Li Yu (李煜) was the final ruler of the Southern Tang state whose greatest contribution was his introduction of the two-stanza form to Chinese poetry. And having his works reproduced in song by one of the most popular Asian singers ever.
李煜是南唐的最后一位统治者，他最大的贡献是将两节形式引入中国诗歌。 并由有史以来最受欢迎的亚洲歌手之一以歌曲再现他的作品。
Born in the Nanjing region in 937 or early 938 CE, Li was appointed as crown prince in 961 in order to take over in his hometown, then the capital, Jinling, which sat smack bang in the middle of the Southern Tang.
李于公元937年或938年初出生于南京地区，961年被任命为王储，以接管他的家乡，然后是位于南唐中部的首都金陵。
Never actually becoming emperor, Li’s time in power was spent politically appeasing the Song Dynasty, which would ultimately be his downfall.
李从未真正成为皇帝，他执政的时间花在政治上安抚宋朝，宋朝最终将是他的垮台。
For Li had other, more important things on his mind; pleasure making.
因为李有其他更重要的事情在想；制造快乐。
Poetry to be exact.
准确地说，是诗歌。
By definition, the lines in two-stanza forms of poetry must rhyme. And as such, we have Li to thank for opening up the impenetrable world of Chinese poetry to all but the most determined of masochists.
根据定义，两节诗歌形式的台词必须押韵。 因此，我们要感谢李向除了最坚定的受虐狂之外的所有人开放了中国诗歌的坚不可摧的世界。
It was the “Ci” form of poetry which was Li’s fascination in particular. Therein, poems are constructed to fit the meter and rhyme of music long since lost.
尤其是李的迷恋是“Ci”形式的诗歌。 在那里，诗歌的构造符合早已失去的音乐的节拍和韵律。
That Ci poems were set to music was to also set Li upon the throne, in a manner of speaking, but not for over a millennia.
从某种程度上说，Ci诗被配上音乐也是为了让李登上王位，但不是一千多年。
“Alone Up the Western Tower” (獨上西樓), written after Li’s capture, is one of three of his works which appear in song by Teresa Teng, on the Taiwanese singer’s 1983 album, “Light Exquisite Feelings”.
《独上西楼》是李被捕后创作的，是台湾歌手1983年专辑《Light Exquisite Feelings》中Teng Teresa的歌曲中的三部作品之一。
The poem, reproduced below, is one of Li’s most famous, while Time magazine in 1986 named Teng one of the world’s seven greatest female singers. She was known as “Asia’s eternal queen of pop”.
这首诗转载如下，是李最著名的诗之一，而《时代》杂志在1986年将滕评为世界上最伟大的七位女歌手之一。 她被称为“亚洲永恒的流行女王”。
Not at all bad for a guy over 1,000 years old.
对于一个1000多岁的人来说，一点也不差。
Li died on 7 July, 978, after being poisoned by Song Dynasty emperor, Taizong, having written a damning and accusatory poem of him.
李于978年7月7日去世，被宋朝皇帝太宗毒死，他写了一首谴责和指责他的诗。
“Alone Up the Western Tower” (獨上西樓)
《独上西楼》（独上西楼）
無言獨上西樓 (Alone to silence, up the western tower, I myself bestow.)
月如鉤 (Like silver curtain hook, so does the moon glow.)
寂寞梧桐 (The fallen leaves of one forsaken parasol)
深院鎖清秋 (Make deeper still the limpid autumn locked up in the court below.)
剪不斷 (Try cutting it, it is still profuse –)
理還亂 (More minding will but more confuse –)
是離愁 (Ah, parting’s such enduring sorrow!)
別有一番滋味在心頭 (It leaves behind a very special taste the heart alone could know.)
[Translation by Chan Hong-mo]
無言独上西楼（独自沉默，登上西塔，我自己授予。） 月如钩（像银帘钩，月亮也照耀。） 寂寞梧桐（一只被抛弃的遮阳伞的落叶）深院锁清秋（让清澈的秋天更深，锁在下面的宫廷里。） 剪不断（试着剪掉它，它仍然很多——）理还乱（更多的心思会，但更困惑——）是离愁（啊，离人是如此持久的悲伤！） 别有一番滋味在心头（它留下了一种只有心才能知道的非常特别的味道。）[ Chan Hong-mo翻译]