三月春雨的路上　若还能打着伞走在你的身旁

诀别诗　两三行　谁来为我黄泉路上唱　若我能死在你身旁　也不枉来人世走这趟

诀别诗　两三行　写在三月春雨的路上　若还能打着伞走在你的身旁

诀别诗　两三行　谁来为我黄泉路上唱　若我能死在你身旁　也不枉来人世走这趟

 

[pinyin]

chūqiào jiàn　 shāqì dàng　 fēng qǐ wú yuè de zhànchǎng　 qiānjūnwànmǎ dúshēn chuǎng　yīshēnshìdǎn　 hǎo r láng

érnǚ qíng　 qiánshì zhàng　 nǐ de xiào huózhe zěnme wàng

měirén lèi　 duàn rén cháng　 zhè néng qǔ rénxìng mìng shì　 yānzhī tàng

juébié shī　 liǎng sān xíng　 xiě zài sānyuè chūnyǔ de lùshang　 ruò hái néng dǎ zhe sǎn zǒuzài nǐ de shēn páng

juébié shī　 liǎng sān xíng　 shéi lái wéi wǒ Huángquán lùshang chàng　 ruò wǒ néng sǐ zài nǐshēn páng　 yě bù wǎng lái rénshì zǒu zhè tàng

chūqiào jiàn　 shāqì dàng　 fēng qǐ wú yuè de zhànchǎng　 qiānjūnwànmǎ dúshēn chuǎng　yīshēnshìdǎn　 hǎo r láng

érnǚ qíng　 qiánshì zhàng　 nǐ de xiào huózhe zěnme wàng

měirén lèi　 duàn rén cháng　 zhè néng qǔ rénxìng mìng shì　 yānzhī tàng

juébié shī　 liǎng sān xíng　 xiě zài sānyuè chūnyǔ de lùshang　 ruò hái néng dǎ zhe sǎn zǒuzài nǐ de shēn páng

juébié shī　 liǎng sān xíng　 shéi lái wéi wǒ Huángquán lùshang chàng　 ruò wǒ néng sǐ zài nǐshēn páng　 yě bù wǎng lái rénshì zǒu zhè tàng

juébié shī　 liǎng sān xíng　 xiě zài sānyuè chūnyǔ de lùshang　 ruò hái néng dǎ zhe sǎn zǒuzài nǐ de shēn páng

juébié shī　 liǎng sān xíng　 shéi lái wéi wǒ Huángquán lùshang chàng　 ruò wǒ néng sǐ zài nǐshēn páng　 yě bù wǎng lái rénshì zǒu zhè tàng

[my rough English translation]

swords unsheathed, wind bellowed, brave warriors went to the moonless battlefield

love for her, the debt from previous life – how could I forget if your smile is still alive?

tears of beauties are burning hot, broke my heart, took away my life

farewell poem, two lines or three, written on the rain washed road in spring, if only I could have a walk with you under one umbrella

farewell poem, two lines or three, who will see me leave for the last time and sing for me, if only I can die beside you, I won’t have regret