Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River

By Cao Zhi

In the third year of the Huangchu era, I went to court at the capital and on my return journey, I crossed the Luo River. The ancients have said that the deity of this river is named Fufei. Moved by the story of Song Yu’s encounter with the Goddess before the King of Chu, I composed this ode. Its words are as follows:

I departed from the capital region, journeying back to my eastern fief. Past the Yique cliffs, over the Huanyuan pass, through the Tong valley, and over Mount Jing. The sun had already tilted westward; my carriage was weary and my horses spent. And so I halted by the fragrant riverbank, grazed my four horses on the fields of magic fungi, lingered in the sunlit woods, and gazed out over the Luo River. Then my spirit shifted, my soul was startled, and my thoughts suddenly scattered. Looking down, I perceived nothing; looking up, I beheld a wondrous sight — a beautiful woman standing by the rocky shore. I turned to my charioteer and said to him: “Have you seen someone over there? Who is she, to be so breathtakingly lovely?” The charioteer replied: “I have heard that the deity of the Yellow and Luo Rivers is named Fufei. Could what Your Majesty has seen be none other than she? What does she look like? I would wish to hear.”

I told him: “Her form — graceful as a startled swan, supple as a gliding dragon. Radiant as the autumn chrysanthemum, luxuriant as the spring pine. Dim, as though light clouds veil the moon; fluttering, as though flowing winds swirl the snow. Viewed from afar, she gleams like the sun rising through morning clouds; examined up close, she blazes like a lotus emerging from clear ripples. Neither too plump nor too slender, neither too tall nor too short — all in perfect proportion. Her shoulders seem carved, her waist bound in white silk. Her long neck is elegant, her pristine complexion revealed. No fragrant oils adorn her, no powder graces her face. Her cloud-like coiffure rises high, her long brows gracefully curved. Crimson lips parted, pearly teeth gleaming within, bright eyes full of allure, dimpled cheeks framing her beauty. A figure magnificent and captivating, her bearing serene, her form composed. Tender in affection, graceful in manner, enchanting in speech. Her extraordinary garments are unmatched in this world, her bone structure worthy of a painting. She wears shimmering silk robes, adorned with jade pendants of lustrous green. Golden and kingfisher hair ornaments crown her head, pearls strung upon her body. She treads embroidered shoes of distant wandering, her light gossamer skirts trail like mist. The faint fragrance of hidden orchids surrounds her as she paces hesitantly by the mountain’s corner.

Then, suddenly, she stretches her body freely, roaming and playing. She leans on a plumed banner to her left, shelters beneath a cassia flag to her right. She bares her white wrists at the sacred riverbank, gathering dark fungi from the rushing rapids. My heart rejoiced at her pure beauty, yet my mind trembled with unrest. Having no good matchmaker to forge a connection, I entrusted the rippling waves to carry my words. I wished my sincere feelings to reach her first, so I unclasped my jade pendant as a token of invitation. Alas, this beauty is truly accomplished — well-versed in ritual and poetry. She raised a fine jade in response to me, pointing to the hidden depths as the appointed time. I clung to my earnest devotion, yet feared this spirit might deceive me. Recalling how Jiaofu was betrayed, I wavered in melancholy doubt. She then composed her expression and stilled her heart, reaffirming the bounds of propriety to maintain her composure.

Thus moved, the Goddess of the Luo River lingered and paced, her divine light flickering, now shadowed, now bright. She drew up her light frame and stood like a crane, as though about to fly yet not yet taking wing. She trod upon the fragrant pepper path, walking through beds of iris that trailed their perfume. She chanted a long, lingering song of eternal longing, her voice mournful and piercing, stretching on and on.

Then a host of spirits gathered, calling companions and summoning mates. Some played in the clear currents, some soared over sacred islets, some gathered bright pearls, some picked kingfisher feathers. They were accompanied by the Two Consorts of the Southern Xiang, and joined by the Wandering Maidens of the Han River’s banks. They sighed for the solitary Gourd Star with no mate, and sang of the Herd Boy dwelling all alone. They fluttered their light gowns like shimmering water, veiling their long sleeves as they lingered. Their bodies darted as swift as wild ducks, fleeting as spirits, treading lightly upon the waves, their silk hose raising no dust. Their movements followed no fixed pattern — now poised, now at ease. Their comings and goings defied prediction — now approaching, now retreating. Their glancing eyes flashed with light, their jade-like faces gleaming with radiance. Words unspoken yet held within, their breath was like the fragrance of hidden orchids. Their flower-like beauty was so enchanting that I forgot to eat.

Then Pingyi gathered the winds, the River Lord stilled the waves. Pingyi beat the drums, Nüwa sang clear songs. Winged fish leapt up to clear the way, jade bells chimed as all departed together. The six dragons solemnly aligned their heads, bearing the cloud carriage in stately procession. Whales and sea monsters surged alongside the wheels, waterfowl soared as escorts.

