[updated November 2022]
Written On the Back of Her Pipa
书 琵 琶 背
多 自 肩 如 削
难 胜 数 缕 绦。
天 香 留 凤 尾
余 暖 在 檀 槽。
Shu Pi Pa Bei
Shen zi jian ru xiao
Nan sheng shu lu tao.
Tian xiang liu feng wei
Yu nuan zai tan cao.
Written On the Back of Her Pipa
Her style of holding the pipa naturally fit well to her body
Difficult to count the number of threads in her silk ribbon belt.
Her heavenly fragrance remains on the phoenix tail
Her warmth embedded into the wingceltis wood.
Notes:
Li Yu’s wife received a custom-made pipa, given to her by his brother.
Pipa: Six-stringed Chinese musical instrument. Played like a lute.
Phoenix tail: Referring to the neck of the pipa, like the neck of a guitar.
Winceltis wood: Also known as “Blue Sandalwood”, a tree found only in China, used for it’s timber, such as musical instruments, bark for paper, and the seeds for oil.
Referring to the the bridge of the pipa, like the bridge of a guitar.