Translation of the original Tang Dynasty tale that Lafcadio Hearn’s “Akinosuke’s Dream” is based on (南柯太守傳). Translated from original Classical Chinese (文言文) by Eric R Stone.
In this our era of the Tang Dynasty…
Part 1 of 2 of The Governor of Nanke
There once lived a man named Fen Chunyu from Dongping County — a character of chivalrous exploits of the Southeast lands of Wu-Chu. He was fond of liquor, ill-tempered, and unrestrained in manner, and his family had amassed a large fortune, with which they housed a number of bold retainers.
東平淳于棼，吳楚遊俠之士，嗜酒使氣，不守細行，累巨產，養豪客。
Due to his martial talents, Fen had previously served as a deputy general for the Huainan military. However, after defying his general in a drunken outburst, Fen was stripped of his rank and left with nothing, and from then on wasted his days away drinking.
曾以武藝補淮南軍裨將，因使酒忤帥，斥逐落魄，縱誕飲酒為事。
Fen lived about 4 – 5 kilometers east of Guangling Commandery. At the southern end of his residence, there was a large pagoda tree with a dense canopy of long branches, the shade of which extended several meters. And it was under this shade that Mr. Chunyu spent his days drinking with his bold companions.
家住廣陵郡東十里，所居宅南有大古槐一株，枝幹修密，清陰數畝，淳於生日與群豪大飲其下。
One day, in the Ninth Month of the 7th year of Tangzhen (791 AD), Fen fell ill from his drinking, and two of his friends propped him up from his seat and walked him back to the house, where they laid him down in the eastern wing of the main hall.
唐貞元七年九月，因沈醉致疾，時二友人於坐，扶生歸家，臥於堂東廡之下。
They said to him: “You should rest. We’ll feed the horses and wash our feet, and leave later once you’re feeling better.”
二友謂生曰：「子其寢矣，余將秣馬濯足，俟子小愈而去。」
Fen unraveled his head wrappings and lay down to sleep in a daze, as if dreaming.
生解巾就枕，昏然忽忽，彷彿若夢。
Suddenly, he saw two emissaries in purple, and they prostrated themselves before him and said: “The Emperor of Huai’an has sent us humble servants to deliver an invitation.”
見二紫衣使者，跪拜生曰：「槐安國王遣小臣致命奉邀。」
Without knowing what he was doing, Fen got out of bed, tidied his clothes, and followed the emissaries to the door. There, he saw a small catalpa-wood carriage pulled by four livestock, with 7 – 8 attendants on either side. They helped Fen onto the carriage, and it exited through the gate, toward a cavern under the pagoda tree, into which the emissaries promptly drove them. And though Fen thought this peculiar, he didn’t dare ask questions.
生不覺下榻整衣，隨二使至門。見青油小車，駕以四牡，左右從者七八，扶生上車，出大戶，指古槐穴而去，使者即驅入穴中。生意頗甚異之，不敢致問。
In a flash, Fen saw mountains, streams, roads, and greenery, in a landscape most unlike that of the world of men. And after traveling several kilometers, they came to a city wall with parapets, where the road was an endless sea of people and carriages.
忽見山川風候，草木道路，與人世甚殊。前行數十里，有郛郭城堞，車輿人物，不絕於路。
Attendants barked orders sternly from Fen’s left and right, and the pedestrians raced to part to the roadside. And as they entered the city’s walls, there stood a crimson door and a storied tower with the words “The Great Nation of Huai’an” written in gold upon it.
生左右傳車者傳呼甚嚴，行者亦爭辟於左右。又入大城，朱門重樓，樓上有金書，題曰「大槐安國」。
The door guards rushed forward to prostrate themselves before immediately withdrawing, and a rider on horseback announced: “As his royal son-in-law has traveled far, the Emperor has arranged for you to take lodging in the Donghua Building.”
執門者趨拜奔走，旋有一騎傳呼曰：「王以駙馬遠降，令且息東華館。」
The rider turned to lead the way; and, in the next moment, a door opened, and Fen descended the carriage to enter.
因前導而去。俄見一門洞開，生降車而入。
The Donghua Building was a spectacle of intricately carved and colorfully painted columns and banisters. Gorgeous trees bearing rare and precious fruits were planted in rows outside of the main hall, while cushions, tables, refreshments, and drapery were arranged within. And Fen was inwardly most pleased!
彩檻雕楹，華木珍果，列植於庭下；几案茵褥，簾幃餚膳，陳設於庭上。生心甚自悅。
A voice announced: “The west-minister has arrived.”
復有呼曰：「右相且至。」
And Fen descended the steps to pay courtesy, as a man in purple with an ivory flat-scepter rushed forward. Host and guest exchanged formalities, and the west-minister said: “My emperor has invited Sir here — not on the premise that my humble nation is distant and secluded — to make ties to you through marriage.”
生降階祗奉。有一人紫衣象簡前趨，賓主之儀敬盡焉。右相曰：「寡君不以弊國遠僻，奉迎君子，托以姻親。」
Fen replied: “I am but a wretched body; I dare not hope for such.”
生曰：「某以賤劣之軀，豈敢是望。」
And thus, the west-minister led Fen away.
右相因請生同詣其所。
After about 100 paces, they entered a crimson door, on the other side of which spears, halberds, hatchets, and battle-axes were on display to the left and right, and hundreds of imperial military officials parted to make way. Among them, Fen saw his life-long drinking buddy Bian Zhou, and he felt joy in his heart, though he didn’t dare to approach him for inquiry.
行可百步，入朱門，矛戟斧鉞，布列左右，軍吏數百，辟易道側。生有平生酒徒周弁者，亦趨其中，生私心悅之，不敢前問。
The west-minister led Fen up to a spacious palace, and there the guards were especially grim — this apparently His most reverent abode. Fen saw a magnificent figure in the room’s center, wearing pure-white silk robes and a crimson decorated crown, and he began to tremble, not daring to look up, as attendants on either side of him made him prostrate.
右相引生升廣殿，御衛嚴肅，若至尊之所。見一人長大端嚴，居正位，衣素練服，簪朱華冠。生戰栗，不敢仰視。左右侍者令生拜，
The Emperor spoke: “On orders from your honored father — who hasn’t overlooked my small nation — my second daughter, Yaofang, will be permitted to service you, Young Sir, in marriage.”
王曰：「前奉賢尊命，不棄小國，許令次女瑤芳奉事君子。」
Fen merely continued to lie prostrate, not daring to speak.
生但俯伏而已，不敢致詞。
And the Emperor continued: “Now, return to the guest lodging, and we will conduct the ceremony later.”
王曰：「且就賓宇，續造儀式。」
Having his orders, the west-minister returned with Fen to his lodging.
有旨，右相亦與生偕還館舍。
There, Fen pondered the matter. He recalled that his father had been a border general, but no one knew him alive or dead since he had been taken a prisoner of war. Fen wondered if his father had perhaps made dealings with the northern hordes to bring this matter into being — though he remained perplexed as to how this could be…
生思念之，意以為父在邊將，因沒虜中，不知存亡。將謂父北蕃交通，而致茲事，心甚迷惑，不知其由。
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Eric R Stone is a freelance journalist and translator in Taiwan. He writes about Taiwanese culture, cross-strait politics, and human rights issues in China, and translates Buddhist and Taoist scripture and commentaries. In his free time, he DMs a Mandarin Dungeons & Dragons campaign for his Taiwanese friends.
Editors can contact Eric at ericrstone@pm.me.
ERIC R. STONE 