Then she crossed the northern islet, passed the southern ridge. She turned her white neck, looked back with clear eyes, moved her crimson lips and spoke slowly, setting forth the great principles of parting. She lamented the gulf between human and divine, grieving that the years of youth could not be shared. She raised her silk sleeve to wipe her tears, which flowed in torrents down her garments. She mourned that our beautiful meeting was forever severed, sorrowing that once departed, we would be in different worlds. Having no subtle token to prove her love, she offered bright pearl earrings from the south. Though she would dwell hidden in the deepest shade, her heart would forever be entrusted to the lord. Then, suddenly, she vanished from sight, and in sorrow her divine light was extinguished.

Thus I descended and climbed heights, my feet advancing while my spirit lingered. My lingering feelings turned to imagination; I looked back in sorrow. Hoping her divine form might reappear, I steered a light skiff and rowed upstream. I drifted along the great river, forgetting to return; my thoughts stretched on endlessly, my longing growing. Through the night I lay restless, sleepless, drenched in heavy frost until dawn. I ordered my servant to harness the carriage; I would return by the eastern road. I gathered the reins and raised my whip, yet lingered in melancholy, unable to depart.

After reading it several times today, I can recite much of it from memory. I marvel at such brilliance, gaze in awe at the heights achieved, immersed for a long time, unable to tear myself away.

洛神赋

曹植

黄初三年，余朝京师，还济洛川。古人有言，斯水之神，名曰宓妃。感宋玉对楚王神女之事，遂作斯赋。其辞曰：

余从京域，言归东藩。背伊阙，越轘辕，经通谷，陵景山。日既西倾，车殆马烦。尔乃税驾乎蘅皋，秣驷乎芝田，容与乎阳林，流眄乎洛川。于是精移神骇，忽焉思散。俯则未察，仰以殊观，睹一丽人，于岩之畔。乃援御者而告之曰：”尔有觌于彼者乎？彼何人斯？若此之艳也！”御者对曰：”臣闻河洛之神，名曰宓妃。然则君王所见，无乃是乎？其状若何？臣愿闻之。”

余告之曰：”其形也，翩若惊鸿，婉若游龙。荣曜秋菊，华茂春松。髣髴兮若轻云之蔽月，飘飖兮若流风之回雪。远而望之，皎若太阳升朝霞；迫而察之，灼若芙蕖出渌波。秾纤得衷，修短合度。肩若削成，腰如约素。延颈秀项，皓质呈露。芳泽无加，铅华弗御。云髻峨峨，修眉联娟。丹唇外朗，皓齿内鲜，明眸善睐，靥辅承权。瑰姿艳逸，仪静体闲。柔情绰态，媚于语言。奇服旷世，骨像应图。披罗衣之璀粲兮，珥瑶碧之华琚。戴金翠之首饰，缀明珠以耀躯。践远游之文履，曳雾绡之轻裾。微幽兰之芳蔼兮，步踟蹰于山隅。

于是忽焉纵体，以遨以嬉。左倚采旄，右荫桂旗。壤皓腕于神浒兮，采湍濑之玄芝。余情悦其淑美兮，心振荡而不怡。无良媒以接欢兮，托微波而通辞。愿诚素之先达兮，解玉佩以要之。嗟佳人之信修，羌习礼而明诗。抗琼珶以和予兮，指潜渊而为期。执眷眷之款实兮，惧斯灵之我欺。感交甫之弃言兮，怅犹豫而狐疑。收和颜而静志兮，申礼防以自持。

于是洛灵感焉，徙倚彷徨，神光离合，乍阴乍阳。竦轻躯以鹤立，若将飞而未翔。践椒涂之郁烈，步蘅薄而流芳。超长吟以永慕兮，声哀厉而弥长。

尔乃众灵杂沓，命俦啸侣，或戏清流，或翔神渚，或采明珠，或拾翠羽。从南湘之二妃，携汉滨之游女。叹匏瓜之无匹兮，咏牵牛之独处。扬轻袿之猗靡兮，翳修袖以延伫。体迅飞凫，飘忽若神，凌波微步，罗袜生尘。动无常则，若危若安。进止难期，若往若还。转眄流精，光润玉颜。含辞未吐，气若幽兰。华容婀娜，令我忘餐。

于是屏翳收风，川后静波。冯夷鸣鼓，女娲清歌。腾文鱼以警乘，鸣玉鸾以偕逝。六龙俨其齐首，载云车之容裔，鲸鲵踊而夹毂，水禽翔而为卫。

于是越北沚。过南冈，纡素领，回清阳，动朱唇以徐言，陈交接之大纲。恨人神之道殊兮，怨盛年之莫当。抗罗袂以掩涕兮，泪流襟之浪浪。悼良会之永绝兮，哀一逝而异乡。无微情以效爱兮，献江南之明珰。虽潜处于太阴，长寄心于君王。忽不悟其所舍，怅神宵而蔽光。

于是背下陵高，足往神留，遗情想像，顾望怀愁。冀灵体之复形，御轻舟而上溯。浮长川而忘返，思绵绵而增慕。夜耿耿而不寐，沾繁霜而至曙。命仆夫而就驾，吾将归乎东路。揽騑辔以抗策，怅盘桓而不能去。

今日读之数遍，几能背诵，叹其才华，望其项背，沉浸良久，不能自拔。